New Suit

[Felix_Jones]

I bought this awesome Hugo Boss two button last year.

With the impending tax refund I'm considering another. I was thinking of a light grey three piece, three button. Any ideas? What kind of suit do you favour or like to see?

 

[soflabbwlvr]

That's a good question. Before giving an answer, it would be helpful to know what is your intention for using the suit? Is it something you need for work? Is it for special occasions, like weddings or semi-formal events? Or for when you want to dress up and go out on the town?

In general, a professional wardrobe should be built around the following colors, in this order: charcoal grey, navy blue, light grey, black, olive, brown or tan.

If you provide more information, I can give you a more complete answer.

 

[Felix_Jones]

That's a good question. Before giving an answer, it would be helpful to know what is your intention for using the suit? Is it something you need for work? Is it for special occasions, like weddings or semi-formal events? Or for when you want to dress up and go out on the town?

In general, a professional wardrobe should be built around the following colors, in this order: charcoal grey, navy blue, light grey, black, olive, brown or tan.

If you provide more information, I can give you a more complete answer.

No worries. I figure this one would be of the less formal variety, definitely not something I'd wear for work. The one I already have is a black two-button.

 

[soflabbwlvr]

In that case, a three piece is counter to what you are looking for. A three piece suit is more formal, not less. As far as color, since you already have black, then light grey is a good choice. Three button is fine, although it is a tad trendy and that trend is due to expire soon. Men's suit styles tend to change very slowly over the years, so it takes a while before something goes completely out of style. The three button style has been around for about 10 years already, so I estimate that it is nearing its shelf life. A two piece, two button suit with a conservative cut and medium sized lapels will never be obsolete.

You need to also think about fabric weight. What is the weather like during the time of year that you plan to wear this suit? If it is summer, think about a tropical weight wool. If it is winter, consider a heavier fabric. If you need to wear it year round, then a medium weight would be best.

A Hugo Boss suit is very nice, but for the money you could get something custom tailored. A tailored suit has a much better fit, since it is built with you in mind rather than the masses. If you don't have trouble with fit, then off-the-rack is almost as good.

 

[Scotsman69]

If you were in the UK, I'd recommend you look for Slater's of Glasgow. They stock the hugest selection of suits I've ever seen or heard of. I never go anywhere else.

 

[Paul_Chance]

Ralph Lauren Sack Suit

If you're looking for something more casual, go with Ralph Lauren's sack suit, its a more relaxed fit, counter the current trend, comfortable and stylish. I picked up a pair earlier this year and they never fail to get compliments from men and women.

http://www.fashionising.com/trends/b--The-sack-suit-for-men-3578.html

 

[Felix_Jones]

Thanks for the great advice.

Although I'm in Toronto so off the rack designer suits basically come from Korry's, Harry Rosen, maybe Holt Renfrew. I bought the Boss suit at Korry's and really liked the experience.

 

[MichaelWest]

I recommend a quick read through a website tited "atailoredsuit" for a lot of insight into men's suits and what all the choices can mean. Also a "blacktie guide" is insightful, especially for formal wear.

Have you considered blazers and sport coats to bridge the gap? Many men no longer have cause to wear suits yet business casual makes you look like everyone else. A jacket added to otherwise "casual" wear dresses you up nicely yet not too far out of field.

 

[EdwardMidweston]

Nobody has mentioned it yet, but you might want to spend a few dollars on custom alterations to make your new suit fit exactly right. You'd need to find a good tailor--not merely a button sewer--but a city the size of Toronto undoubtedly has a number of good tailors. More often than not, a little time and cash spent on getting a few seemingly minor details exactly right for your individual build can make an off-the-rack suit look custom tailored, and for far less money than sewn-from-scratch.

 

[Lord Pmann]

Hugo Boss is indeed a nice suit. I've owned several nice suits in my day and I'll have to go with Hart Schaffner Marx every time. By far the finest stuff I've owned. The fit has always been so nice on all their clothing, though that's subjective.

 

[Felix_Jones]

Hugo Boss is indeed a nice suit. I've owned several nice suits in my day and I'll have to go with Hart Schaffner Marx every time. By far the finest stuff I've owned. The fit has always been so nice on all their clothing, though that's subjective.

Googling as we speak. Thanks for the avice.

 

[albertaboy]

Thanks for the great advice.

Although I'm in Toronto so off the rack designer suits basically come from Korry's, Harry Rosen, maybe Holt Renfrew. I bought the Boss suit at Korry's and really liked the experience.

If you are Canadian, my favourite suits are Samuelson, you can get them at Rosen's and a few other spots.

I buy mine at Eddie's Menswear in Edmonton. They run about $1,200 and are really good quality.

I wear suits daily 200+ days a year, maintain about 8 at any given time and the best are the Samuelsons I have. Far better quality than Boss.

 

[kellyz_craic]

I demand a pic of you in the current 2 button.

 

[Lord Pmann]

I demand a pic of you in the current 2 button.

You better give her what she asks. She's Irish and she will put a Celtic curse on your ass. Or arse as it were.

 

[NeonKnickers]

I love suits. Especially non-grandpa navy blue ones.

(I'm helpful, hey?)

 

[satindesire]

My husband has had good luck with Calvin Klein suits, but he's naturally of a more slender/long build, so if you aren't skinny, you might want to shy away. Hugo Boss makes wonderful suits, make sure that you get even good-fitting suits tailored, though, because too-long (or short) sleeves or baggy shoulders can kill the fit completely.

 

[albertaboy]

I have a theory about buying suits which I just convinced my 23 year old son is correct.

Buy suits from a long established men's wear store and when you walk in the door, look for the oldest guy in the room to deal with.

My son bought a Boss suit in Vegas the last time he was there, his first suit he bought himself, the jacket was very short in the style of the moment and was sold to him by the 25 year old guy in the store. The jacket doesn't fit him perfectly, not bad but not great and the result is he takes the jacket off at his first opportunity whenever he wears the coat.

I took him to my guy to get a quality shirt and tie to go with it for a big business meeting he had earned the right to go to for the first time.

My guy who is about 65, showed my son about 25 shirts, my son then cut it down to three, then he started with ties. Again started with about 25, narrowed it to three to go with the shirts, then took the time to get him to try each one on with the suit in combination. The whole exercise took about an hour, My son was blown away by the knowledge of fit, and colour combination this older salesman had. My guy then suggested some very minor alterations to the jacket which made it fit him like a glove, but still look like a suit designed to be the fashion of the minute.

$450 later my son left with an understanding of how much of an expert this old guy really is. Young fashion salesmen don't know enough about fit and what will look good on various body types, they just know what the current fashions are, they are like sales people in ladies wear stores, they just flog whatever the current style is whether it looks good on someone or not.

Old suit guys rule.

 

[Felix_Jones]

My husband has had good luck with Calvin Klein suits, but he's naturally of a more slender/long build, so if you aren't skinny, you might want to shy away. Hugo Boss makes wonderful suits, make sure that you get even good-fitting suits tailored, though, because too-long (or short) sleeves or baggy shoulders can kill the fit completely.

They are pretty slim fitting aren't they? Thanks. Definitely something to consider.

 

[Felix_Jones]

I have a theory about buying suits which I just convinced my 23 year old son is correct.

Buy suits from a long established men's wear store and when you walk in the door, look for the oldest guy in the room to deal with.

My son bought a Boss suit in Vegas the last time he was there, his first suit he bought himself, the jacket was very short in the style of the moment and was sold to him by the 25 year old guy in the store. The jacket doesn't fit him perfectly, not bad but not great and the result is he takes the jacket off at his first opportunity whenever he wears the coat.

I took him to my guy to get a quality shirt and tie to go with it for a big business meeting he had earned the right to go to for the first time.

My guy who is about 65, showed my son about 25 shirts, my son then cut it down to three, then he started with ties. Again started with about 25, narrowed it to three to go with the shirts, then took the time to get him to try each one on with the suit in combination. The whole exercise took about an hour, My son was blown away by the knowledge of fit, and colour combination this older salesman had. My guy then suggested some very minor alterations to the jacket which made it fit him like a glove, but still look like a suit designed to be the fashion of the minute.

$450 later my son left with an understanding of how much of an expert this old guy really is. Young fashion salesmen don't know enough about fit and what will look good on various body types, they just know what the current fashions are, they are like sales people in ladies wear stores, they just flog whatever the current style is whether it looks good on someone or not.

Old suit guys rule.

Seconded. When I bought my suit (Boss) the guy helping me out would've been older than my father. The tailor was even older than him. Worked out great. I might very well go back to the same place.

 

[satindesire]

They are pretty slim fitting aren't they? Thanks. Definitely something to consider.

Yeah, they're certainly tailored to skinny/slender male builds. They are GREAT even off the rack though.