Can I do better for my $328?

[brozek]

I'm looking for a navy suit for the academic job market this Fall, and Hickey has this navy one on sale for $700 off retail - can I do better for my $300? Is a cotton suit too informal? I'm a grad student and don't have a big budget, so I want to make sure I'm getting the most for the little I spend.

2-button, center vent , slim fit jacket. breast welt pocket and besom pockets with flaps. low rise flat front trousers, on seam pockets and double besom back pockets. made from 100% cotton.

 

[username79]

Originally Posted by brozek

I'm looking for a navy suit for the academic job market this Fall, and Hickey has this navy one[/url] on sale for $700 off retail - can I do better for my $300? Is a cotton suit too informal? I'm a grad student and don't have a big budget, so I want to make sure I'm getting the most for the little I spend.
Yes, much better. You can go to Marshalls (search for the one in the richest area near you) and buy a Hickey Freeman (not Ltd, not Hickey Style) for $399, or a Polo for $499. If you look hard, you can also find Vestimenta (Calvin Klein Collection '05 and '06) for $399 and Polo Made in Italy for $599 if you can swing it. My local one also has Zegna for $699. I bought a Corneliani sportcoat tonight for $299. Good times.

 

[gumercindo]

Good question. Two options, imo, and I'm by no means a suit expert, but Brooks Brothers has seasonal sales where you can get one of their 1818 suits for around $400. Another option is ebay - lots of deals to be had. Start looking at the Selling board for deals. You can get some serious bang for your buck. Just recently, I remember seeing a David Chu suit for around 330.

 

[whacked]

or using member GetSmart's Thick As Thieves service: http://www.thickasthievesla.com/. Modern-cut MTM for $450 ~ the best deal out there IMO.

 

[bslo]

Originally Posted by brozek

Is a cotton suit too informal?


You didn't indicate your area, but I'd be very, very surprised if anyone noticed that the suit was cotton. I really don't think it would matter, in any case. The last thing they're going to care about are your clothes. You should probably get a wool suit for other reasons, though.

 

[DocHolliday]

I would not get cotton. Cotton looks rumpled very quickly. You should save that look for after you get the job in academia.

I wouldn't normally recommend chalkstripes for interviews, but if time is tight and money short, I'd go with this Hickey chalkstripe before the cotton one:

http://www.hickeystyle.com/website/d...dept%5Fid=4160

 

[username79]

Originally Posted by whacked

or using member GetSmart's Thick As Thieves service: http://www.thickasthievesla.com/. Modern-cut MTM for $450 ~ the best deal out there IMO.

Yes, if you want to look like a 1960s IRS audit team member.

 

[NoVaguy]

Originally Posted by whacked

or using member GetSmart's Thick As Thieves service: http://www.thickasthievesla.com/. Modern-cut MTM for $450 ~ the best deal out there IMO.

bad idea for an interview suit.

 

[DocHolliday]

Originally Posted by NoVaguy

bad idea for an interview suit.

Last I heard, you could widen the lapel, lengthen the coat and lose the ticket/hacking pockets to make it more interview appropriate.

 

[NoVaguy]

Originally Posted by DocHolliday

Last I heard, you could widen the lapel, lengthen the coat and lose the ticket/hacking pockets to make it more interview appropriate.

I understand what you're saying - I like the way Sauce wears it in the pictures in this thread: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=40961

And slightly widening the lapel and getting rid of that overlapping ticket pocket would make that suit appropriate.

But seriously, I think this person should just get something really basic from the rack. It seems he has minimal experience with suits, and his first suit shouldn't be some MTM deal.