Where to go for ~500£ suit + cheap but OK formal shirts? (London)

[Herr Brun]

Hi! I need a professional wardrobe for a couple of internships starting next spring. I'm considering going to London to pick up what I need, since the prices here in Norway are quite awful and there is no tradition for quality menswear. I will only be there for a day or two, so my only real choice is OTR. I guess that's the sane choice with my budget anyway.

I'm looking for two suits (I guess/hope rotating two suits will be okay, at least for a limited time. The internships are about 5 weeks each, two to three times a year) and a handful of shirts (about 8?), and my total budget is around £1500. The big question is: Where do I go? What do I look for? How much do I need to spend, is ~ 500£ per suit enough to get one that will last a while and still keep its form? Where do I get quality shirts that don't cost a fortune?

And also: Will two suits suffice?

 

[Macallan]

An intern with a nice new wardrobe, you may give the wrong impression.

If you really want new suits and shirts, then get the following:
2 suits, both with spare trousers
4 shirts
4 ties (if required)

Check out places like TM Lewin, £800 would be enough:
Suit with spares trousers from about £300
Shirts are 4 for £100
Ties 4 for under £100


As you will be an intern; would smart trousers, shirt, and black shoes not be enough?

You will probably be just better of getting the Norwegian 'norm' and when you have a full-time job, spend more on your wardrobe.

 

[Herr Brun]

It's a law firm, and I'm required to wear a suit. They're quite conservative. I 'm obviously not going full bespoke, but I don't see a reason for buying a cheap ill-fitting polyester suit just to not give the wrong impression. Nothing flashy, no MOP cufflinks or expensive watches. I'm getting the Norwegian norm, but it's overly expensive over here. I will be working long days so I need something comfortable. My experience with cheap suits is that they are uncomfortable, so wool and good construction will help.

I understand your concern, thanks for the help.

 

[Dib]



Hi! I need a professional wardrobe for a couple of  internships starting next spring. I'm considering going to London to pick up what I need, since the prices here in Norway are quite awful and there is no tradition for quality menswear. I will only be there for a day or two, so my only real choice is OTR. I guess that's the sane choice with my budget anyway. 

I'm looking for two suits (I guess/hope rotating two suits will be okay, at least for a limited time. The internships are about 5 weeks each, two to three times a year) and a handful of shirts (about 8?), and my total budget is around £1500. The big question is: Where do I go? What do I look for? How much do I need to spend, is ~ 500£ per suit enough to get one that will last a while and still keep its form? Where do I get quality shirts that don't cost a fortune? 

And also: Will two suits suffice? 

Herr Brun

I think TM Lewin is fine for your purposes. It's obviously not the highest quality, but fine for the price and certainly sufficient for what you need at this stage of your career.

If I were you, I would get a couple of suits and 8 to 10 shirts OTR (which should be well within your budget mentioned above), and use whatever you have left to have them altered by a decent alterations tailor (I wouldn't use Lewin's in house alterations service - it will typically involve being pinned up by a sales rep who doesn't really know what they are doing, so if you have a good alterations tailor you trust back in Norway that would be ideal).

One other tip - i'm not sure which law firms you'll be working at, but some of the city firms have arrangements with TM Lewin that entitle them to additional discounts, so might be worth giving Lewin a call and asking them if they offer any additional discounts to employees of the firms you'll be working at.

Dib

 

[Blackhood]

I will (predictably) nominate Charles Tyrwhitt. The suits are just a little higher-quality than TML with things like working buttonholes and corozo buttons. If you go to the Jermyn Street store you can also have the tailoring done on-site.

The team there is mixed, but the senior guys are all ex-savile row salespeople, who are more than competent at pinning for tailors to adjust. They do complex adjustments like squaring collars, rotating sleeve pitch and chipping shoulders multiple times per week and use a tailor with impeccable attention to detail (I happen to use him on a personal basis, so can happily vouch for his work).

If you just go for their basic suits (as I would suggest) you will pay about £230 per suit. 8 Shirts will run you £180. 4 ties will be another £80 (unless you get the hand-made ones, but I wouldn't advise it). They sell shoes as well, made by either Loake or Barker, They are no better or worse than those brand's own efforts, and cost the same,so maybe buy some if you like them or move on if not. Assume £200 for a pair of shoes.

That total brings you to about £900. You could easily upgrade to their Luxury suits and hand made ties and still stay well under your £1500 budget.

 

[ErikJN]

I'd stop by SuitSupply in Vigo Street and pick up two Napoli suits in navy and charcoal, that should run you about £600. Get extra trousers, then head to Charles Tyrwhitt for your shirts and ties, and you should end up around the £1000 mark. In the Princes Arcade by Jermyn Street, you can visit the Loake shop and pick up a pair of Loake Aldwych shoes for about £200, and with that you have a business wardrobe that is more than good enough for internships here in Norway.

 

[Herr Brun]

Thanks for the tip on law firms with discounts, but the internships are here in Norway.

I think suitsupply's options are a bit on the slimmer side. I'm not a very slim guy... But I'll stop by and look.

CT and TMLs suits are 100% wool, not polyester blends? The quality on the standard line is acceptable? I plan on keeping the suits for a couple of years at least. How much time do they need at CT to do alterations in-house? Alterations are expensive here (as everything else), and I don't have experience with any particulars.

I have the shoes, ties and accessories I need, but thanks for the tips! Will definitely go for extra trousers, and it's nice knowing I'll get what I need well within my budget.

 

[ErikJN]

Reg. alterations, Skredder John does good work if you're in Oslo.