Suits on the Hill

[wgolembiewski]

I have received a fellowship that will have me serving as a congressional aide for about a year.

I will be wearing suits every day during that time and potentially every day for up to three years.

I have been doing research and Brooks Brothers seems to be the standard bearer, but suit supply is also getting good reviews and one particularly good WSJ article.

I figure I'll need around 5 suits so the price will add up and with wearing them often I don't want them to wear out often. I also am concerned about them representing me. I want them to look good, but don't want to be so "trendy" that I stand out in a bad way.

Any input on a good quality, durable, business appropriate, and affordable suit would be much appreciated.

I'm 6'2" 200lbs - athletic build.

 

[TM79]

I'd avoid peak lapels, skinny lapels, and shorter jacket lengths - probably just go navy and charcoal suits and don't get into the super 180 fabrics and such because they aren't really meant to be a daily/weekly wear.

Brooks Brothers 1818 line will do you just fine. A lot of people here rave about SuitSupply but I don't care for most of what they offer.

What's your budget looking like for this stuff?

 

[wgolembiewski]

Ah the price...always the rub. I'm was hoping between 500-600 bought two at a time until I have enough. As I will initially have to buy shirts, ties, and shoes. I currently only have a Joseph Abboud from Norstroms that I got for around 500 a few years back, a pair of nice shoes and a few shirt/tie combos.

The 500-600 range keeps me out of 1818s even at the holiday sell price from the research I've done on their website. I wouldn't mind pushing to 700 for the first two and go slower, but that still keeps me out of them. They've been 850 or higher that I've seen. Is their summer sell better? Any suggestions? Suck it up and buy the better ones more slowly?

FYI...I know it goes without saying,but I'm a total suit novice. More of a t shirt and jeans guy, but I have always appreciated the look of a good suit and am excited for the opportunity to up my wardrobe.

 

[SomethingsFishy]

eBay is your friend. Pick up basically unused suits for next to no money.

That or hit the thrift thread and get learning!

 

[TM79]



eBay is your friend. Pick up basically unused suits for next to no money. 


That or hit the thrift thread and get learning!

But if you do this, bear in mind that you should really know your full measurements because most suits sold on eBay were pre-owned and so they were altered. And some makers have multiple lines of clothing where some run slimmer than others, and so on ...

I've run into good deals only to see that even though someone was a 40R just like me, they were much shorter and so the pants were a lost cause.

eBay is a great source overall, though.

 

[Academic2]

I'd avoid peak lapels, skinny lapels, and shorter jacket lengths - probably just go navy and charcoal suits and don't get into the super 180 fabrics and such because they aren't really meant to be a daily/weekly wear.

Brooks Brothers 1818 line will do you just fine. A lot of people here rave about SuitSupply but I don't care for most of what they offer.

What's your budget looking like for this stuff?

This is all good advice.

Members of the House and Senate are among the most photographed and filmed folks on the planet, so there’s no shortage of images of the uniform in question, which is, well, pretty uniform. If you look at them you’ll pretty quickly see why Brook’s Brothers fits the bill and Suit Supply doesn’t.

Find some photos of your boss and colleagues and dress accordingly.

As you probably know, tie color is interpreted by some as a marker of party affiliation.

Enjoy the gig.

Cheers,

Ac

 

[facet]

While SuitSupply certainly has a lot trendy offerings, they also have more than enough in the conservative colour and cut scheme to easily fill a 5 suit wardrobe. Surely, if all you are looking to purchase is two suits to start out, then I can't see why a Napoli in dark grey and navy (or London in navy), wouldn't be more than adequate and appropriate for your needs. However, if you are willing to pay $500 for those suits, then you should also look at ehaberdashers Benjamin line ($525, full canvas, in dark/mid grey and navy) as well, which, I think, would also be more than sufficient to fit the bill (assuming that he has stock left in your size, of course).

 

[comrade]



But if you do this, bear in mind that you should really know your full measurements because most suits sold on eBay were pre-owned and so they were altered. And some makers have multiple lines of clothing where some run slimmer than others, and so on ...

I've run into good deals only to see that even though someone was a 40R just like me, they were much shorter and so the pants were a lost cause.

eBay is a great source overall, though.

Congratulations on your fellowship. I look forward to seeing you on C-Span and Charlie Rose on the not too distant future.

In addition, if you buy this way you should have an excellent alterations tailor. Incompetence abounds in the alterations
tailoring trade and a suit that kinda works from eBay could easily be ruined. A way to find a really good tailor is to go
to the best mens store in your area and ask them who do they use for special work. If they do not use an outside tailor,
they may allow their house tailor to take "outside" work.

 

[wgolembiewski]

Happy New Year everyone and thanks for all the great info. I probably should have joined this forum earlier as this is great.

A few things.

The ebay thing is interesting and I may have found some options. I was going to ask about selecting a quality tailor, but you've already hit that.

Two questions based on these suggestions:

1) If I do the online route (ebay/ ehaberdashers) how much can a tailor take the pants in without it becoming unsightly or be too much? There is a ehaberdasher Benjamin Sartorial Suit: 41L/42L Medium gray, 2-button Classico II model, super 140's wool Price: $525.00 where the pants are 36s. I am a 33/34 depending on if I'm being lazy or not.

2) During my research maybe on SF or another site, I saw that the higher thread counts although nice, wear much more quickly and that if it's going to be a work suit that you wear 1-2 times a week that you should probably go above a 120. Is that an accurate statement?

ehaberdashers-- seems like a great site and the quality with full canvas construction and high thread count seems better than other places I was looking at.

 

[wgolembiewski]

Congratulations on your fellowship. I look forward to seeing you on C-Span and Charlie Rose on the not too distant future.

In addition, if you buy this way you should have an excellent alterations tailor. Incompetence abounds in the alterations
tailoring trade and a suit that kinda works from eBay could easily be ruined. A way to find a really good tailor is to go
to the best mens store in your area and ask them who do they use for special work. If they do not use an outside tailor,
they may allow their house tailor to take "outside" work.

Oh yeah....and unless C-Span or Charlie Rose like to cover the guy that makes the coffee for the guy that serves the coffee to the actual guy...I probably won't get much screen time. haha... but if I do I'll let everyone know so you can check out the great suit I'll be wearing.

 

[facet]



Happy New Year everyone and thanks for all the great info. I probably should have joined this forum earlier as this is great.

A few things.

The ebay thing is interesting and I may have found some options. I was going to ask about selecting a quality tailor, but you've already hit that.

Two questions based on these suggestions:

1) If I do the online route (ebay/ ehaberdashers) how much can a tailor take the pants in without it becoming unsightly or be too much? There is a ehaberdasher Benjamin Sartorial Suit: 41L/42L Medium gray, 2-button Classico II model, super 140's wool Price: $525.00 where the pants are 36s. I am a 33/34 depending on if I'm being lazy or not.

2) During my research maybe on SF or another site, I saw that the higher thread counts although nice, wear much more quickly and that if it's going to be a work suit that you wear 1-2 times a week that you should probably go above a 120. Is that an accurate statement?

ehaberdashers-- seems like a great site and the quality with full canvas construction and high thread count seems better than other places I was looking at.

If you're worried about the durability of the higher thread counts, then I'd just go with SuitSupply. Having done the ebay route before, it can be pretty hit and miss for the reasons that people have mentioned above. With the ability order multiple suits and then return them for free, the convenience factor for SS is second to none( my last purchased, I was able to order five and keep one); with ebay sellers, you're usually at least out shipping costs if they don't make a stink about returning things to begin with.

 

[JEdge]

I'd expect eHaberdasher to swap out the smaller sized pants if necessary. If you are already in the DC area, i'd suggest Reeds Tailors off Lee Highway in Arlington for any alterations. I have a Benjamin suit being worked on now.

 

[JayJay]



I have received a fellowship that will have me serving as a congressional aide for about a year.

I will be wearing suits every day during that time and potentially every day for up to three years.

I have been doing research and Brooks Brothers seems to be the standard bearer, but suit supply is also getting good reviews and one particularly good WSJ article.

I figure I'll need around 5 suits so the price will add up and with wearing them often I don't want them to wear out often. I also am concerned about them representing me. I want them to look good, but don't want to be so "trendy" that I stand out in a bad way.

Any input on a good quality, durable, business appropriate, and affordable suit would be much appreciated.

I'm 6'2" 200lbs - athletic build.

Congrats, sounds like a great opportunity for you. I visit the Hill frequently, and in fact just returned a few hours ago from a few days in DC; you'll enjoy it there. However, I find most aides and staffers to be very poorly dressed. My advice is to select 3 or 4 suits in conservative gray and navy colors that fit well and are of decent quality, then find conservative ties and white or blue shirts to complete the look. By all means get a good pair of shoes, and keep them shined. You don't need to spend a lot of money, but you do need to make sure the fit is good and the style is conservative. All the best....