Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › Polyester improvements?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Polyester improvements?

post #1 of 10
10/14/11 at 7:22pm
Thread Starter 
I have lost a lot of weight this year with the aim of being able to buy OTR suits. Anyway I went to Marshall's with the intention of trying suits on for size. Stores like that are perfect for this kind of thing, because no one is on commission and the clerks don't give a damn if you buy something or pass. It turns out that I'm a 40S or a 40R or a 40slim depending on the manufacture.ffffuuuu.gif I learned nothing.
At any rate, I saw a couple of sport coats that looked and felt good until I noticed they were polyester. Has polyester improved in the last few years or was I just seeing things?


































































s
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 10
10/14/11 at 8:15pm
I wouldn't be shopping for suits at Marshalls. From what I've seen when I've been there, its pretty garbage.

Don't buy a polyester suit. They don't breathe, they don't drape properly. Sometimes commissioned people at a store with more expensive suits can be helpful, so that you know what to look for in terms of fit.

Or creep the suit critiques on this site religiously.

40s does not mean slim by the way, it means short.

Do yourself a favour, and go try on a ZZenga suit or something. Get a feel for what a "pricier" suit looks like, feels like. Then work your way down in budget until you settle on a good compromise.

If you think polyester looks/feels good, its clear you've never tried on a quality suit.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 10
10/14/11 at 8:22pm
I've wondered about polyester also. Everything I've ever heard is that it should be avoided; however, I've seen some high-priced, designer label clothing with polyester in it which made me wonder if perhaps it's not so bad?????
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 10
10/14/11 at 9:18pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bentley View Post

I've wondered about polyester also. Everything I've ever heard is that it should be avoided; however, I've seen some high-priced, designer label clothing with polyester in it which made me wonder if perhaps it's not so bad?????

You know that a number of things have improved over the last 50 years, like phones, cars, computers, even metal. Why should synthetic fabrics remain static? I remember polyester of the 70s that was genuinely terrible. The stuff I viewed the other day seemed a lot like natural fabric.

BTW, I share Taylorstav opinion re buying at Marshall's, but I hate going into a good store and have 2-3 people trying to "help" me when I'm just trying to get a feel for size. Having been in commission sales, I feel guilty about taking someones time and not buying anything,
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 10
10/14/11 at 9:34pm
If it fits you and you like the look of it the only thing I can say is just go ahead and try it. I personally haven't found anything with PE in it that I find comfortable to wear, but if you do you'd be silly not to try it.

Polyester will still be polyester of course, it's not a complex product that can be improved in a way such as phones. If they make a better artificial fibre it's not polyester any more. What they can improve is how they weave through the natural fibres I suppose.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 10
10/14/11 at 9:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godot View Post

You know that a number of things have improved over the last 50 years, like phones, cars, computers, even metal. Why should synthetic fabrics remain static? I remember polyester of the 70s that was genuinely terrible. The stuff I viewed the other day seemed a lot like natural fabric.

Wool has been improving for millions of years longer.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 10
10/15/11 at 6:15am
In terms of look and feel Polyester is now pretty much equal to wool. That doesn't mean it is functionally equal.

Polly doesn't breathe well - you will feel hot and sticky
Polly gets shiny - After 6 months of wear your knees, elbows and pockets will take on a plastic look
Polly melts in a fire - sounds like a silly consideration, but I have a friend who crashed a light aircraft while wearing a high-vis jacket. That melted plastic burned right through his skin.
Polly holds its shape - a good suit will settle into your body shape. After 6 months it should feel like putting on your oldest pair of jeans - just right. polly doesn't do this. You'll never look properly comfy.

Does it feel good to touch? Yeah. Will it look ok for the first 3 months? Yeah.

If you don't want a long term purchase (maybe you're only in a city for a week and need a suit) then there's nothing wrong with it per say.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 10
10/15/11 at 6:25am
Synthetic fabrics have wonderful capabilities, but for suiting cloth I'd stick with the naturals, especially at lower price points.

Some designer clothes will have fabrics with synthetic elements because they provide a texture, sheen or other quality.

But a synthetic fabric you find in a cheap coat is just there because it's cheap.
Edited by mack11211 - 10/15/11 at 6:36am
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 10
10/15/11 at 8:41am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Godot View Post

You know that a number of things have improved over the last 50 years, like phones, cars, computers, even metal. Why should synthetic fabrics remain static? I remember polyester of the 70s that was genuinely terrible. The stuff I viewed the other day seemed a lot like natural fabric.
BTW, I share Taylorstav opinion re buying at Marshall's, but I hate going into a good store and have 2-3 people trying to "help" me when I'm just trying to get a feel for size. Having been in commission sales, I feel guilty about taking someones time and not buying anything,

My point is, if you're new to the world of suits, which I assume you are....you don't have any idea what makes a suit fit properly.

There is absolutely no way someone can walk into a store left to their own devices, pick out a suit that ticks all the boxes of proper fit. It's just impossible.

Don't be intimidated by salespeople. Soak up knowledge from people at the expensive stores, even if you have no intention of spending that kind of money. Do you really think that they will hold a grudge against you 5 minutes after you leave the store?

Try on a $3000 suit. Get a feel for what looks good on you, and how a suit is really supposed to fit. Have the sales guy pin the suit while you wear it, so that you know what tailoring can do to a suit. Find out what makes a ho-hum suit and what makes a great suit. Even if that means wasting someone's time.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 10
10/15/11 at 8:48am
It has not so far as manufacturing clothes is concerned.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Men's Clothing
Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Men's Clothing › Polyester improvements?