Decent Shirt & Ties in the GTA

[ustudent]

Hey guys,

I'm new to this forum but I'm sure I'll be a regular here, soon enough. Anyways, I needed some help with buying a fews shirts and ties. I'm starting my internship in a few weeks and need it for that.

My current suit/shirt/tie collection is pretty weak. I just have a black suit, black tie, and a sky blue/white stripe DKNY shirt.

I won't be wearing the suit jacket to work, only the shirt and tie, so need some more of those. The max I can spend is about $300. I just need some advice on what color shirt & ties I should get, and where I should get them. I live in Toronto.

Thanks!

 

[GoldenTribe]

I'll leave the shirts up to others, but let me say this much about ties: don't ever buy them in Toronto (unless it's a specific tie you LOVE and it's on sale).

Drive to Buffalo and Brioni/Versace/whatever-the-hell ties are $49 at Off 5th Ave.

Look on eBay and every marsupialed brand from McQueen to Dior Homme to Charvet to Tom Ford is $100, max.

If you go to Holt Renfrew/Harry Rosen to buy ties from any of these brands you will end up spending $200 per tie. **** that. I just got a beautiful Tom Ford grenadine tie from SF user SpooPooker (ebay ID balearic1 iirc) for US$114, and with the current exchange rate it was less than $99.99+tax at a Canadian store. Good luck finding a Tom Ford tie for 99 bucks anywhere in the GTA that isn't damaged.

 

[ustudent]

Originally Posted by GoldenTribe

I'll leave the shirts up to others, but let me say this much about ties: don't ever buy them in Toronto (unless it's a specific tie you LOVE and it's on sale).

Drive to Buffalo and Brioni/Versace/whatever-the-hell ties are $49 at Off 5th Ave.

Look on eBay and every marsupialed brand from McQueen to Dior Homme to Charvet to Tom Ford is $100, max.

If you go to Holt Renfrew/Harry Rosen to buy ties from any of these brands you will end up spending $200 per tie. **** that. I just got a beautiful Tom Ford grenadine tie from SF user SpooPooker (ebay ID balearic1 iirc) for US$114, and with the current exchange rate it was less than $99.99+tax at a Canadian store. Good luck finding a Tom Ford tie for 99 bucks anywhere in the GTA that isn't damaged.

Thanks for the tips!

I was planning on going down to Buffalo too. The Off 5th store is in the Niagra Fasion Outlet mall, right? Also, would you recommend any other stores I should check out for some good deals, while I'm there?

And do you think it's worth having a look at the stuff Walden Galleria has got too? I've never found too much there in the past, but I have never really looked for shirts/ties there.

 

[tricky]

Originally Posted by ustudent

Thanks for the tips!

I was planning on going down to Buffalo too. The Off 5th store is in the Niagra Fasion Outlet mall, right? Also, would you recommend any other stores I should check out for some good deals, while I'm there?

And do you think it's worth having a look at the stuff Walden Galleria has got too? I've never found too much there in the past, but I have never really looked for shirts/ties there.

If you know your shirt size just buy from the B&S forum. You can get alternations at a variety of Toronto tailors like Magic Tailor, Studio Kim etc....

 

[ustudent]

Originally Posted by tricky

If you know your shirt size just buy from the B&S forum. You can get alternations at a variety of Toronto tailors like Magic Tailor, Studio Kim etc....

Generally, how much would alternations come up to for just a shirt?

Also, do you recommend anyone/any thread in particular which I should look to buy from?

 

[bdbb]

Originally Posted by ustudent

Generally, how much would alternations come up to for just a shirt? Also, do you recommend anyone/any thread in particular which I should look to buy from?
I wouldn't worry about alterations given your limited budget. If I were you I'd try a bunch of different brands and find something that works well off the rack. I don't even think many people get their shirts altered, it's either OTR or custom made. If you have an average body type, the Polo regent classic fit dress shirts are a decent quality nice looking shirt that doesn't cost too much. Marshall's usually has them for $30-$35, I don't know what off-price stores you have in your country. Edit: also, unless you are interning at a funeral parlor, I'd suggest getting a suit that isn't black if you need to wear one to work.

 

[Master-Classter]

hey guy,
ok, check out brooks brothers on bay(?) street and then buy the shirts online from the usa site for cheaper. they do a slim and extra slim if you need it. Somewhere like Club Monaco often has $19 shirts that are very servicable for work, a student card gets you 20% off too.

read around the forum since this has been covered so so many times.

anyway, I suggest getting 3-5 pairs of pants, navy, light grey, dark grey, and maybe brown. get 10-15 shirts, as in 2-3 white, 2-3 blue or blue patterned, then very simple basic colors like grey stripes, brown stripes, maybe a pink and a light yellow or something. get enough for your first week and once you've looked around at what everyone else has, take it from there.

forget about a suit for now unless you need it, same with ties. if you ahve to get a suit, which I doubt, then it's another story. and no ties without a jacket, ie a shirt, pants and just tie is a chump look.


PS - how old? what sort of field? basic stats (height, weight, etc)

 

[Marcellionheart]

www.thetiebar.com

 

[ustudent]

Originally Posted by Master-Classter

hey guy,
ok, check out brooks brothers on bay(?) street and then buy the shirts online from the usa site for cheaper. they do a slim and extra slim if you need it. Somewhere like Club Monaco often has $19 shirts that are very servicable for work, a student card gets you 20% off too.

read around the forum since this has been covered so so many times.

anyway, I suggest getting 3-5 pairs of pants, navy, light grey, dark grey, and maybe brown. get 10-15 shirts, as in 2-3 white, 2-3 blue or blue patterned, then very simple basic colors like grey stripes, brown stripes, maybe a pink and a light yellow or something. get enough for your first week and once you've looked around at what everyone else has, take it from there.

forget about a suit for now unless you need it, same with ties. if you ahve to get a suit, which I doubt, then it's another story. and no ties without a jacket, ie a shirt, pants and just tie is a chump look.


PS - how old? what sort of field? basic stats (height, weight, etc)

Hey,

Thanks so much for the great tips! I'm 19. Will be working at one of the banks (bay st.) but its a small, part-time, unpaid gig. 6 feet. 160.

Anyways, what do you think about going over to buffalo to get some good deals? Also, any thoughts on Mexx & Zara? They're pretty much in the same league as Club Monaco, and I've always like their stuff.

By the way, I obviously don't want to put too much into buying too many shirts and pants at the moment, as it is only a part-time summer job. I just want to start building my wardrobe. So what do you think I should start with?

I've got one pair of black pants, and one pinstripe black pants. Should I get myself a pair of grey pants? And, I'm definitely getting a white shirt, but what other colors do you recommend I start off with?

 

[Topgoon]

I would also recommend waiting on ties and suit collection. As others have stated, the best price/quality ratio is outside of Toronto and usually online.

Given the budget, skimp out on quality, tailoring, etc and go for quantity (at acceptable quality) to survive the summer.
1) You're a student for 8 months a year (for 2-3 more?), limited wear
2) Your body size is still very likely to change.
3) Toronto summers are hot and hazardous to your wardrobe. Especially if you commute (TTC).

If you do undershirts: get v-necks.

Shirts: 6-8 shirts in rotation.
- limit pure white to 1 (sweat stains, most need undershirt)
- solid light blues and conservatively patterned shirts.
- although I'm advising quantity, there are brands out there with such horrible quality that no amount of quantity will make up for it.

Slacks: add 2-3 more. Cotton
- Greys and navy. Avoid brown slacks if you only have black dress shoes.
- Future reference: black pants and pinstripe pants (sans suit) are not optimal, but should suffice
- Avoid polyester. Heat+Polyester = nasty combo


In terms of attributes, fit is most important.
I'm your size. Brands that don't offer sleeve lengths tend to be slightly short. Brands with sleeve lengths at this price are usually tents. You'll have to experiment and make judgment calls. I feel that body slimness > shorter sleeves

The cheapest shirt I know with slimmness and sleeve length is the Brooks Brother Extra Slim Fit that is $50ish on sale and bulk purchased.

Unfortunately my student days are past me and I haven't kept up my retail knowledge for this sort of wardrobe. Experiment... Just to provide something:

Affordability: Sears, Costco (slacks), Winners, the Bay (heard their house brand is pretty good price/quality ratio).
Slimness: Zara, H&M, Club M


Best of luck. Focus on doing a good job, learn tons, and have fun!

 

[Master-Classter]

Given that you’re doing unpaid, and it’s part time, I wouldn’t invest too much in a lot of clothes. So in my opinion, going out to buffalo isn’t necessary, unless you just want to go for a fun shopping trip. You’re not stocking a whole wardrobe, just getting 1-2 pants, and 3-5 shirts. As for specific stores, I think Club is good in terms of style, but also that they have hugely discounted shirts constantly, so if it’s above $29 don’t buy it. Plus the 20% off with student card makes them like $25. Zara’s alright, and otherwise H&M might have a lot of stuff that’ll fit well, will last as long as you need it, and best of all will be cheap. Just don’t buy flashy crazy colors. I’m not a fan of Mexx myself, mostly because I think their stuff is tacky, and often synthetic. H&M often has a stack of $10-15 pants, so check for those. So I say get Club on deep discount and H&M for some things, but pick carefully. As for what to get, your 2 black pants are fine, as long as they fit reasonably (we’re not talking baggy pleated are we?). You should probably pick up 1 grey pant (1 charcoal or 1 light grey) and a navy to round things out ($50-100/pair). You could do dressy khakis, but it might be out of place so I’d stick to wool or maybe even linen if you’re adventurous. For shirts, get 1-2 nice white ones, 2 blue related (solid, stripes, etc) and 1-2 other ($50/shirt). You might consider undershirts, so go somewhere like H&M and get white v-neck thin t-shirts, maybe 1 one grey shirt. NOT crew, v-neck. Make sure they don’t show through. Anyway, I’ll try make this more visual… so here’s some of my beginner’s wardrobe excerpts… I probably have too many pants, and you’ve already go the black covered, plus just pick one grey out of two. Shirt colors will depend on your coloring, and I don’t have any green, yellow, etc. But the white and blue section’s not a bad starting point.
charcoal, light grey, navy pinstripe, navy/midnight blue, black

white, white grey pinstripe, light grey, light blue, blue gingham or blue check

your 'other' colors, like brown stripe, pink, purple, green, yellow, etc... take it easy here and keep the colors light and patterns minimal

shoes - one black, one dark brown. if you can't get pretty ones, at least keep them clean and polished.

 

[pnin22]

I am no fan of Mexx, their fabrics are mostly plastic blends. Zara has good dress pants for the price (when on sale, $50-80), only if you get the 100% wool ones from their suit separates. Their jackets all have problematic shoulders. Dress shirts -- winner's if you find something that fits.

 

[ustudent]

Thanks so much for the great tips everyone!

And thanks Master-Classter for posting those pictures, helped a lot!