How often do you wear your "nice" suits to work?

[gamblers4]

I am wanting to start to wear suits on occasion to work yet am wondering how expensive suits hold up in day to day wear. I want to start building up my wardrobe and implement some nice suits (Oxxford and possibly other expensive brands off of ebay and/or consignment shops) and don't want to have them ruined in a relatively short time period. I guess the nuts and bolts of what I'm asking is if the more expensive wools are less durable being a finer, softer material than your average $400 - $800 suit.

I am also sure this question will arise: "So what is it that you do for employment?"

I am in the service industry, I work in a casino style job where we wear mostly slacks and button downs. I handle chips and work on the tables though I'm not a dealer and too complicated to explain my job in detail. I won't be sitting behind a desk or greeting patrons so I imagine the suits will be getting somewhat abused mainly with the elbows and sleeves on the "felt" along with constant motions of moving the upper torso.

Any thoughts and or theories will be greatly appreciated, thanks.

*EDITED*

If you believe nice suits are too luxurious for this type of work then what brands and line of suits would you wear for this style of occupation?

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by gamblers4

I am wanting to start to wear suits on occasion to work yet am wondering how expensive suits hold up in day to day wear. I want to start building up my wardrobe and implement some nice suits (Oxxford and possibly other expensive brands off of ebay and/or consignment shops) and don't want to have them ruined in a relatively short time period. I guess the nuts and bolts of what I'm asking is if the more expensive wools are less durable being a finer, softer material than your average $400 - $800 suit. I am also sure this question will arise: "So what is it that you do for employment?" I am in the service industry, I work in a casino style job where we wear mostly slacks and button downs. I handle chips and work on the tables though I'm not a dealer and too complicated to explain my job in detail. I won't be sitting behind a desk or greeting patrons so I imagine the suits will be getting somewhat abused mainly with the elbows and sleeves on the "felt" along with constant motions of moving the upper torso. Any thoughts and or theories will be greatly appreciated, thanks. *EDITED* If you believe nice suits are too luxurious for this type of work then what brands and line of suits would you wear for this style of occupation?
I am wearing suits all day. Except for playing Golf. Actually there are five suits in rotation. They last max. 2 years (about 100 times wearing and the trousers have to be repaired two times). IMO they should be replaced by wearing them 80 times. If you like to wear suits and if it is possible, then start. You will only get experienced by doing it. My advice: get MTM suits. The reasons are: - select the fabric (durability) - have an impact on the shape (for movements) Have fun!

 

[gamblers4]

Originally Posted by Golf_Nerd

My advice: get MTM suits. The reasons are:

- select the fabric (durability)
- have an impact on the shape (for movements)

Have fun!

Thanks! I believe this will be fun.

Being the neophite that I am, what fabrics would you recommend and with whom would you MTM through? I have looked at TAT and some other popular suit manufacturers (chineese). TAT seems too trendy or too fashionable for my line of work, yet I've also convinced myself that there "two button conservative cut" may just be appropriate.

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by gamblers4

... what fabrics would you recommend and with whom would you MTM through?

I can't recommend a fabric for several reason:

- I don't know the climate you work in
- I don't know your weight
- I don't know your colour and complexion
- I don't know how you wanna look like
- ...

But here are some more information on fabric (what I unterstood up to now):

1. no plastics/ no synthetics
2. not black
3. color is important (which shade of blue grey or brown)
4. it is easyier to work with heavy clothes

The biggest problem is to find a good tailor (at the MTM-studio for measurement and another one for alterations). So you need luck (or recommendations) and experience to get the suits you like. It will need time and several attempts to reach the goal.

Note: Important for your outfit is the shirt and tie also. So don't push too hard on the suit.

 

[gamblers4]

OK, I thought you were going to recommend wools that hold up better under certain situations and take more abuse (ie. certain weights... like super 100's, 120's or glen plaids or paticular weaves).

I pretty much know what colors work well on me and I have no intentions of wearing black to work.

 

[merkur]

..

 

[KObalto]

Originally Posted by gamblers4

OK, I thought you were going to recommend wools that hold up better under certain situations and take more abuse (ie. certain weights... like super 100's, 120's or glen plaids or paticular weaves).

I pretty much know what colors work well on me and I have no intentions of wearing black to work.
Anything higher than a Super 120 will wear more quickly due to the fineness of the wool. Minimize dry cleaning and a good suit will last quite awhile (far longer than a cheap suit). Use a clothes brush to get out dirt and a steamer to get out wrinkles.

 

[globetrotter]

I am wearing 12 year old suits, wearing one as I write, as a matter of fact. I have had to replace the crotch of one suit, and the knee of one (that I fell down a hill in). aside from that, they have lasted.

 

[MORNINGSTAR777]

Originally Posted by globetrotter

I am wearing 12 year old suits, wearing one as I write, as a matter of fact. I have had to replace the crotch of one suit, and the knee of one (that I fell down a hill in). aside from that, they have lasted.


How were these repairs done? Like did the sew a gusset in the crotch area or just a patch. And hwith the knee was the rip just stitched close with a patch behind it?

 

[JayJay]

I wear suits daily. I now have a rotation of suits for spring/summer, fall/winter, and year round wear. This reduces the amount of wear for the suits while also providing fabrics appropriate for the weather conditions. I don't hold any of my "good" suits back, they all are part of the daily rotation during their season.

 

[PandArts]

Everyday! My rotation of full suits in still rather small...I have five. But I also have about five odd jackets and trousers with a few odd waist coats so I do a lot of mix and match to help keep the looks from repeating. Fortunately I work in a field that allows me a ton of freedom in this department.

 

[Golf_Nerd]

Originally Posted by merkur

??? I thought good suits were supposed to last a long time. How long I don't know excatly but I would have thought longer than 80 - 100 wears. Can someone like FNB, voxsartoria, Sator or Manton please weigh into this?

I am interessted in this question, too, and hope to get a feedback especially from Manton (Manton, I am reading your book).

For me are 80 - 100 times are OK. I am gaining weight. Every year about 2 - 3 kg. And I am wearing the suits about 12 -15 hours a day. So wearing them 100 times means about 1500 hours use. For me this is longtime.

 

[Skanstull]

I expect more than 80-100 wears from a suit and that is also my experience from the suits I have owned.

 

[Siggy]

I wear suits every day to work. I presently have about 8 work suits (ie, not cords or more casual). My work suits are all wool, super 120s and 130's, worsted and flannels. They are all what most would consider to be nice suits, fully canvassed well respected brands and MTM. I have not had any problems with them wearing out, and have worn many of them over 200 or so times. I expect them to last many more years.

The finer the wool, generally the quicker the suit will wear. Quality suits made from wool up to super 120 will wear well. I also like lower number wool as well, depending on the fabric maker and weave type, but I don't buy higher than super 130s. I never wear the same suit 2 days in a row if I can help it (same with shoes), and that helps the suits to last much longer. I also do not dry clean them unless they get food etc spilled on them. Instead I brush them with a quality boar brustled suit brush.

 

[GuidoWongolini]

I wear suits every day - as you will be wearing for up to 10 hours, get the best you can & ROTATE..

Finally **** happens, I not only wear but like to think I work in my suits. So the better the fabric the better they bounce back in >24hrs.

Fabric is important especially when you travel, I usually pack enough suits to a ratio of 3/4 of the number of days I'm there & I haven't got time for d/cleaners etc (also I don't trust them) so my suits have to be able to look fresh - I don't even use the hot shower trick, I just hang in a well ventilated area & let the creases fall out over night.