Men's suits

[steelyman]

Where's a good place to get men's suits? I'm not a big guy, 5'9", 160. I don't want junk.

[pb4uski]

What's a suit?

Just kidding. Hard to believe that I wore a suit and tie every day for so many years. I haven't bought a new suit in probably 15 or 20 years since businesses went business casual back in the late 1990s. I did keep a few and occasionally would have a client whose workplace was more formal (interestingly, more often than not subsidiaries of European companies).

When I lived in the Boston area I had found a guy in downtown Boston that did semi-custom suits for a reasonable cost. The first one was a bit of a chore but after that they kept your measurements and all you had to do was go in and pick out the material (my weight wasn't changing very much back then).

Sorry I can't be of any help, but your post brought back some good memories.

[steelyman]

Thank you very much.

If I were back in Beantown, this would be no problem. Now, I just want a dark blue suit so I can pretend to be Mr. Big.

[Walt34]

I bought my last suit around 2000. It might be what you mean by "junk" but I just got them at J.C. Pennys when on sale.

Not a big spender on clothes here.

[steelyman]

There's nothing wrong with Penney's (or Macy's). Thank you for chipping in, this is a fun retirement problem.

[Hamster]

Nordstorm's Rack is a good place to look. Selection is limited (but men's suits are pretty generic anyway) but good to great prices on very good suits.

[jIMOh]

Men's warehouse is usually buy one for $500 and get one free here in cincy
cheap is relative

women go crazy about a sharp dressed man...

[modhatter]

I just had to buy a suit for my son for a wedding. He never wears a suit, and may never wear it again, so I didn't want to spend a fortune. Found out not a lot of places carry suits anymore.

Wound up going to Burlington Coat Factory for one. $170.00 (plus alterations)

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by steelyman Where's a good place to get men's suits? I'm not a big guy, 5'9", 160. I don't want junk.

Find charity run 2nd hand stores on the border or even it a very expensive neighborhood. I've had great luck at stores staffed by aristocratic ladies under the American Cancer Society flag. Like $600-$1000 suits from Nordstrom. Usually not real fashion forward, but excellent quality and often almost new. Many times hubby died, and this is where his nice clothes wound up. 90% of the inventory will be for women, but some very nice things for men too. Well to do older men, like their women, tend to be fairly slim so some of them should fit, at least with modest alterations.

Ha

[steelyman]

Unfortunately, no Nordstroms around here. But I'll persist!

Then you all will say, "Is that Cary? No, it's Steely!".

Thanks for all the suggestions!

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jIMOh Men's warehouse is usually buy one for $500 and get one free here in cincy cheap is relative women go crazy about a sharp dressed man...

The Jos A Bank chain has similar deals. Can't vouch for quality or fashion. Bought one at MW long ago. Seemed well made, but didn't get a second one free... Still have it, but it shrank while hanging in the closet! POS! :-P

[martyb]

Bought my last suit in 2006 (when my dad died) at Dillards for $500. Only been worn 1/2 dozen times, always at a funeral. I don't expect to buy another one anytime soon. At less than one wearing per year, it oughta last me till my own funeral.

[Amethyst]

When you finally pick out and buy your suit, take it to a decent tailor (family-run dry-cleaning shops, which are common in my area, often have one). He or she can do small nips and tucks which will do amazing things for your overall look.

One of Mr. A's favorite put-downs is "He was all over me like a cheap suit," so that tells you what a cheap suit looks like ... people don't see you; they see the poorly fitted fabric.

Amethyst

[panacea]

I buy all my suits from Jos. A. Bank but I don't think you can just get a good deal on a single suit most of the time. I wait until I need a few so I can buy one at $600 and get 2 "free." I know they also have 1/2 off sales a few times a year but I won't pay $300 for a suit.

My suits have actually been growing in my closet. Took them all to have the waists brought in for the second time in 13 months. Losing weight is expensive!

[steelyman]

Thank you thank you thank you

Just so you don't think I'm hopeless, I do have sport coats that fit.

But a good suit: that's like getting brought up to the majors!

[BTravlin]

They haven't outlawed suits and ties yet?

[steelyman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTravlin They haven't outlawed suits and ties yet?

No. Or pantyhose. I'll have to decide which to wear. Ohhhh, what a world!

[RetireAge50]

I'll probably never wear a suit again (except swimsuit) but I definitely won't wear pantyhose (unless I get desperate and need to rob a bank).

[steelyman]

That's funny!

In 20+ years of working, I rarely wore a suit (just the way the place is).

Now I'm ready to do a little steppin' out

[RockyMtn]

What size are you? I have about fifteen I'd sell you including a dark blue one!

Seriously it all depends how much you want to spend. You can spend $3000 on a nice Zegna suit that will last forever (assuming you don't gain or lose a ton of weight) or you can go to a Nordstrom's, Macy's etc and spend $400.

I think Jos A. Bank is a good option for med priced, good quality suits. They run crazy sales every week...sometimes every day so keep an eye out for whatever suits (ha ha) your fancy. Make sure you buy a fully lined jacket or it will hang on you like a potato sack. Also, I always recommend classic styles. A nice two button suit, single vent, pleated pants with cuffs will be timeless.

Buy a nice tie as well. More people will comment on that than the suit.