Nice Suit Ideas for Good Price

Question

I will be starting an MBA program in the fall and was thinking of picking up a new/nicer suit to upgrade my wardrobe for recruiting. I work in a job where I already wear a suit most days but the 4 I already have are mediocre quality suits I purchased in undergrad about 4-6 years ago. I'm looking to work in private banking/private wealth so I figure I will definitely be wearing a suit often for internship/full time. What brands would people recommend for private wealth/private banking without breaking the bank (I'm thinking 600-900 is reasonable with sales)?

719917 · Answer

maybe some brooks brothers suits? you can probably pick up a few at outlets on good deals if you wait it out. I'll be picking up a few from there myself.

dave785 · Answer

This may belie my plebian nature, but I love my Jos. A Banks suits.

Also, I keep seeing ads in FB for combat gent suits. I haven't been able to pull the trigger on it, because they seem too good to be true, but i've read nothing but great reviews on them and the price is only $160.

fergsonfire · Answer

Check out the online suit retailers as well. They make decent suits and as long as they fit your body and are tailored correctly should be good suits. Companies like Combatant Gentleman, Indichino, Suitly, or Black Lapel.

cs0784 · Answer

I am not sure that price itself dictates quality all the time. You can see and feel the difference between a really cheap suit, and one with a better thread count, etc. but I do not think price is that indicative. Take any suit from Men's Wearhouse and hold it up against a Banana Republic suit, and although the price is relatively close (see below), you will most certainly notice the difference.

I have found that (as mentioned above) you can get incredible deals if you happen to be in the proximity of a Premium Outlets (most major metropolitan areas in the USA) or otherwise high end retailer outlet center. To further compound on savings, around holidays, there will frequently be heavy sales on everything.

An example: I just picked up a few Banana Republic suits that normally retail around $350-$400, for about $125 a pop, which was $250 outlet price, plus another 50% off. Would I consider these interview quality suits? Yes. The fabric looks professional (not that shiny or rough surface of cheaper wools) and they are fashionable yet conservative in style for an interview. Now, would I wear one to an IB interview in NY? Maybe not... but I sure as heck wouldn't wear a higher end suit to campus recruiting events either and risk damaging it or just wear and tear.

So, to the point... a few options/prices I have seen @ Premium Outlets near you: 
 BR  - During the big holiday sales, you can snag a two-piece for under $150. Great deal and looks great. Other advantage here, sold as suit separates, so you can get an extra pair of pants if you are like me and have an affinity to them wearing out well before the jacket does. 
 Perry Ellis  - About the same deal as BR during holidays, but I think the suit fabric looks less quality overall for their entry level lines. Nice sportcoats though. 
 Armani  - Here is where you can snag a nice banking interview suit if you are lucky. At outlets/during sales, I have snagged a decent Armani for $500. Originally $1600 I think. Definitely can FEEL the difference. 
 Kenneth Cole  - Around $150-$250 for their REACTION line suits in outlets/sales times. Also very professional, although a bit more of a modern fit than the above mentioned. I do, however, think their quality and longevity is a bit less than the others I have mentioned.

Where I would stay away from: Mens Wearhouse (obviously), Department Stores (way too pricey - if you find a suit you love, find the manufacturers outlet), and (sorry to the guy above) Jos A Bank. I think Jos A Bank stuff looks quite good, but I have never had a suit from there that lasted worth a crap.

Moral of the story here, I guess, is in my opinion you can get a nice looking suit for well under $500.

Admissionado · Answer

Century 21 in NYC? I mean if you are from there or can get there (and aren't too skinny

)

asimov · Answer

Instead of focusing on the price or the brand. I would focus on the fit of a suit. A nicely tailored suit will look miles better than any Hugo Boss or Zegna suit off the shelf. Tailors quality is highly individualized. I would research for one in your city. A good tailor will measure you, build the shell first for a 2nd fitting, make the suit, and make minor adjustments.

OptimisticApplicant · Answer

Indochino is DEFINITELY the best way to go. Custom made suits will run you just $450-$800 shipped, and they look great.

Here is a coupon for $50 off a purchase of $300 or more: https://share.indochino.com/x/TkLmZW

StyleonThem · Answer

J. Crew Factory is a nice option for the price, make sure to get it tailored after.

theanomalie · Answer

Within this price range I recommend checking out Suit Supply. For $550-650 you will have a stellar suit. While many of their suits are a little "loud", they do offer many conservative options, and for this price range the fit will be better than an off the rack suit at Nordstroms or Macys. Also as someone said check out J crew. I'm not a fan of their factory suits however I will vouch for their Ludlow line. The ludlow suits will run you $550-$650 not including what our tailor will charge but they have a very slim fit look. Neither of these options will have you in a puffy looking suit.

Ward2012 · Answer

I second SuitSupply, but I would also suggest Bonobos. Plus Bonobos was founded by Stanford MBAs!

noodlesnyc · Answer

Buy a custom suit. I had my suit, tie, and shirt custom tailored from a local shop right after my undergrad. It wasn't cheap, but the fabric used was better than anything off the shelf, and the fit was amazing. The confidence-boosting effect, the instant respect from anyone I encountered, and the longevity of the clothes has paid for my initial expense several times over. I cannot imagine why anyone seriously considering a high-powered business career for six-figure jobs, where first impressions matter so much, would not make this relatively small investment in their future. Feel free to PM me for suggestions in the NYC area.

Also, I'm surprised to see at least a few suggestions on here for suits that aren't even 100% wool. Come on guys.......

menio · Answer

I know a blog site which provides good information on men's dressing styles, its Mensusa Blog. They do provide tips and guidelines for suiting up styles on various ocassions. And they have their own shopping site too with huge collection and range of clothing line.

chromium73 · Answer

Suit Supply is great

ShanMan · Answer

This is kind of random, but there was an awesome sale at the outlet of Saks -- Off 5th Ave -- that I went to last week. Not sure if you have one near you, but this one had all top brands and was definitely in your price range. Check it out. Also Brooks Brothers is great. If you are near NYC, you could also give Top Man a shot. It is a London based retail store that is more affordable but has some great stuff, though it is occasionally more fashionable than conservative.

bostonbp · Answer

A little late but thought I'd share my thoughts for future forum browsers.

I am entering B-School from private wealth and will second the post that tailoring is key. I'd have at least one good brand name suit (brooks brothers or better) or equivalent quality custom made in your closet. Buy the best suits you can, they will pay dividends; I've gotten lucky with 1-2 suits at Macy's that fit pretty well, but your strongest bet for a bargain is to find the 'best' bargain basement for mens clothing in your hood. Most outlets etc just manufacture a different line of lower quality ware but there is usually one well known bargain basement that gets true end of season and overstock wear and you may be able to score a nice $1200 suit for $500-600.

Shy away from the Jos A Banks suits; I've seen senior people snickering when someone mentions they scored a 3 for 1 or something like that. It's stupid, and PWM is not nearly as 'showy' as I hear I-Banking is, but there is an appreciation of quality. It can be painful but this is a time when putting 2-3 good suits on your credit card can definitely have an effect on your career. PWM is client facing, and you're working with C-Suite executives, wealthy heirs and the like; looking the part will help you advance that much sooner. I worked with one senior director who didn't have his MBA and failed his CFA level one 3 times before giving up, but he dressed very sharp and had great presence in front of clients so he was still able to climb the ladder. I also worked with one analyst who had 8 years experience and his CFA but couldn't get promoted out of his analyst role, largely because of how he dressed (often no tie, suits were low quality when worn and often not steamed, etc). Clients will also notice the difference. As a younger money manager competing against the greybeards, dressing to impress will help establish an image of success and help you win business.

Nice Suit Ideas for Good Price

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