The best way to buy a men's suit today is to shop Ebay. The used clothing there is almost free.

A Brioni suit can easily reach a cost of $5,000. It will also be stunning and last for thirty years. Ebay prices for such a suit would be less than $500. Budget another $100 for a Tailor to alter the suit and you will look and feel amazing.

Time is always a constraint. To seal a deal on Ebay can take a few days if you do not avail yourself of the 'buy it now' option. Then there will be several days of transit, one day for a fitting at the Tailor, and three days for alterations to finish. A minimum of two weeks should be expected.

You can compress this time frame by contacting the seller and asking for a buy it now price. Everything is negotiable.

Brands to shop for would be Brioni, Zegna, Kiton and Armani. Hicky-Freeman is also something that should be considered, as should Brooks Brothers, since there will be many more of them for sale than Brionis or Kitons.

Be sure to ask the seller if they are quoting the size in US or Euro sizes. They vary but can easily be converted from one to another.

I wear a suit every Sunday, but maybe the bowtie neutralizes it?

When I wore suites for a living I had great luck getting myself measured at say Macy's than going onto ebay and buying Zegna and Brooks Brothers, etc new at a fraction of their retail price.

I bought a Zegna sport jacket with the $1,200 sticker still on it for $200. For another $25 I had a tailor adjust it.

IMHO I'd recommend something Italian for you since your on the West Coast. I tend to get more use out of my blue blazers but that's up here in ultra conservative New England. I'd go for something from Zegna and flashy.

Justin - go to Nordstrom's @ Westfield Galleria in Roseville
 

This is fast, complete and easy.

For a New Year's eve party, I needed one quickly. Like in ONE hour's time.

I went to the Men's Department and told them what I needed, and 2 men got right on it.

They founed me a great suit, actually a blazer and slacks, a fine dress shirt, a great necktie, and socks, an integrated complete package.

Then, they called in a store tailor that really knew his stuff, marked off the clothes, and I got dressed in all of it, looked and fitted perfectly, paid for it, and walked out of the store and drove to the party @ the Silver Dollar Saloon in Yuba City.

Due to the urgency, they got me in and out of there in LESS THAN ONE HOUR !!! Think it all cost about $950, somewhere in there. Absolutely worth it, by any measure.


Nordstrom is NOT cheap, but the quality and service is FIRST rate, and your suit or blazer/slacks combination will last you for years and years, and everyone will be suitably impressed. Especially the ladies.

Just go *DO* it.

http://i353.photobucket.com/albums/r...e91/dsc208.jpg

I look bad-assed in a silk suit with a grey shirt and a red tie. Feels good too. Fit is everything. Gotta learn to sit with with a suit.

My suit came from Macy's during a sale... I think it was something around $239. The only piece of advice I can think of is that you should not get a deep, dark black one if you have pets... the black seems to highlight every stray pet hair on you.

work party and you are willing to spend a couple grand on a suit?

what kind of job is this? if you don't want to be seen as "that guy" and if your job isn't paying 6 figures to every employee, find a suit that matches your pay grade, or you'll be "that guy" at the different end of the scale.

I doubt people are going to care about the price tag of your suit, and if thats the critera for this work party, get one from salvation army from the 70s for 20 bucks in lime green tweed, with frills and points, and dare them to complain. That will be a lot more fun. :D

IMO if its a normal dark suit, there is little visual difference between a 3-500 dollar suit, and a 3k suit in an evening party setting.

All my suits are from mens wearhouse clearance sales, and they look decent enough. Fine for a party. Anything properly tailored will look pretty good honestly. My 150 dollar suit fits better and looks better than my 350 dollar suit based on tailoring

Is this a "one-time" affair? Why go through the trouble of finding a "haute couture" suit if you won't be wearing one again in this lifetime!??

Shop the retail stores (Dillard's, Foley's, etc.). Get something black with a European cut (I've seen your build, you can rock this).

To be honest, the shoes will have more impact than the suit. Show up in a top-of-the-line Armani and shoddy footwear, and all will be lost.

Get a classic but well-fitting suit. But get some decent shoes! :)

Shoes on Ebay are also at deep discount.

Allen-Edmonds, in excellent condition, can be found for less than $50. Calfskin Aldens will run about twice that. For a business setting only Oxfords will do.

Shipping will be in the area of $15, so all in you will be facing less than $70 for a $325 (retail) pair of shoes that should last for many years.

People will put more stock in your shoes than your suit, and a comfortable pair of shoes will also make you a more productive person.

Before you go read Proverbs 23, verses 2-12. It is sage wisdom on how to deal with a business associate in a social setting.

If you attend a formal business party you are being sized up in ways that are not possible during the normal course of your duties. This will not be apparent, but it will be.

Just do it!

http://www.founditemclothing.com/t-s...o-shirt-lg.jpg

In the spirit of what JB3 posted, I vote for a polyester double-knit suit, Nike shoes, and at least two bottles of hair gel. Don't forget to douse yourself with the cheapest cologne that Wal-Mart carries.

Oh, and be sure to bring at least two cases of Michelbob Ultra Light.

Apart from clothing, in other words, don't get falling down drunk and hit on the boss's wife/daughter/sister/mother/mistress or boss herself if shes a woman. Don't make an a$$ of yourself basically. No fast hands, no roving eyes, stay away from the photocopier. Keep your belt buckled

two glass max, club soda the rest of the time. Restrict yourself to pleasant forgettable observations, make only good impressions, avoid politics and religion as discussion topics, charm the women but don't creep them out, ect.

x3

Just tell them what you need it for and what your budget is upfront, they will take care of you. Easier than going to jos bank and then having to negotiate them down from their highest line item.

I was initially cautious to spend $300 on a suit, but...
A fitted suit really really really makes a difference when you're job hunting.