Tailored sharkskin suit; Where to purchase online?

[JimmyRecard]

Hi all,
New to all this, so bear with me. Anyway I was wondering which sites you would all recommend to purchase a tailored sharkskin suit online, sites you've had experience with or heard good things about?

Thanks in advance.

 

[GBR]

None.

Buying on line can be fraught if you do not know what you bare about. You will see many threads (if you care to trouble to look) in which people have reported dissatisfaction with online purchases and rather less suggesting success.

Suggest go to a bricks and mortar shop.

 

[Ianiceman]

Be aware of the composition of the cloth - there's sharkskin and there's sharkskin.

IMO the best are made wih something like an 80% - 20% mix of worsted wool and either mohair or silk. The 20% gives you a subtle sheen without looking all oily and metallic. Cheap suits make sharkskin out of polyester and viscose - they look crap and with a cheap cloth like that are likely to be poorly made.

This season J Crew has a 100% wool (canvassed?) suit made in China, in either navy or dark silver gray sharkskin. It's a modern slim cut with narrow lapels but the cloth is good and it can look good on the right shape, definitely not for fatties. They are about $650 retail, the good thing is they do jacket and trousers as separates so you have more options to get your size right, the better news is on e you know your size they can be had much cheaper on eBay etc.

 

[Twotone]

How about this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DANIELE-MEN...074366?pt=US_CSA_MC_Suits&hash=item53e7abb0be

A highly respected seller, good return policy and provides SF members with a nice discount from his listed prices. I bought a blazer from him earlier this year and love it.

 

[JimmyRecard]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

GBR- Thanks for the honest reply.

Ianiceman- I'm currently checking out this site. Looks very good, and the reviews are positive. But it doesn't actually appear to be sharkskin, or claiming such. I'm still looking through it all. I am of a very slim build, so slimfit suits me just fine.

Twotone- Also looking good.

Any other suggestions? Alternatives and the like?
Thanks.

 

[jamesny]

Most sharkskin suits you'll see online are around $600 range from DKNY, Calvin Klein., etc. I think when going for sharkskin it's best you check out the fabric or material personally since there's a distinct sheen to it that may not be evident when you purchase online. Visit your friendly tailor to personalize your sharkskin suit.

 

[Rick's Tailoring]

I have a medium gray sharkskin for sale at www.rickskansascity.com. It is not shiny sharkskin, but the fabric is beautiful. Not sure what size your looking for but there are only a few left. Let me know if I can help.

 

[buzzron]

I agree it would be best to have this fabric/suit custom maade than bought online.

 

[Ianiceman]



Thanks for the replies everyone.

GBR- Thanks for the honest reply.

Ianiceman- I'm currently checking out this site. Looks very good, and the reviews are positive. But it doesn't actually appear to be sharkskin, or claiming such. I'm still looking through it all. I am of a very slim build, so slimfit suits me just fine.

Twotone- Also looking good.

Any other suggestions? Alternatives and the like?
Thanks.

I don't think there's a strict empirical definition of sharkskin, it's more a case of you know it when you see it. It's created by the cross weaving of fibre strands of different colour and/ or composition to create that sheen, but said sheen can range from something subtle which from a few feet away looks like flat worsted, to something like the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz. As with most aspects of classic gents clothing, subtle is the way to go IMO. Those J Crew suits (I think the cloth is by Telegrano or something, NOT the Loro Piana suits) are definitely down at the more subdued end of the continuum and IMO if they were made a few shades lighter in both the gray and the navy they would have shown a bit more sheen without looking like a third rate gangster from the sixties.

 

[Ianiceman]

I have one fully bespoke in worsted and mohair that I will probably sell but it won't be cheap. 38 chest, 30 waist, 31 inside leg, silver gray mohair, lots of hand finished details. PM if interested.

 

[jt10000]

It's certainly not high quality, but Macy's sells sharkskin Tommy Hilfiger suits. I have one in blue that looks pretty nice. It's a little shiny, but not over the top. And the shoulders have a little more padding than I'd like. But it was about $280 and for that price quite good. I wouldn't buy it at full price. Jacket and pants are sold separately.

 

[Ianiceman]



It's certainly not high quality, but Macy's sells sharkskin Tommy Hilfiger suits. I have one in blue that looks pretty nice. It's a little shiny, but not over the top.  And the shoulders have a little more padding than I'd like.  But it was about $280 and for that price quite good.  I wouldn't buy it at full price. Jacket and pants are sold separately.

I've see both their Hilfiger and Alfani ones. You can't expect much from a department store suit at that price. There was something very off about the cuts. Sleeve pitch was horrible, you'd have to be pushing a shopping cart to get the ripples to go away.

 

[jt10000]

I got compliments when I wore that suit (have only done so once). Perhaps from people who don't know much about suits (I sure don't), but they came.