Best way to get a modern business suit on the cheap?
Ive actually bought a few suits off of ebay. A Zenga and a Burberry, both for under $500, you can find some Hugo Boss, Sean John and other decent brands there for $300ish.
A website Ive been itching to try is http://www.indochino.com/index.php with a bunch of custom tailored styles under $400.
10 Answers
Problem is cheap price usually means cheap quality! You wear a suit for important occasions - business meetings, interviews, dates, etc. Do you really want to go cheap at a time like that? Problem is too many people confuse cheap and value.
For starters, don't assume a given brand is a sign of quality. Most are little more than designers and names - they don't actually make the suits so actual quality of construction is often beyond their direct control.
Find a suit that fits you well and then worry about the price. A $500 dollar suit that doesn't fit well is no bargain regardless of the brand name. You can find some great values in consignment shops and then pay a little extra for tailoring. That's probably your best bet for overall value.
Personally, I'd never buy an off the rack suit from one of the big brands when for the same money (or less) I can get a suit custom tailored from scratch from a local maker. Not the cheapest option but certainly a good value since a well made suit will last for years.
It might seem odd, but if you're really low on cash you should look in charity or secondhand shops.
I managed to score a Benson & Clegg Three Piece wool suit, all but brand new, correct sizes for 25 Pounds, had it tailored to my exact measurements - a further 10 Pounds, and with it I normally wear an absolutely gorgeous silk tie I picked up in china for the equivalent of about five pounds.
A full suit, tailored to my measurements, and an awesome silk tie, all for a total of about forty British pounds, give or take.
There are a few things to pay attention to.
1)Make sure the suit at least vaugely fits you. There is only so much a tailor can do, no matter how good they are.
2)Make sure that it's all matching - It's no good buying a suit if you have a navy jacket, a black waistcoat, and pinstripe pants.
3)Check the suit for any structural defects - ensure that it's not a complete pile of crap, for a start. No holes, decent stitching, so on. Grab the lapel, and rub it between your fingers - if it slides over itself, then it's probably a sewn lapel, and that is a good sign. If it stays rock solid, and just crumples up, it's probably a cheapo, glued together lapel, and thus, the rest of the suit is probably just as cheap and dodgy.
4)Make sure the style suits you. I'm a tall, thin bloke with very broad shoulders and a Medium to slim waist, so I tend look best in a Double breasted, No shoulder pads, double button jacket that pulls in slightly tighter around the midsection. I'll couple that with a vest, and suit-pants with a very slight flare at the end of the leg(Because I normally wear boots with a suit, rather than the low-top black leather shoes.)
Check ebay. I have found some deals (sometimes hit and miss). You may need to have them tailored, but most new suits will require tailoring anyways.
I got a silk DKNY suit from e-bay's fashion section. It cost about $120.
Try the Men's Wearhouse. They have a great selection and are about as unpretentious as it gets. They will measure you and alter it to fit your perfectly. I purchased all of my suits through them and they have lasted through 4 years of rough government service. Additionally, you won't spend a chunk of gold on them. Most of the guys I worked with went through them for their suits.
1) NYC - CENTURY 21 - Cheapest clothing store this side of the universe - buys discounted and clearance items from all other suppliers.
2) NYC - Cheap Italian Suit Stores - They're littered everywhere.
3) Tailor - Go to your local tailor in a busy area - he/she might have something.
Ive actually bought a few suits off of ebay. A Zenga and a Burberry, both for under $500, you can find some Hugo Boss, Sean John and other decent brands there for $300ish.
A website Ive been itching to try is http://www.indochino.com/index.php with a bunch of custom tailored styles under $400.