First Suit for an Athlete (Drop 12ish)

[Ski4Ever]

I'm starting to look for business suits since I will soon begin recruiting for internships and later full-time work. However, I lift religiously, have played rugby for most of my life, and am generally a very athletic person, so my body is very muscular. My chest is 44 inches, my waist is 32 inches (might be bigger than usual as I had a nice dinner), and my biceps are about 19 inches. This is basically what I look like - albeit with a slightly trimmer waist, smaller traps, and no tats - https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/12/06/06/21895118-7762807-image-a-3_1575614114061.jpg .

I live in NA (west coast), though I will be in the EU for a uni exchange starting late winter. My budget is probably $1k USD per suit. Obviously, good fit, quality, materials, etc are preferable. The timing is not a problem - I have time.

What brands should I be looking at? Is there any hope of finding something that fits OTR? Or should I go MTM/Bespoke? So far, unstructured suits have seemed to fit the best, should I be looking at canvassed suits or unstructured ones?

Thanks

 

[jimrude]

With an athlete's body, you have two realistic choices: (a) suit separates (i.e. you can buy, say, a 44L jacket with a 32L trouser, in matching fabric), or (b) someone like Hall Madden.

The challenge with suit separates is that at least the jacket will likely still require potentially extensive alternations.

My sons are both international-level athletes (swimmers), as was I in my youth. We've had great success with Hall Madden. They will put you into a "template" jacket - say, a 46L - and use it as a starting point for customizing fit to you. The same for the trousers. You can pick all of the details (fabric, lapels, pick stitching, pockets, lining, buttons, etc etc etc).

I think for a basic VBC wool two-piece, you're looking at about $1,200. You won't get anything off the rack that will fit as well.

YMMV.

 

[mensimageconsultant]

Dior Homme might work, and it's probably the highest-quality such possibility off the rack. A good deal on that seems more likely in the EU, or toward Western Europe at least.