I’ve been perusing the forum for some time now and wanted to use this forum as a sounding board to see if I’m on the right track and to receive any suggestions about my particular situation. Per the advice of many I have come to realization that it is time re-engineer my business wardrobe in an effort to adorn more quality. After making what it seems like all of the rookie mistakes imaginable, like ordering an inferior Hart Schaffner Marx MTM suit from a department store only to receive a super-sized RTW suit with little to no alterations. My next mistake was taking my business to a local tailor in Dayton who took gladly charged me $1500 for a fused MTM suit with marginally better fit than my last venture.
So instead of throwing good money after bad, I have taken the advice of others and started concentrating on only purchasing quality products. Brands such as C&J and Alden for shoes, CT for shirts, HF, Canali, EZ and TF for suits (I know everyone isn’t a fan of Tom Ford but I like his suits). I have also started rummaging through the local Off Fifth and the Nordstrom Rack suiting departments with only one suit to show after more than a few trips that of which is a solid grey Mainline Hickey Freeman Beacon model in a size 48.
The mainline Zegna’s that I’ve found at these outlets are usually priced well above what others have suggested is a good price for this label on this board. The prices I’ve found to be from $2100 to $1000. I’ve found Yoox thanks to this board and luckily many of the Zegna’s I’ve found happen to be offered in my size of 58 and 60 but I’m reluctant to pull the trigger due to the low original retail prices, age of the items, and whether or not it is actually mainline.
I’ve thought about going to a Zegna Boutique and having them do MTM but after being quoted $2700 to $3500 reading this thread - http://www.styleforum.net/t/228337/planning-to-get-my-first-made-to-measure-suit-please-advice - I’ve decided going against this and instead decided to perhaps try the bespoke route with a master tailor by the name of Romualdo in Madeira a suburb of Cincinnati http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB121520805842729307-lMyQjAxMDI4MTA1NTIwMDU4Wj.html.
I should probably preface this thread with the fact that I reside in Dayton Ohio and possess a challenging physique to say the least, I’m 5’4” 220 with a bodybuilder’s proportions: barrel chest, big back and big arms etc... I’m actually making a conscious effort to size down so more options can be made available and I can look decent in a suit.
So here I am looking for any input on my next suit, suiting brands to look for with the intent of finding a brand that might fit my figure well to set myself apart.
