Does the denim suit still fit?

quote:

Originally posted by Expat:
Does the denim suit still fit?

OK, that’s funny

I am also a fan of Joseph A Bank. Usually a good suit can be had for just over $100. I just pulled up their website and see 3 suits for $119. I have a closet full of suits and sportcoats from my working life.

Seems crazy to me that I could get a good looking suit for less than $150, but I’ll sure take a look.

I'm new to wearing suits. My previous life was way more blue collar so dressing up was usually clean pants and a polo shirt.
In the last few years I've found myself in more situations where I need to dress more appropriately for formal events so I now have 3 suits and a couple of sport jackets.
2 are from Men's Warehouse and are my favorites. They are from Kenneth Cole, wool, and tailored to fit perfectly. They seem to have the best value in respect to service and quality for the cost.
The other suit I have is a Haggar from Kohls. It's just an off the rack but happened to fit really nice. I still may take it to a tailor to get it just right but for the money it's pretty decent and looks nice.

Target can get you looking good for under $200. You can pick the coat abs pant size separately so you shouldn't even need alterations. If Jos. F. Banks is near, I like their suits for a better quality than Target. Generally, you'll find a better selection and sizes at specialty stores vs. chains and box stores.

Check this website for advice

Gentlemansgazette.com

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
Thanks you guys. All I really needed was some direction, and you’ve given me that.

How close are you to Salt Lake City? Dillards, Macys, JCPenny, and many stores selling suits for missionaries. The outlets in Park City likely have something too.

My grandfather was a tailor from the Old Country. He could feel a jacket and tell you the materials. A cheap suit looks like a cheap suit. Your best bet is to rent one and have it fitted. These suits from Mens Wearhouse look like cheap suits. The mobsters in Chicago and New York had fitted suits. John Gotti is a good example.
He was well-known for sporting $2,000 Brioni suits and shirts but would also be seen in bespoke clothing from designers like Caraceni, Kiton, and Ermenegildo Zegna.

^^^
Good point above that I missed about how close are you to Utah. If Logan/Cache Valley is closest, go see the Kater Shop in Logan. If you are nearer Salt Lake, Ogden, or Provo, do a missionary suit Google and just pick one.

What's your age and, more importantly, have you stopped growing or shrinking--in both directions?

Reason I ask is this: If your size is relatively stable it makes sense to buy a good suit, properly tailored, IMO. A good suit, with conservative styling, properly tailored, will never go out of style. A good tailor, if you tell him "My weight tends to vary a bit. I'm at the lighter/heavier/middle range right now" can tailor the suit to hang well through reasonable variations in body weight.

I own three suits: A medium gray two-piece business suit (rarely called-for anymore, since I'm retired), a dark blue three-piece pinstripe suit for weddings and other festive formal occasions, and a black three-piece for funerals.

They're all wool. They were all bought at higher-end-ish mens stores. They were all tailored.

The last one, the black one, I acquired for the funeral of one of my best friends we lost in 2017. IIRC, I paid about $700 for that suit.

A good suit, properly tailored, looks killer. A cheap off-the-rack suit looks like a cheap off-the-rack suit.

quote:

Originally posted by TMats:
I think I’ve owned exactly 2 suits in my life. The first, my mother bought for me when I was in HS. I wasn’t present.

She said, “It’s denim, I thought you’d like it.”

It looked like a clown suit, contrasting stitching and outsized lapels. Bad memory.

I owned one of those. Wrangler made it, if memory serves? Light blue denim three-piece. Very soft. Gold/yellow stitching?

I wore it to a wedding, once, many, many moons ago. Wore it with a proper western-style shirt, bolo tie, western belt with a nice buckle, and, of course, cowboy boots I got lots of complements (For an off-the-rack suit it fit me very well. In fact: It couldn't have hung any better if it'd been tailored.)

IIRC, that was about the time the cowboy phase was going strong. Some of y'all may remember: When all the discos converted to "western bars?"

[QUOTE]Originally posted by OKCGene:

A traditional conservative business type suit, not the trendy styles that come and go with the latest fashions, will be good for many years. And screw those skinny leg styles. Uncomfortable. /QUOTE]

I recently went through this for a funeral. I had 3 suits in the closet, but they were all outdated style. Luckily I also had the classic blue blazer so I made it work. I am now shopping for a new suit and I agree, those skinny styles aren't happening. I noticed a lot of people wear them with sneakers. I guess if your nuts are getting crushed you might as well have comfortable feet.

Nordstroms Rack and Macy's have nice suits but look for a sale. I have purchased at Mens Warehouse in the past, but actually found the same items for less at Macy's when on sale.

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Congratulations on your Son's weadding!

Talk with your Wife with consultation with your future Daughter-in-Law's Mom about all the events they are planning and the expected dress code.

As the Father of the Groom, you may need to be slightly more dressed up than guests at various events such as...

Wedding Shower
Arrival Luncheon for out-of-town family (mini-reunion)
Rehearsal Dinner
Parent's Wedding Day Brunch
Gift Opening Lunch

Once you have the full list of events, you can plan different color (and collar) shirts and different ties (dont forget Bolo ties since your in Wyoming) to give the same suit different looks. This also is true of Sport Coats and Slacks, they can be mixed and matched for multiple events.

Depending on your family's ability to PARTY, you might also want to look into a suit for the Bachelor Party ~ one made of vinyl, PVC, leather, or a neoprene wetsuit!

Regardless to what you wear, have a blast!

.

quote:

A good suit, properly tailored, looks killer. A cheap off-the-rack suit looks like a cheap off-the-rack suit.

This is an important message, materials, fit, all play a big part, finding a shop with good help and a tailor that knows their job makes a big difference.

And don't skimp on the shirt, get one that compliments the suit, nothing worse than an ill fitting shirt with the wrong collar type for your build, or so thin when you sweat during the dance session people can see through it.

Socks, don't wear ankle biters, get good sheer mens socks that will come up over your calves and stay up...

Don't for get shoes, take yours with you when you get measured for fit.

I’m quite a long ways from SLC. I’m enjoying your responses and have quite a lot to mull over. September isn’t that far off, I don’t think I’m too early in starting this process. Thank you all again.

I used Men's Warehouse for my daughter's wedding and my burial suit. Could be the only two times it's used. Unless I'm cremated. In which case, I spent $200 bucks to rent a suit that now takes up space in my closet.

Everybody should own at least one suit. And it's your son'e wedding. Wear a suit. Nothing looks better than a well fitted suit, especially on a guy who everybody knows doesn't wear suits.

That said, you don't need to go crazy. As has been said, the fit matters more than the suit itself. If you have been lucky enough to avoid middle age spread, tailoring the suit should be relatively easy. I'd budget about $4-500, with alterations to be performed by a qualified tailor, not some lady who does it for cheap at the department store. Personally, I like Hart Schaffner and Marx, but Hickey-Freeman are nice, too. Considering how much of a downswing the formal clothing industry has had since COVID, you might be able to get a deal.

My suggestion: buy a new tie, and have your haberdasher choose it if ties aren't your thing. Spend a little $$ on it. Nobody pays attention to a suit unless it fits poorly, but everybody looks at the tie. Your efforts in this endeavor will not go unnoticed by your daughter-in-law.

quote:

Originally posted by Expat:
Does the denim suit still fit?

Just remembered, back in the 80's I had several corduroy suits. Both were 3 piece. It was the fad for a few years. As far as I know corduroy pants and such have never come back in style.
.

quote:

Originally posted by Milliron:
Everybody should own at least one suit. And it's your son'e wedding. Wear a suit. Nothing looks better than a well fitted suit, especially on a guy who everybody knows doesn't wear suits.

That said, you don't need to go crazy. As has been said, the fit matters more than the suit itself. If you have been lucky enough to avoid middle age spread, tailoring the suit should be relatively easy. I'd budget about $4-500, with alterations to be performed by a qualified tailor, not some lady who does it for cheap at the department store. Personally, I like Hart Schaffner and Marx, but Hickey-Freeman are nice, too. Considering how much of a downswing the formal clothing industry has had since COVID, you might be able to get a deal.

My suggestion: buy a new tie, and have your haberdasher choose it if ties aren't your thing. Spend a little $$ on it. Nobody pays attention to a suit unless it fits poorly, but everybody looks at the tie. Your efforts in this endeavor will not go unnoticed by your daughter-in-law.

As you can probably tell from my original post, that $4-500 range is what I thought I needed to spend. Appreciate you

I just bought my son a nice suit from Men's Warehouse for a bit over $400, to use for job interviews and it's very nice looking. I don't wear suits, other than for special occasions but am thinking about getting one myself. For me, every man should have at least one nice suit for certain occasions in life. It is amazing at how much of difference a fitted suit looks on you compared to one off the rack, which is what I have. We looked at JC Penney for suits but it would need some fitting and the price was almost as much as what we bought at Men's Warehouse. They have a clearance rack there as well and have some nice items.