Buying a Suit?

[DelayedReaction]

I'm not sure where this goes, so I'll just put it up in the General Chatter.

I'm looking to buy a new suit, but I have absolutely no idea how I should go about it. Sizes, styles, materials; I'm clueless. I was told that Burlington Coat Factory was a good place to get deals on a summer weight suit, and I was also told that I should expect to spend around $200 or so for a decent one. I'm looking for something that I can use for interviews and also formal occaisions; I really don't wear a suit that often, but when I need it I can't look bad.

Oh yeah, I'm also 6'9" and weigh around 300 lbs... so that's a bit of a hassle. What should I do to determine what size I am, and what should I look for in a decent suit?

[Fremen]

Here's a good online source for big and tall, business, formal dress, and casual wear men's clothing.

http://www.kingsizedirect.com/

[MSD]

The suit salesman should be able to measure you. I got a nice suit at Syms for $200, the regular price was $500. I love discount stores. You should be able to find something, I'm an inch shorter than you and a few pounds less, and I'm a 54 athletic tall. I haven't bought a suit at Burlington, but they should have people to help you out. You'll almost definitely have to have it tailored; at your size, the seleves may have to be lengthened a bit, and the pants hemmed (they're usually unhemmed when you buy them.)

[ratbastid]

Most any suit you buy anywhere will need to be tailored. I know I'm not an off-the-rack guy, and I'm dead sure you're not either.

You can expect to drop a few hundred on a nice suit, but it's really worth it. As little as you'll wear it, it'll last you a long, long time.

[maleficent]

Since you'll be using this for interviewing, and you want it to look good and last a while, summer weight suits might be too light, and won't hold up. you will be dry cleaning the thing every time you wear it.

Look for a tropical wool (it doesn't feel itchy, it's a nice lightweight wool, that's good for 3 seasons)

Find the style that looks good on you. Double breasted, three button, or 2 button, since you're a bigger guy, probably a two button is your best bet.

When you are having the pants hemmed, wear your real shoes, and watch the tailor in the mirror, some tailors hem a little too short (I like the pants leg to break a little bit)

Dark over the calf socks with the suit, please... pretty please... I'll give you a cookie....

200 bucks is the low end for a suit, you don't want one that looks cheap, and 200 bucks is quite inexpensive for a good suit. Remember this is your first, and sometimes only chance to make an impression, you want to look sharp.

Syms, if they're in your area is a good suggestion. You might also try Men's Wearhouse

Again, you are a big guy, check to make sure the jacket fits across your shoulders... if it's tight, the tailors can't make it bigger without ruining the line of the jacket.

[sailor]

Originally posted by ratbastid
Most any suit you buy anywhere will need to be tailored. I know I'm not an off-the-rack guy, and I'm dead sure you're not either.

You can expect to drop a few hundred on a nice suit, but it's really worth it. As little as you'll wear it, it'll last you a long, long time.

Yep. Nicer suits tend to come made to be tailored.

I have had luck at Joseph Banks. They tend to have good sales, and when they do, you can get an excellent suit for around $300. I dont know about their big-and-tall selection, but I have been happy with them for my clothes. Whatever you do, dont get a cheap suit. They look cheap, and to be honest, you'd be better going in just a coat and tie than a cheap, ugly suit. Id be careful with a $200 suit--a good suit will cost you at least $500, unless you get it on sale--which is usually worth waiting for, unless you need one now.

There are three basic colors to look for: dark blue, black, and dark grey. I especially like the dark grey, but thats just me. There is also pinstripe in any of those colors, but I wouldnt start with that.

Dont go with a double breasted suit unless you are a gangster. No good. A standard two button suit will do you fine. Three button is fine too. Just remember that when buttoned, always button all the buttons except the bottom. On a two button, only button the top. On a three, button the top two. Dont get anything with more than three buttons.

As for a shirt to go with it, please make sure it doesnt have buttons on the collar. You want a spread or point collar--buttons tend to make the collar billow out, and it looks so bad. A good shirt will stay put without the buttons. For a tie, something basic. Make sure the colors go with your suit and shirt. Shoes, go black. With black socks. Make sure to wear a belt.

And like Maleficient said, the jacket fit is the most important. Its easy to hem/tailor pants, but there isnt much one can do about a jacket. They'll probably take it in on the back a little, but thats about the extent of tailoring you can do to a jacket.

Its definitely worth the money for a nice suit. It'll last you forever, and makes the difference between your being well-dressed and looking like a used-car salesman.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them or PM me.

[Cynthetiq]

Feel the material.

Turn it inside out and look at the stitching.

Make sure that the lining feels good to the touch and also is stitched well.

Check buttons and stitching on the buttons.

The seams should be about 1/4" so that you can let it out as you get older and gain weight. The more material in the seam, the higher quality the manufacturer.

I usually don't pay more than $99 for an italian suit. I have lots of them, I rarely have to wear them now, but buying a suit does not have to break the bank. Lots of people always thought I paid more than $500 for my suits.

[DelayedReaction]

Any recommendations for the Maryland/DC area?

Good luck but I bet you will need to have a suit tailored. I am 6'7" at 210 and being skinny - medium tall makes it a saga to find a suit off the rack.

[Cynthetiq]

Originally posted by DelayedReaction
Any recommendations for the Maryland/DC area?

Take 1-2 hours of your day to go to Mens Wearhouse.

Let the personal shopper dress you from top to bottom, and also ask them to show you mixes and matches so that you can see how versatile the suit is, and see it mixed with different shirts, ties, shoes. He may even suggest another pair of slacks to help give you aobut 5-6 different dress combinations.

Once you have that kind of information, if you like the price that they have for the whole outfit (I did it once... on my wedding day... long story and $800 for a DKNY suit and new shoes, more expensive than the bride's dress.) you can then go shopping for the size and colors you like.

[maleficent]

Syms

1900 Chapman Ave Rockville MD 20852
(301)984-3335
Monday- Friday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM

1101-25 Cromwell Bridge Rd. Towson MD 21286
(410)825-7445
Monday- Friday 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday 12:00 PM - 5:30 PM


Mens Wearhouse (which does have 200 dollar wool suits)
Annapolis
#3515
Festival at Riva
2341 Forest Drive, Suite E
Annapolis, MD 21401
410-266-8150
Cross Street is Riva


Baltimore
#3518
White Marsh Mall
8200 Perry Hall Blvd. Sp# 1077/1073
Baltimore, MD 21236
410-933-9198
Inside White Marsh Mall


Bel Air
#3521
Toll Gate Plaza
615 Bel Air Road, Suite P
Bel Air, MD 21013
410-638-6161


Bowie
#3526
Bowie Town & Country
15432 Emerald Way
Bowie, MD 20716
301-262-4200


Columbia
#3509
Snowden Square Shopping Center
9021 Snowden Square Drive
Columbia, MD 21046
410-872-0434
Close to Best Buys and Red Lobster


Gaithersburg
#3504
Gaithersberg Center
15770 Shady Grove Road
Gaithersburg, MD 20877
301-990-9029


Frederick
#3524
Riverview Plaza
5461 Urbana Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
301-668-5724
Across Francis Scott Key Mall


Hanover
#3519
7069 Arundel Mills Blvd.
Hanover, MD 21076-1395
301-725-9417
Between Route 100 & Arundel Mills Blvd.


Largo
#3527
901 Capital Center Blvd., #B105
Largo, MD 20774
301-499-7120
I-495 & Arena Drive


Pikesville
#3516
1800 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
410-602-9378


Rockville
#3508
12218 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20852
301-770-6922
1 Block North of Randolph Rd.


Silver Spring
#3525
8514 Fenton Street
Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-495-9067


Towson
#3517
Towson Mall
825 Dulaney Valley Rd. SP A240
Towson, MD 21204
410-296-4266
Inside Towson Mall


Waldorf
#3513
St. Charles Towne Center
11110 Mall Circle, Space N-5
Waldorf, MD 20603
301-705-8134 301
Side of the Mall

[DelayedReaction]

Thanks for the help everyone. Picked up a new all-season suit from Men's Warehouse in Bowie. Total cost including tie, tailoring, and suit was $385, which was a bit expensive but I didn't have much a choice. When half the stores just look at you kinda weird for asking for a 52 XL, you take what you can get.

[asdfasdf1]

Being a Canuck on a budget ( and looking for good deals) I follow www.redflagdeals.com

On the Forums, under Hot Deals, someone posted some great info on a E-Bay seller that was selling Wool Suites for Cheap.. Aparently they have been getting great reviews, and are good quality..

Just a suggestion if you don't mind buying online, any good taylor / alteration shop will fix up any sizing issues once you've been measured,

[maleficent]

Originally posted by DelayedReaction
Thanks for the help everyone. Picked up a new all-season suit from Men's Warehouse in Bowie. Total cost including tie, tailoring, and suit was $385, which was a bit expensive but I didn't have much a choice. When half the stores just look at you kinda weird for asking for a 52 XL, you take what you can get.

Pssst -- take a picture when you're all dressed up

That's really not that bad - it's probably more than a college guy on a budge can spend - but the same deal at Brooks Brothers woudl run you well over 1000 bucks...

[DelayedReaction]

Will do!

[Cynthetiq]

not a bad price at all from them. and now you know what to look for, and you can now go budget shopping in the future with some small changes to measurements.

[sailor]

Not a bad price! Congrats on your first "personal" suit! Its a great feeling dressing up and knowing you look good.

[greytone]

For anyone else looking at this thread ( since I am as usual quite late) I would recommend that if you are only going to own one suit, it should be timeless and appropriate for those occasions you are likely to wear it. This will likely be interviews and weddings and funerals. Therefore mid weight, dark blue or charcoal and with minimal, if any, pattern.

[sailor]

Originally posted by greytone
For anyone else looking at this thread ( since I am as usual quite late) I would recommend that if you are only going to own one suit, it should be timeless and appropriate for those occasions you are likely to wear it. This will likely be interviews and weddings and funerals. Therefore mid weight, dark blue or charcoal and with minimal, if any, pattern.

I agree. I personally like dark grey. My favorite suit is a dark grey herringbone pattern. Looks good, is wearable anywhere.... I like it.

[DelayedReaction]

Conveniently enough, that's exactly what I got. Two-button dark grey suit that's mid-weight and good for pretty much anywhere.

Tailor finishes with it Thursday.