How to Buy, The Series Part 1: The Suit

While some say that the suit is losing its relevance in the 21^st century, there are undoubtedly occasions where donning a nice suit is obligatory. While one may not need a closet full of suits (unless you love them like I do), one or two great suits should undoubtedly be a part of every man’s wardrobe. If you don’t own any suits or simply want to upgrade, here are some tips for purchasing a versatile suit that will serve as an anchor for your closet.

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Know Your Budget

Keeping it real, suits aren’t cheap – well, GOOD suits aren’t cheap. As such, having a clear idea of how much you are willing to spend is very important. Setting a budget that you are comfortable with will inform everything from where you will be able to shop to the quality of fabric you are able to consider. In addition, your budget should also consider any corresponding shoes or accessories you will need to purchase. In any case, if this is your first suit or a suit you intend to use often for multiple types of events, go as high on your budget as you can to get the best quality and ultimately the best bang for your buck. 

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Find the Right Brand

After setting a budget you can then zero-in on brands that fall within your range. While the brands you will be able to consider will primarily be determined by the amount of money you are looking to spend, other factors you should consider are the aesthetic you are going for (as an example, while Suitsupply and Bonobos have similar prices, the look of their suits are generally different), accessibility (can you walk in the store and make a purchase or do you need to have an appointment or a relationship with the brand), as well as where you are located; as an aside I would always recommend purchasing a suit in person if possible. Lookout for future post on the best suit brands for every budget. 

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Choose A Versatile Color

This step is pretty straightforward. Navy blue and charcoal gray are typically lauded as the most versatile suit colors and generally serve as the anchors of any suit wardrobe. While some might make the argument for black as well, it is typically not considered as versatile of a color when compared to blue or gray, specifically when you are looking to wear the suit at both day and nighttime occasions (black is generally reserved for funerals and evening events).

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Choose A Versatile Fabric

Fabric choice is very important when choosing a suit, especially if you may not have a closet full of options. If you are buying your first suit, I would suggest choosing an all-season fabric so that you can wear it throughout the year. As a rule of thumb, for a first suit stay away from season specific fabrics such as linen (spring/summer) or heavy wool (fall/winter) – you can dive into more unique options once you have the basics covered. 

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Employ A Tailor

No matter your budget or the brand/designer, getting your suit tailored is an absolute MUST. While I am a proponent for having a personal tailor you regularly use, some brands offer in-store tailoring when purchasing the suit. Either way in order to ensure your suit fits perfectly, don’t skimp on the tailoring, and as a general rule of thumb I always include around $100 for tailoring as part of my suit budget. 

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