Buying a suit

[Merging Cultures]

Agree with Monk that Charles Tyrwhitt are as good as you'll get for off the peg stuff. It's relatively well priced and they always have offers on.

Would personally never wear brown shoes but that's an industry thing. MC's probably in finance.

Good guess!

CT are excellent too.

[Merging Cultures]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Was horrendously difficult finding something that fit well, I'm quite broad in the shoulders with fairly long arms so that was a pain. But I manage to find something in the end.

I'll probably grab another couple of suits closer my start date.

Where did you go? What did you get?

Take your time to build up a wardrobe, it's a worthwhile investment.

[Countryfox]

 I'm quite broad in the shoulders with fairly long arms .

 

Have you got silver hair growing down your back and a penchant for bananas by any chance ?

[Crinklyfox]

Thanks for the advice everyone!

Was horrendously difficult finding something that fit well, I'm quite broad in the shoulders with fairly long arms so that was a pain. But I manage to find something in the end.

I'll probably grab another couple of suits closer my start date.

Very few of us are a 'standard' shape.  There's usually a little cloth to spare in suits so you could consider having an off the peg suit altered, potentially to lengthen the sleeves.  The alternative (and please don't just dismiss this out of hand) is that you could get a suit made to measure.  It may not be as expensive as you think and it's going to look good.  It's an option I took up later in life when I'd stabilised my body shape, i.e. not putting on weight or growing.

 

Another factor to consider is where you work.  I've worked in office environments where everyone wore a suit and also offices within a factory where I had to visit the shop floor on a regular basis, needless to say I invested less in my suits for the factory.

[Dr The Singh]

You can buy plenty of Punjabi suits from loads of shops on belgrave road, I hear pataila style is the thing this year

[Itsthejoeker]

Where did you go? What did you get?

Take your time to build up a wardrobe, it's a worthwhile investment.

I went to Moss Bros in the end, picked up a dark navy suit, pale blue shirt, and blue tie.

Will pick up some shirts from CT in a few weeks.

Very few of us are a 'standard' shape. There's usually a little cloth to spare in suits so you could consider having an off the peg suit altered, potentially to lengthen the sleeves. The alternative (and please don't just dismiss this out of hand) is that you could get a suit made to measure. It may not be as expensive as you think and it's going to look good. It's an option I took up later in life when I'd stabilised my body shape, i.e. not putting on weight or growing.

Another factor to consider is where you work. I've worked in office environments where everyone wore a suit and also offices within a factory where I had to visit the shop floor on a regular basis, needless to say I invested less in my suits for the factory.

I'm planning on losing a fair amount of weight, so alterations have definitely come across my mind. Particularly to bring in the jacket a bit.

im going to judge the uniform situation a little more as I get used to the place, may be able to get away with short jumper and tie now and then with a jacket for meetings.

[Merging Cultures]

I went to Moss Bros in the end, picked up a dark navy suit, pale blue shirt, and blue tie.

Will pick up some shirts from CT in a few weeks.

Good choices. Good luck with the job!

[Rincewind]

Agree with Monk that Charles Tyrwhitt are as good as you'll get for off the peg stuff.  It's relatively well priced and they always have offers on.

 

Would personally never wear brown shoes but that's an industry thing.  MC's probably in finance.

I think that was the make I got for a tenner from the Samaritans charity shop on Granby Street for a tenner. They said that the shop next door donates stuff so I was lucky to get it. The coat sleeves are a little long but I got it when my mum was seriously ill in hospital an it was thought that she would not make it. Ironically I wore it to my step dad's funeral jus over a month later.

[Rob1742]

I spend a fortune on clothes, but hate suits. So I get mine from next. Only about £150 and fairly okay.

If however you want to spend a few more quid, I have a number of a Hong Kong tailor who comes over every few months and makes lovely suites in any style you want. Think about £350 a pop.

Not seen him for about 5 years though as I hate suits with a passion.

[Len Finsbury]

Someone mentioned getting a suit made to measure due to silverback-like tendencies, so I'd like to mention an alternative. Even if you buy something off the peg, as this is what most of us can afford, still take it to a tailor to get it fitted. Most decent tailors will charge nominal fees for alterations and you can end up with a suit that's essentially, made for you. 

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Here's a tip, get yourself down Marks and Spencer's on Boxing day, they flog their suits off real cheap (at least half price and sometimes less),decent quality and do a range of fits and lengths. Took them to the cleaners this year and got two decent suits and a smart jacket for about £140. This year's suits sorted! 

[separator]

Has anyone used Raja fashions before? A Hong Kong based tailor who do tours of the UK and will measure you up for a bespoke suit thats then made in Hong Kong. Always see their ads in the Metro newspaper so assume they do a lot of business over here. They will be in Leicester at the Mecure hotel Granby St on the 29th March. Lot of mixed reviews from what I've read though.

 

http://www.raja-fashions.com/

[Finnaldo]

I spend a fortune on clothes, but hate suits. So I get mine from next. Only about £150 and fairly okay.

If however you want to spend a few more quid, I have a number of a Hong Kong tailor who comes over every few months and makes lovely suites in any style you want. Think about £350 a pop.

Not seen him for about 5 years though as I hate suits with a passion.

 

 

Has anyone used Raja fashions before? A Hong Kong based tailor who do tours of the UK and will measure you up for a bespoke suit thats then made in Hong Kong. Always see their ads in the Metro newspaper so assume they do a lot of business over here. They will be in Leicester at the Mecure hotel Granby St on the 29th March. Lot of mixed reviews from what I've read though.

 

http://www.raja-fashions.com/

 

I'm guessing this is the same thing?

[Guest Manini]

How much does it cost to get a suit tailor made? Like what's the cheapest you could be looking at?

I don't necessarily want the best fabric etc, I just want a suit that fits properly. When I buy one from next etc the sleeves on the jacket are always painfully short or far too long, there doesn't seem to be an inbetween.

Can you buy a suit off the peg and then take it to a tailors for alternations?

[Finnaldo]

How much does it cost to get a suit tailor made? Like what's the cheapest you could be looking at?

I don't necessarily want the best fabric etc, I just want a suit that fits properly. When I buy one from next etc the sleeves on the jacket are always painfully short or far too long, there doesn't seem to be an inbetween.

Can you buy a suit off the peg and then take it to a tailors for alternations?

On my limited knowledge of tailors I think that's a fairly common occurrence

[Brizzle Fox]

Has anyone used Raja fashions before? A Hong Kong based tailor who do tours of the UK and will measure you up for a bespoke suit thats then made in Hong Kong. Always see their ads in the Metro newspaper so assume they do a lot of business over here. They will be in Leicester at the Mecure hotel Granby St on the 29th March. Lot of mixed reviews from what I've read though.

http://www.raja-fashions.com/

I've had 2 suits from them. Once when they were over in the UK and once when I was in hong kong. Former very good, latter average.

Use a London tailor now who have a Saville row made to measure shop and an off the peg shop in the City. Latter obviously much cheaper so I go there and I then just get them to adjust to fit perfectly.

[Rob1742]

Has anyone used Raja fashions before? A Hong Kong based tailor who do tours of the UK and will measure you up for a bespoke suit thats then made in Hong Kong. Always see their ads in the Metro newspaper so assume they do a lot of business over here. They will be in Leicester at the Mecure hotel Granby St on the 29th March. Lot of mixed reviews from what I've read though.

http://www.raja-fashions.com/

Mine is called Ricky, but think they all do the same thing.

Basically they measure you and you get the most perfect fitting suit imaginable. You can pick every detail, 2 button, 3 button, single breasted, fart flap everything.

Always worth getting a second pair of trousers, but they will flog you them anyway.

Downsides - sometimes it goes wrong. You are picking from swatches of material and you don't always see how it will look from a small swatch.

I gave away a brown suit to the charity shop once I never wore because I didn't like the colour when it arrived.

Well worth getting the shirts too. Perfect fit, particularly around the neck and hundreds of swatches to choose from.

The nicest touch is the suits have your name inside.

You have your own personal number so you can place an order anytime.

Nice feeling waiting for it all to arrive.

Go for it, but be prepared that you might not like the colour in real life if you pick something from a swatch. My advice play safe.

Of all the suits I had, once you have one made you realise that there is a massive difference with regards to how they fit and they just feel perfect.

Hate suits now, but if I had to wear them all the time, it would be the only way.

Used to buy Paul Smith shirts at £100 a throw, but the tailor did better at £25. Just fitted perfectly.

[Brizzle Fox]

Also if we're talking high street then TM Lewin and REISS are pretty good and decent value, although re the latter tend to be on the slim side re cut, so probably not for the larger gentleman!

[Len Finsbury]

How much does it cost to get a suit tailor made? Like what's the cheapest you could be looking at?

I don't necessarily want the best fabric etc, I just want a suit that fits properly. When I buy one from next etc the sleeves on the jacket are always painfully short or far too long, there doesn't seem to be an inbetween.

Can you buy a suit off the peg and then take it to a tailors for alternations?

 

Didn't I just mention this?

 

Yes, buy off the peg and take it to an alterations tailer.

[Guest Manini]

Didn't I just mention this?

Yes, buy off the peg and take it to an alterations tailer.

So you did..

pure laziness on my part not to read through the thread!

[Bettsj2]

I used to buy quite expensive suits and had them dry cleaned religiously.

After a while though (usually about 2 years), they always started to look and feel tired so i'd buy another one.

I'd spend around £400 on a suit then dry clean it every 3 months at about £30 a time but then have to replace it every couple of years.

Now, I buy a suit from Burtons for £100. They look and feel fine and then after 6 months, I give it to a charity shop and buy a new one.

Cheaper and when I'm eating a boneless banquet in the car, if a bit of the colonels finest drops onto my trouser leg, I dont cry about it.

[martyn]

M&S Autograph suits

Charles Tyrwhitt Non Iron Shirts (And go for the slim fit unless carrying extra timber as they aren't like the Slim Fit you'd associate with a Topman type shop)

 

Also, CT shirts are always on some sort of sale or other. So check for voucher codes or on hotukdeals before buying as there's never an excuse to buy a CT shirt at full price.

[Countryfox]

Alright everyone he's bought his suit !!    Enoughs enough !

[Itsthejoeker]

Alright everyone he's bought his suit !! Enoughs enough !

I've bought one! I need two more

[Countryfox]

I've bought one! I need two more

 

Alright everyone he needs two more ..      back on the case !