Searching for a "budget" suit.

[MrG]

Ok, here's my issue: I'm in the market for a second business/interview suit. I currently have one in charcoal pinstripe, so I'm looking for something in a solid navy. Problem is, I don't have too much to spend. I'm looking around $300, but I could go up another $100 if I found something I couldn't resist. Basically I'm looking for the best I can do within my price range.

I also don't have a ton of resources - I'm in Athens, GA. There's a Jos A Bank nearby, and they have a navy Signature (not Sig. Gold) for $400, but the consensus here seems to be that I'd be throwing my money away. I'm also not thrilled with the cut of the shoulders on the Jos A Bank suits. The local mall is awful. There's also an outlet within driving distance with a Brooks Brothers, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein. I've looked on STP, and they don't currently have anything in my size/price range. Anyone have any advice?

Incidentally, I'm a 38R, if that would help in any way.

Thanks

 

[CTGuy]

I would scour the sales thread.

 

[Haystack]

If you can get into a 38s...
http://www.overstock.com/Clothing-Sh...4/product.html

$400 Austin Reed here...http://www.milbern.com/

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-595-Mens-MAT...713.m153.l1262

 

[agavilanes]

Originally Posted by CTGuy

I would scour the sales thread.
+ 1. I think I saw some RL suits for under USD 400

 

[edinatlanta]

Something like this.

http://jimcofer.com/personal/wp-cont...ge_7166769.jpg

 

[dclloyd]

Originally Posted by MrG

Ok, here's my issue: I'm in the market for a second business/interview suit. I currently have one in charcoal pinstripe, so I'm looking for something in a solid navy. Problem is, I don't have too much to spend. I'm looking around $300, but I could go up another $100 if I found something I couldn't resist. Basically I'm looking for the best I can do within my price range.

I also don't have a ton of resources - I'm in Athens, GA. There's a Jos A Bank nearby, and they have a navy Signature (not Sig. Gold) for $400, but the consensus here seems to be that I'd be throwing my money away. I'm also not thrilled with the cut of the shoulders on the Jos A Bank suits. The local mall is awful. There's also an outlet within driving distance with a Brooks Brothers, Polo Ralph Lauren, and Calvin Klein. I've looked on STP, and they don't currently have anything in my size/price range. Anyone have any advice?

Incidentally, I'm a 38R, if that would help in any way.

Thanks

For a Navy 38R you're going to have a hard time finding a 'steal' or anything in the sales thread. Suggest you check out "The Wizard of Aahs" on EBay. He sells 2 decent products in that price range - Baroni with a more American cut and Marco Valentino (no relation to any other Valentino) for a trimmer European cut. I have both and for the money you can't go wrong. Full or half canvas which is hard to find at that price point. Decent fabrics and construction. They're certainly not high end suits like Canali/Zegna etc, but good value for the dollar.

Send him an email letting him know you heard about him on the forum and he'll cut you a deal.

 

[BABuckeye]

Look at the Hickey line from Hickey Freeman, Orig $1200, now $360. Reviews in other threads. Possibly half canvass constriction or possibly fused, but good quality and modern fit.

http://www.hickeystyle.com/website/p...4&dept_id=4150

Also check your local Ralph Lauren store and look for the upcoming Gilt sale on RL Purple and Black label suits. These will be better quality, but also slightly more expensive (maybe $500 during a Gilt frenzy?)

 

[The Transporter]

Originally Posted by dclloyd

For a Navy 38R you're going to have a hard time finding a 'steal' or anything in the sales thread. Suggest you check out "The Wizard of Aahs" on EBay. He sells 2 decent products in that price range - Baroni with a more American cut and Marco Valentino (no relation to any other Valentino) for a trimmer European cut. I have both and for the money you can't go wrong. Full or half canvas which is hard to find at that price point. Decent fabrics and construction. They're certainly not high end suits like Canali/Zegna etc, but good value for the dollar. Send him an email letting him know you heard about him on the forum and he'll cut you a deal.
+1 I got a navy Baroni from him last month for interviewing and I love it. I took it to my tailor and she was shocked at what I paid for how good it looks. Just ordered a medium gray Marco Valentino from him and like it even better since I've been trimming down and can fit into more of a European cut. Looking to get a few others, too, since he's so great to deal with and they fit in my price range at the moment. Eventually I'd like to move up to a Thick as Thieves and then into bespoke itself but Jeff's suits are a great deal if you're just starting out. Here's a 38R Marco Valentino in plain navy. Shoot him an email like dclloyd said and tell him you heard about him on StyleForum and he'll cut you a great deal. http://cgi.ebay.com/M-VALENTINO-MENS...713.m153.l1262 Here's a 38R Baroni in plain navy. It has peak lapels but email him and see if he can get you one with notch lapels instead. Also, if you like flat front pants just let him know and he can usually get them for you. http://cgi.ebay.com/BARONI-1295-2-BU...713.m153.l1262

 

[MrG]

Many, many thanks to everyone for all the help (except Ed, you keep on celebrating that time in the last eight years Tech beat UGA).

I'm thinking the Valentino is the way to go, I tend to like a slimmer fit my suits/coats, so that looks great. I was just at the BB Outlet and they wanted more for a 346 than he's asking for the Valentino.

 

[Captain.Kia]

Nice thread.

 

[crpz32]

Originally Posted by The Transporter

+1

I got a navy Baroni from him last month for interviewing and I love it. I took it to my tailor and she was shocked at what I paid for how good it looks. Just ordered a medium gray Marco Valentino from him and like it even better since I've been trimming down and can fit into more of a European cut. Looking to get a few others, too, since he's so great to deal with and they fit in my price range at the moment. Eventually I'd like to move up to a Thick as Thieves and then into bespoke itself but Jeff's suits are a great deal if you're just starting out.

Here's a 38R Marco Valentino in plain navy. Shoot him an email like dclloyd said and tell him you heard about him on StyleForum and he'll cut you a great deal.

http://cgi.ebay.com/M-VALENTINO-MENS...713.m153.l1262

Here's a 38R Baroni in plain navy. It has peak lapels but email him and see if he can get you one with notch lapels instead. Also, if you like flat front pants just let him know and he can usually get them for you.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BARONI-1295-2-BU...713.m153.l1262

Just a word of caution on budget "Baroni"s and "Marco Valentino"s. On the auctions they are stated to be fully canvassed, but in actuality, they are only half-canvassed. I would check www.overstock.com for cheaper but similiar options.

 

[stumy]

These suits look like a great deal. The only thing I'd be cautious about is the shoulder measurement, and the jacket length. 42'' seems fairly broad for a 38. Is that wrong? Also the 38s is listed as being 31'.5'' from the collar to bottom of the jacket, which is what my BB fitsgerald 38r measures.

 

[JTA]

Originally Posted by crpz32

Just a word of caution on budget "Baroni"s and "Marco Valentino"s. On the auctions they are stated to be fully canvassed, but in actuality, they are only half-canvassed. I would check www.overstock.com for cheaper but similiar options.

I owned Marco Valentino (I think it's the normal one not the slimmer fit "Milano" model) and indeed it's a good workhorse suit.

One of the best bang for bucks suit, good fabric and decent construction in budget value with many sizes and available colors. If you are living in the US, Jeff is extremely flexible and offering a classy service.

I believe it's also half canvassed, yet I have no experience with the Baroni therefore I could not comment on it.

 

[MrG]

Just thought I'd post an update. The MV came earlier this week. It's definitely a sharp suit, especially for the money. It beats the hell out of all the other crap I found at my current price point (including the BB 346).

One word of advice, however. The pants on the MV are VERY slim. The pants that come with a 38/32 have always fit me well, with few alterations in the pants. The waist is usually good, and I have only slight alterations done for style. On the MV pants I could barely button and zip them, and I was afraid to sit/bend over for fear of splitting them. To get the pants to fit I'm having the waist let out 1.5", and the seat/crotch let out almost as much as the extra fabric will allow without going too far.

Overall, though, it's a great suit for the cash, and Jeff was incredibly easy to deal with.

 

[kulata]

Originally Posted by MrG

Just thought I'd post an update. The MV came earlier this week. It's definitely a sharp suit, especially for the money. It beats the hell out of all the other crap I found at my current price point (including the BB 346).

One word of advice, however. The pants on the MV are VERY slim. The pants that come with a 38/32 have always fit me well, with few alterations in the pants. The waist is usually good, and I have only slight alterations done for style. On the MV pants I could barely button and zip them, and I was afraid to sit/bend over for fear of splitting them. To get the pants to fit I'm having the waist let out 1.5", and the seat/crotch let out almost as much as the extra fabric will allow without going too far.

Overall, though, it's a great suit for the cash, and Jeff was incredibly easy to deal with.

Did you buy the slim 'Milano' model? How is the jacket fit generally?