MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
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THe last suit I bought was for my graduation in 98, Ive got a couple of weddings coming up so I thought that I might update!
It'll be going to weddings, funerals etc and maybe the occasional job interview, and I need it to look good for a few years...
Which high street retailers would you recommend for having good staff and nice suits?
Ta
M&S on a budget are very good indeed.
Zara.
Oxfam, Help the aged etc.
Zara on sale at the mo, but move fast.
Debenenebenhams
Moss Bros
If you're in the south east Bicester retail village is worth a look. Avoid at the weekend though.
Debenhams, have ridiculous sales every so often.
EDIT - damn this thread is moving fast!
Would also suggest M&S or debenhams.
Anyone know what to look for in a suit, I haven't got a clue! I know I don't want it to be shiny and I 'think' single breasted is less likely to go out of date...anything else?
I guess a visit to M&S and Moss Bros is the way forward...
NEXT / M&S
greenwoods or whatever its called. its in the metro if u live near newcastle 😛
Single breasted, charcoal grey. M&S do a few different cuts including slim and semi-slim fits so try them on and see what looks/feels best.
get a job at john lewis then leave sharpish.. job done. or play dead.. undertakers usually provide em from stock, you gotta look smart at the pearly gates.
Agree with single breasted but IMO a dark navy is more versatile and a bit cooler. Two button also, and as few redundant details as possible.
Hong Kong maybe, defiantly China.
If you have a branch of Greenwoods near you, deffo try them first :-
http://www.greenwoodsonline.com/store_locator/
no-nonsense, and good value IMHO.
Debenhams did me fine. Tried on suits costing 3 or 4 times as much, wasn't much difference. Mind you I got lucky with fit.
What do people think about lighter-than-charcoal grey?
I suspect Mrslister will have the final say on the colour however...;-)
Has no-one said Slaters Menswear yet?
Got any Slaters near you?
What do people think about lighter-than-charcoalgrey
Are you an estate agent?
Are you an estate agent?
Fair enough, message recieved!
What do people think about lighter-than-charcoalgrey
Are you an estate agent?
I guess you don't get much sun in the UK. 😥
Ted Baker sale. Some lovely suits down from 350-400 to approx 150. Best suits going for the money and miles better than M&S.
Can't believe that nobody's asked your size and shape yet. Cut is everything.
For classic, Jaeger usually have some good buys.
For stylish (if slim fit), Paul Smith at Bicester Village
For good value (if right size) TK Max have a stock of Ted Baker Endurance
For traditional try Austin Reed (they have some updated styles)
If all that fails, go to M&S, always good value, but the cut is a little generous. Next and French Connection also have nice suits at reasonable prices.
Two buttons, flat fronted trousers, blue is always a good choice, but for summer I'd be looking for something in taupe. Finished off with some nice dark brown shoes.
I too recommend a trip to Bicester Village, last time I went I picked up a Paul Smill for £240, down from £650. It's brown, but I like it.
Go to a big mall, after walking for a minute you will see cheap suits.
No suit since '98? expand your network - you look good in a suit 😉
M&S have a good range and a tailoring service that is actually staffed with tailors. This may be the bigger stores only though. Pretty pleased with my autograph Suit for my cousins wedding next week, even If I did have to get a size 36 trouser because my arse was too big. 😳
+1 for Slaters if there's one near you. Customer service is second to none.
M&S Collezione, might be another £30 mind
Grey suit, white shirt, red tie, black shoes. Follow this and you won't go wrong, ever.
Follow this and you won't go wrong, ever.
Would it be suitable for the Conservative Party conference?
[i]It's got [s]millionaire[/s] thicko written all over it.[/i]
FTFY
I got both my 6th form suits from Next, each about £100/£120 ish. Oh, and grey suits FTW 😉
You could try a TK-Maxx
Most big high street stores do a reasonable suit now, go for the one that fits. I find the Jeff Banks ones in Debehmams fit me well but the Next ones don't.
Go for a charcoal grey, 2 buttons, flat front trousers, it won't date much, is safe for most occasions (weddings, interviews, meetings, etc.). I would team it with a white shirt, black shoes and belt and a tie of your choice. Personally I think something pink ish works well with grey but am happy to be shot down.
Anyone else find they just don't fit in flat fronted trousers?
Next
M&S
Moss Bros
Ted Baker
Anyone else find they just don't fit in flat fronted trousers?
Yep, I find then a tad uncomfortable plus they tend to crease around the front of the waist/groin area easier than pleated trousers.
So I tend to go for pleated trousers, no more than one pleat though.
Onzadog - MemberAnyone else find they just don't fit in flat fronted trousers?
Yes - I can fit my thighs in the legs OR I can fit something in the pockets, not both, if I don't want my @rse hanging out.
But pleated trousers just don't work for me - I look like a clown.
But then went to Zara and tried on a pair of flat-fronted suit trousers and they fit; went back for the jacket a couple of days later.
M&S suits can be as little as £60 at Gretna Gateway and you can usually pick up the £350 suits for under £150. not sure where other factory outlets are.
My only need for a suit is functions that dictate them and I certainly have no idea what is the right cut or is the fashion unless they are chainsaw trousers.
So I went for a M&S cheapy suit, got it to go round the widest points (shoulders and thighs) then got a lady in the next town to make it match my shape. Tidy as. Cheapest tailored way I know of short of picking one up in Nepal (as a friend did).
Dior
-Edit, sorry, thought you said £1500
But then went to Zara and tried on a pair of flat-fronted suit trousers and they fit; went back for the jacket a couple of days later.
You sound like a shop-lifter 🙂
Thanks folks, looks like I'll head to McArthur Glen retail outlet, and if that's no good then Debenhams and M&S.
Ta!
Also, I bought a really smart suit from Age concern on Satursay for 6 quid. They threw in a wasitcoat and a tie for free. Six quid for a suit!
Wool too. Awesome. Smelled of wee when I started sweating mind. But wool!
+1 for Paul smith outlet, still running an 11 year old one I got for just over 200 quid at the york one. Classic styling that still looks good today. Ted baker won't, m&s will fall appart
Gieves and hawkes outlets have some cheaper stuff that will be f nice quality. I was really impressed with jaeger for their styles, quite modern while still using good weight wool and solid construction. M&S Sartorial and Collezionne are also a good choice. If you're near York I would definately recomend the outlet there, lots of choice across this price range. Hackett, Gieves, Daks, Paul Smith, Ted Baker, M&S etc etc
Matalan? Picked up a reasonable suit for about 75 quid for uni, they do some nice grey ones too. Then spend the change on beer/petrol/bike parts?
M&S? They aren't the best suits in the world, but the fit reasonably well and mine has lasted for nearly 10years now.
mine has lasted for nearly 10years now.
How often do you wear the damned thing for it to last 10 years?
Next
Charcoal grey, plain, no stripes, is definitely the most versatile colour for a suit.
Single breasted, 1 or 2 (3 if it fits well and suits your body shape)button jacket, flat fronted or single pleat trousers, standard notched lapels, no turn ups on the trousers, nothing too fancy or "fashionable".
It'll do all occasions.
Whatever you do do not buy one of those skinny trousered, short jacket suits that are doing the rounds. They might look ok poncing around shoreditch, but turn up to a job interview or a funeral in one and you'll just look like a ****.
So many suggestions for where to buy so I won't echo them. Just try a few and buy the one that fits best.
Job done.
(I said earlier that here was the last place I would come for fashion advice and here I am doleing it out, I am aware of the irony)
This has been running for so long that I'd forgotten the original question, so I think this suggestion might be redundant.
M&S- You can, I think, buy one jacket and two or three pairs of trousers. Trousers wear out quicker than jacket, but if it's just occasional useage, this is not important.

