Cocktail attire on a serious budget

[68stang]

I have a dinner party to attend Friday and the dress code is cocktail attire. I don't care for the boxy cut and loose pants of my only suit anymore. I tend to wear close fitting clothes and am 5 11 and 165. I have a great navy blazer and plenty of earth tone cotton pants but I don't care for how any of my wool pants fit. I also don't want to spend $500+ on a suit for this one occasion. I wear business casual (sport coat or no coat) at work and only wear a suit a few times per year.
should I...
1. Wear my navy coat and buy slim dark pants to wear and wear a nice tie and pocket square
2. Buy a $250 suit (Ben Sherman)
3. Any other ideas?

FYI it is a party with many people from Nordstrom and I always try to look as sharp as possible with my given budget as all of you do... Thanks

 

[Harold falcon]

Originally Posted by 68stang

I have a dinner party to attend Friday and the dress code is cocktail attire. I don't care for the boxy cut and loose pants of my only suit anymore. I tend to wear close fitting clothes and am 5 11 and 165. I have a great navy blazer and plenty of earth tone cotton pants but I don't care for how any of my wool pants fit. I also don't want to spend $500+ on a suit for this one occasion. I wear business casual (sport coat or no coat) at work and only wear a suit a few times per year.
should I...
1. Wear my navy coat and buy slim dark pants to wear and wear a nice tie and pocket square
2. Buy a $250 suit (Ben Sherman)
3. Any other ideas?

FYI it is a party with many people from Nordstrom and I always try to look as sharp as possible with my given budget as all of you do... Thanks

Have you tried having the suit altered to fit you properly? Tailors can do amazing things.

 

[Gus]

I suggest #1. But now that it is spring, medium grey would be a good color for the pants. A Blue Blazer will look fine with a team from Nordstrom.

BTW, Nordstrom sells some fairly garish ties and pocket squares. I wouldn't try to go too far with their look. A crisp white linen PS will look great with the blazer. Where a solid white or blue shirt and a fairly simple tie. You want to be elegant not a color/pattern show-off.

Have fun!

 

[Bananafish]

I just listed a brand new CK suit in the Sales Forum for only $180 if interested -- a great starting point on a budget, measurements posted as well: http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=235668 It may not be the most interesting, but for the price, still a very nice Italian made quality suit. I picked it up at Saks at Bal Harbour years ago for what a CK designer suit would normally go for (way too much!) so if you're weary of spending a lot of money on a new suit, it's an instant outfit that could work.

 

[68stang]

Thanks for the help. I have has my suit altered and it is still not the shape I prefer. I don't want to invest any money such as trimming pant legs, shoulder pad work etc...

I like to keep my tie really simple. I was thinking white pocket square and shirt with a solid tie maybe an off gold color or lavender.

Maybe I will get another pair of j crew Bowery pants. They seem to fit well and have a nice taper when I size down one in classic fit. Any other inexpensive pant recommendations are welcome. I will wear a brown split toe as a loafer is too casual and my wing tips need tlc.