Graduation Present - $1000 suit, Bespoke or OTR?

[CJones]

Hi,

I will be graduating from high school this May and as a reward for receiving a great amount of scholarships, my parents have decided to pay around $1000 dollars for a suit.

So, bespoke or off the rack?

I want a double breasted linen that I will be able to wear this summer. I don't want the chest and shoulders to drag when I lift my arms. I want it to be slim, sleek, and modern: very similar to a Tom Ford suit.

Can I get something that won't restrict movement for this price, either bespoke or OTR? Honestly, fit is most important in this decision. And I mean fit objectively: something that fits my body and allows a full range of motion.

Living in the southeast, my options are limited. The closest big city that would have any kind of bespoke tailoring is Atlanta, a four drive I am willing to make. Regardless, I will be driving to Atlanta to find the off the rack suit if that is what is best.

Thanks for your help on this matter.

 

[lemmywinks]

I can't tell you what to do but I'm a high school student so I'm just chiming in with my own opinion.

Get something else. I like dressing up but I wouldn't get a suit, especially a double breasted linen suit. How much wear are you going to get out of it?

I told my mom that I wanted a nice watch. I'm eyeing an Omega Speedmaster Professional.

Or get a good laptop or something if you don't already have one.

 

[Newcomer]

OTR, and just throwing it out there... Please wait another year or two. Between the time I was 18-20, my shoulders broadened almost exponentially. This suit will not last you more than ~6 months to a year.

 

[aravenel]

Originally Posted by Newcomer

OTR, and just throwing it out there... Please wait another year or two. Between the time I was 18-20, my shoulders broadened almost exponentially. This suit will not last you more than ~6 months to a year.

+1. I'll add to that that you aren't going to be able to get bespoke for $1k. You could do made-to-measure, but since I'm guessing you know less about exactly what you want, I'd suggest OTR. Don't spend a ton on it since not only will your physique likely change, but your tastes very well may as well.

The Fitzgerald cut from Brooks Brothers might be a good idea--they can easily be had on sale.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

You're much better off with a watch or something you wont grow out of in less than a year.

 

[Quadcammer]

what kind of hs student wears a double breasted linen suit?

 

[aravenel]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

what kind of hs student wears a double breasted linen suit?

Also a very, very good point. He'll look like he's wearing a costume. First suit should always be charcoal grey or navy blue single breasted.

 

[Cant kill da Rooster]

Originally Posted by Quadcammer

what kind of hs student wears a double breasted linen suit?

+1. Double breasted? Why?

 

[Quadcammer]

Just seems like the whole thing will just be very artificial and costumey

 

[TheFoo]

Originally Posted by Cant kill da Rooster

+1. Double breasted? Why?

The problem is the linen, not that he wants double-breasted.

Personally, if I were getting a $1,000 graduation gift, I'd want something more lasting than a suit.

 

[Master-Classter]

get yourself a nice laptop, or leather bag, a watch, even a leather jacket or something. a suit, particularly a linen DB one, is not a great idea if you ask me.

 

[VelvetGreen]

I would go for a three piece navy blue SB suit in a nice wool. You'll get much more use out of it. If you have (in my eyes) £650 to spend, it's not enough to get a linen DB worth the fuss. I would put that money towards a quality, versatile basic suit to start your collection with. DB linen sounds a bit of a punt especially considering you'll probably grow attached to it and then feel guilty for rarely wearing it since it is a) 'special' b) linen and (taking into account age and peer pressure) c) DB. But a 3 piece SB navy in a good fabric which fits well and goes with any tie/shirt combo? You're winning.

...if you want a suit. Otherwise, get a good fountain pen or a watch. Or both.

 

[mlongano]

Originally Posted by VelvetGreen

I would go for a three piece navy blue SB suit in a nice wool. You'll get much more use out of it.

Hey VelvetGreen...is your avatar Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull fame?

 

[andrew96]

Where are you? If you're north of Atlanta you could check out Nathan's or Alan Zimm in Richmond, VA. There is a small chain of stores in VA that are very good that offer custom, Beecroft and Bull, I highly recommend their off the rack and would expect their custom to be very good. I have heard good things about both. If you're north of there DC, Baltimore, Philly, NYC, Memphis,etc could all be possibilities. West: maybe New Orleans, Huston, Austin or Dallas. South: Miami or some of the resort areas like Key West perhaps?

We can't give you a recommendation on were to go without knowing where you live.

As far as custom VS off the rack, assuming you've been going to a pedatrician regularly your whole life they should be able to give you a graph of your future growth and past growth, it'd be a shame to outgrow a bespoke, and it's useless if it's not going to fit very well in a couple of years. I assume you're 18/19, so you probably have a little growing up to do, and probably out too, your pecks get bigger when you age. You might want to ask them for a chart of your weight.

Anyway, given you're not growing, bespoke is great. I'm going to get flamed for this, but, a $1,000 bespoke is not the same quality as a $1,000 off the rack. High end brands make vast quantities of suits to lower the price, the time, money, etc that goes into making 1 custom is much higher. So unless you're a hard to fit guy, an off the rack that's been altered to be perfect would be just the ticket.

It's all numbers and sense. I assume you've read, "I, Pencil"? If not, read it.

 

[Klobber]

Originally Posted by SkinnyGoomba

You're much better off with a watch or something you wont grow out of in less than a year.

+ 1