Best place to buy a suit?

NJ Guy · Dec 27, 2014

I've bought a few suits at Men's Wearhouse and loved them, but wanted to try some other places/brands. Looking to spend around $500 or less on a suit. Can anyone steer me in the direction of a good place with great customer service?

guccihomme · Dec 27, 2014

$500 will give you choices at Nordstrom Rack. Hart/Marx is a good choice In your price range. If you had a little more $$$ and time, I've seen Canali and Hickey Freeman at the rack and both are very good. eBay is a great option if you know your measurements. What size are you? Are you skinny or a little extra weight?

NJ Guy · Dec 27, 2014

I had actually swung past Nordstrom Rack earlier today but wasn't wild about it. Nobody helps you, sizes you, measures you, or anything. You just sort of pick things out as if you were buying a pair of jeans or something.

AgeofTheGeek · Dec 27, 2014

To get the best value for your money, you should look at places like Nordstrom Rack and stores that have big sales on their suits. Off the top of my head the best two options I can think of are Brooks Brothers and Hugo Boss. You're not going to be getting any top of the line or lifelong suits, but you should be able to get an above average one if you try hard enough.

I suggest first trying the Rack. There's no telling what kind of deals you can come across there. I go to the Boston Nordstrom's Rack, which may have a larger selection and therefore better deals than smaller racks, but you might be able to get a Hickey Freeman at that price level which is a good buy.

If you don't succeed at the rack I'd look at Hugo Boss and Brooks Brothers. Neither get that much praise from the SF community, for good reason, but right now they're both having big sales on suits, and for 400 - 500, they're good purchases IMO.

All three options will give you a clear step up regarding quality compared to what you're probably used to wearing, and are easily better than the options at Macy's and Banana Republic/JCrew.

Keep in mind sizing might be difficult to find, and the suits may be on the trendier side, since there will be such a big price reduction compared to MSRP.

AgeofTheGeek · Dec 27, 2014

Also, regarding service: I'm a fan of Hugo Boss and Brooks Brothers' service. Regardless of their suit, I've always had a good experience. Even when I buy their cheaper sale suits, I always receive an amount of attention and care that satisfies me and makes me feel good about my purchase. Both HB and BB offer in store tailoring. Given your lower budget, you may want to opt for a out of store tailor so you can really maximize the value of your purchase, but for the average consumer and even above, I think the in shop tailors will be just fine.

NJ Guy · Dec 28, 2014

Going past the normal Bloomingdales today (rather than the outlet store I tried yesterday). Supposedly it's up to 75% off today, so it's worth a look IMO.

billythekid · Dec 28, 2014

Try on a bunch of brands to see what fits you best. Why not spend $1000 on a navy suit that you can wear 1/2 the time vs keep making the same mistakes at MensWarehouse? You really have to have a good eye to play the Bloomingdales/Nordstrom game. Ask the salesguy if its a full canvas suit even.... checkout some of the brands that have a good name on here.....ehaberdasher, suitsupply, kent wang, brooks brothers, etc.
keep notes on the fits of things so you dont repeat the same mistakes/purchases in the future.

clotheshorse69 · Dec 28, 2014

Best approach is to be open minded. You can get a nice fitting suit from a brand that isn't popular or expensive.

NJ Guy · Dec 28, 2014

Went to Bloomingdales and got a great Hugo Boss on sale. Normally $1k, but got the suit for in the $500s. Got a great shirt and tie to go with it too.

phenom01 · Dec 28, 2014

AgeofTheGeek said:
To get the best value for your money, you should look at places like Nordstrom Rack and stores that have big sales on their suits. Off the top of my head the best two options I can think of are Brooks Brothers and Hugo Boss. You're not going to be getting any top of the line or lifelong suits, but you should be able to get an above average one if you try hard enough.

I suggest first trying the Rack. There's no telling what kind of deals you can come across there. I go to the Boston Nordstrom's Rack, which may have a larger selection and therefore better deals than smaller racks, but you might be able to get a Hickey Freeman at that price level which is a good buy.

If you don't succeed at the rack I'd look at Hugo Boss and Brooks Brothers. Neither get that much praise from the SF community, for good reason, but right now they're both having big sales on suits, and for 400 - 500, they're good purchases IMO.

All three options will give you a clear step up regarding quality compared to what you're probably used to wearing, and are easily better than the options at Macy's and Banana Republic/JCrew.

Keep in mind sizing might be difficult to find, and the suits may be on the trendier side, since there will be such a big price reduction compared to MSRP.

Whats wrong with brooks brothers?

AgeofTheGeek · Dec 28, 2014

There's nothing wrong with it. But at full price - and that's a decent chunk of change - I think one could do better for their money. Brooks Brothers also has a lot of different lines, with clothes made and tailored in different countries, by different professionals, I'd look elsewhere for that $1500 suit.

TOstyle · Dec 28, 2014

I've said it before and I'll say it again - I think Suit Supply makes the best cheap suit out there. What they sell for $500 is world better than what you get at Men's Warehouse/ Macys and I'd also say Hickey Freeman.

That would be my first choice. Second choice would be a Hugo Boss on sale (at Macys or Bloomingdales or wherever), where you can get a good end of season mark-down. Not an amazing quality product by any means, but certainly nothing wrong with it.

Just for the love of all that is holy, stay away from Men's Warehouse. It's a total waste of money on a suit that won't last (and will look like crap the entire time you have it).

suited · Dec 28, 2014

NJ Guy said:
Went to Bloomingdales and got a great Hugo Boss on sale. Normally $1k, but got the suit for in the $500s. Got a great shirt and tie to go with it too.

If you like the way it looks then good for you, but if you would have been patient and taken some advice, you could have ended up with something higher quality than Hugo Boss.

AgeofTheGeek · Dec 28, 2014

suited said:
If you like the way it looks then good for you, but if you would have been patient and taken some advice, you could have ended up with something higher quality than Hugo Boss.

at least for $500. At $500 I'd say HB is a 6.5 or 7/10 buy. 3 to 4 hundred I think is the sweet spot

billythekid · Dec 28, 2014

I agree with them. if i had the frame for brooks bros, Id go there without a second thought. I wouldnt think of getting a good suit at HB either. its just too trendy. good luck tho.

Best place to buy a suit?

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Definitely full canvas only

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