Varvatos Suits - opinions

[porcelain monkey]

I just got a John Varvatos peak lapel charcoal wool suit at the Basement. List price $900 for $400. Seemed like a good deal and it fits me very well. Does anyone have any opinions on these suits. Made in Mexico, and appear to be canvased or at least half canvased. I'll probably keep it unless I hear something real bad.

 

[Big A]

One of the big manufacturers makes them. Austin Reed or someone like that.

I don't think they are even 1/2 canvassed, though I may be wrong. I think Varvatos suits they have a canvassed lapel. There was another thread about this somewhere, but full and 1/2 aren't the only choices for canvassing. There is a third option where the suit is mostly fusable but the lapel is "canvassed" - I guess you could think of this as 1/3 canvassed. Banana Republic and some others are also made this way.

That said, don't let the canvassing snobs talk you out of buying the suit if it fits well. I have a number of mostly-fused suits from Banana Republic that are great. It seems like fusing has come a long way - I don't see the bubbling or anything on suits I've had for years. For $400, if you like it, it sounds like an OK (but not great deal).

Again, I might be confusing the regular Varvatos with Varvatos Star or something, so don't take my word for it on the canvassing. But again, that shouldn't be your final consideration.

 

[kaxixi]

Tried on one, and liked the cut. No expert, but it felt fused below the button.

 

[porcelain monkey]

Thanks guys. The style is Star USA "Courtland SB," and on second feel it does seem to be at least partially fused. This doesn't really bother me. As far as I can tell from the details on the stitching, it is pretty well made.

 

[AnGeLiCbOrIs]

All the *USA suits I've seen were made in Mexico and very unimpressive. They had thick fusing and no lapel roll. Of course, yours may be different.