What are some basic guidelines for selecting and purchasing a new suit?
If you live in NYC, go to my tailor. He makes custom suits with fabrics from Savile Row. The price is comparable to nice off-the-rack suits.
Custom suits from a good tailor always fit better than off the rack.
www.tailor.com
7 Answers
Fit. Fit. Fit.
If it doesn't fit right, then nothing else really matters. There's an abundance of websites that will give you details on the basics of a well-fitting suit. Here's one that grazes over some of it...
http://artofmanliness.com/2008/12/18/interviewing-in-recession/
As far as size goes Jeff's advise is right, make sure the shoulders fit right and aren't bulging or too boxy, and that you can move your arms freely (bring your arms straight forward to test), cause that shoulders are NOT to be altered. The length of the body and sleeves as well as the pant's waist or even the jacket's waist can be altered (a tailor can guide you what length is right).
Fit and look: that's up to you, your body type and style.
fabric: is that a suit for a specific season or an all season? wools generally look better, but wool blended with polyester might work as well and will definitely wrinkle less, so if you need to wear it for long hours at a time, it might be your best choice.
Color: if that your first suit go for a navy or grey, they are natural and can go with almost any color.
As far as size goes Jeff's advise is right, make sure the shoulders fit right and aren't bulging or too boxy, and that you can move your arms freely (bring your arms straight forward to test), cause that shoulders are NOT to be altered. The length of the body and sleeves as well as the pant's waist or even the jacket's waist can be altered (a tailor can guide you what length is right).
Fit and look: that's up to you, your body type and style.
fabric: is that a suit for a specific season or an all season? wools generally look better, but wool blended with polyester might work as well and will definitely wrinkle less, so if you need to wear it for long hours at a time, it might be your best choice.
Color: if that your first suit go for a navy or grey, they are natural and can go with almost any color.
If you live in NYC, go to my tailor. He makes custom suits with fabrics from Savile Row. The price is comparable to nice off-the-rack suits.
Custom suits from a good tailor always fit better than off the rack.
www.tailor.com
I would second (or third) Jeff's advice. And there really isn't anything complicated about determining the right fit. Just visit a few stores and try on several suits in your general size. The suits that are right for you will be obvious -- they will be the ones that don't feel like you're wearing a suit as you move around. Well.... the ones that feel the least like you're wearing a suit.
This should be true no matter what your budget, as long as you're in a place that has a lot of suits to choose from.
I like tropical weave wool suits even for the winter season because they tend to be lighter and, again, generally more comfortable. (If it's cold wear an overcoat.) And I'd suggest making one of your stops a higher end place even if you think it's out of your price range. You're bound to find some suits there that really, really feel like you're not wearing a suit. Most of them have good end of season discounts (and we're at the tail end of one of those seasons now). And whether or not you buy from the high end place it will give you a better idea what you're striving for in a good fit and a nice fabric.
I'd absolutely agree with Jeff & Cal. Find a suit that fits you in the shoulder and chest & the tailor will fix the rest. My boyfriend and I just went suit shopping last weekend to find a good basic suit for him to wear for interviews. Being a college student, we don't have a huge budget, so we went to Jos A Banks because of the sale they were having. The salesman tried to put him in a 3 piece suit separate with pleated pants. At 5'6", we felt like that was totally the wrong suit.
We then walked over to Nordstrom's and found a fantastic, modern cut, 2 button, Hugo Boss suit with notch lapels and a center vent for 50% off. (The end of season sales at higher end department stores that Cal was talking about are SO worth it.) We ended up getting an amazing, very clean modern cut suit in a light to mid charcoal gray with a great subtle herringbone pattern for less than $500. It was more than we had originally intended to spend, but for the level of customer service and the quality of suit we got, I will continue to go back to Nordstrom's for years to come.
Also, we knew immediately after he put on the suit that it was a great one for him! You can even ask a tailor to alter the suit jacket slightly to allow for the extra weight of your wallet if you carry it in a back pocket. I had no idea how much a tailor could do.
I'm an attorney and have been buying suits for 25 years. I've purchased everything from $200 warehouse suits to much more expensive boutique brands such as Dunhill.
Probably the best advice I have ever been given came from a tailor, not a salesman: Find a brand of suit that fits your shoulders and chest, everything else can be fixed. The body can be taken in, the sleeves can be adjusted for length, the pants can be recut, but if the suit doesn't fit your shoulders, no tailor will ever be able to make it look right. Once you find a brand that drapes well over you shoulders and chest, stick with it again and again.