Trying to avoid looking like a newbie in a suit

Hi, first post here. I work in Loans for a Canadian bank and currently just wear trousers and dress shirts/ties. I'm looking for 2-3 nice suits. Prefer to spend $500 on each but willing to spend as much as a $1000 (and not eat for 3 months).

I went out to Harry Rosens, Holt Renfrew, and Zegna (sp?).

I loved the look of the Etro suit jackets, but I play a lot of hockey and have bigger thighs. The seams on the Etro pants cling to dear life on my thunder thighs (didn't dare try to bend over in them - you rip you buy). The Gable/Vegas Hugo suit fits well as did the more traditional Zegna line (pants on these were perfect). But the jackets just seem bulkier and unflatering. I loved how slim the arms on the Etro were and how it seemed to elongate my torso (5'8" - can use all the elongating I can get)

Am I really stuck with these or are there any other brands or stores you guys can recommend? Also, been reading through some posts here and there really doesn't seem to be a lot of love for HB. Are they really that bad? The salesmen at Harry Rosens was really trying to sell me on the Gable/Vegas cut. Also haven't seen any mention of Banana Republic - do they carry anything worth while?

Any help is appreciated guys. Cheers.

For some reason, Harry Rosen has become a Hugo Boss outlet store recently. They will try to sell you Boss in anything. I believe the main forum complaint against the brand is that you can do much better for the same price.

Nevertheless, Rosen's also carries Samuelsohn and Canali. The latter are quite expensive, but if you're looking at Zegna and Etro, you're not going to be spending $500 per suit anyway.

Where are you located in Canada? If you're in Montreal...I may be able to point you in the right direction.

you rip you buy? this idea in general cant be legit can it?

Originally Posted by fusherino

Click to expand...

you rip you buy? this idea in general cant be legit can it?

Should the store not make you pay for ruining their merchandise?

Originally Posted by gwydion

Click to expand...

Where are you located in Canada? If you're in Montreal...I may be able to point you in the right direction.

I actually live in Vancouver.

There is definitely something going on with HB at HR... perhaps the SAs get extra commission on those?

Get a two-button suit - it will make you look taller.

Personally I think BR and H&M make a good product for the price. I don't know if my thighs are as large as yours, they are definitely large though, and I can wear pants from either of those stores with ease.

Originally Posted by gwydion

Click to expand...

Where are you located in Canada? If you're in Montreal...I may be able to point you in the right direction.

Hey there, don't wanna thread jack, but I'm in the same situation as OP and looking to spend 500-1000$ on a new suit and I live in Montreal, could you give me a few suggestions?

(I would've sent a pm, but don't have 2 posts yet )

Why not get 2 high quality suits instead of 3 and just eat every now and then? My reccomendation would be to get 2 basic suits that fit you best off the rack (one charcoal, one navy) and have them altered to fit as perfectly as possible.

You didnt mention your size, but I would also keep an eye on the Buy/Sell forum on here. There is usually a lot of nice stuff to be had relatively cheaply.

Best of luck!

Originally Posted by Pavel413

Click to expand...

Hi, first post here. I work in Loans for a Canadian bank and currently just wear trousers and dress shirts/ties. I'm looking for 2-3 nice suits. Prefer to spend $500 on each but willing to spend as much as a $1000 (and not eat for 3 months).
I agree with Q: Get two really good suits that fit exceptionally well. I also recommend that you go to your nearest Brooks Brothers store and try on a bunch of their 1818 suits. They're currently priced at 2-for-$1500, which means that if you buy them during the upcoming Friends and Family sale, they should end up costing less than $600 each.

I bought this one a few months ago, and I absolutely love it:

Originally Posted by Threadbearer

Click to expand...

I agree with Q: Get two really good suits that fit exceptionally well. I also recommend that you go to your nearest Brooks Brothers store and try on a bunch of their 1818 suits. They're currently priced at 2-for-$1500, which means that if you buy them during the upcoming Friends and Family sale, they should end up costing less than $600 each.

I bought this one a few months ago, and I absolutely love it:

I really like this suit. The peaked lapels really do it for me. I'd have no problem wearing this as business attire.

Originally Posted by gwydion

Click to expand...

Where are you located in Canada? If you're in Montreal...I may be able to point you in the right direction.
What would be your recommendations in Montreal ? Thanks, Pierre

Originally Posted by Pavel413

Click to expand...

I actually live in Vancouver.

Vancouver is getting a Brooks Brothers sometime this year ... I think in the fall ... so some more options are coming (I think on Robson about a block away from the Hotel Vancouver??)

How to avoid looking like a n00b? Every suit-n00b looks the same: sleeves too long (probably on both shirt and suit); jacket too big with shoulderspadding hanging off the shoulder; pants too long, pooling around the feet.

You will need to be assertive with your alterations tailor, but make sure the suit is tailored properly (the jacket-too-big thing isn't tailorable ... be assertive with the salesman!)