How much did you pay for your suit? | Hacker News Reader

How much did you pay for your suit?

3 pointsVicterius8 comments

Went fashion shopping today and tried a few jackets. Prices varied from $200 to $1000+. Yet the difference in quality isn't always that much. How much did you pay for your suit, assuming you own one?

View on HN

Meh. I can't remember the last time I put a suit on for anything, and I'm not in any hurry to do it again. If jeans, a long-sleeve Snap-On t-shirt and a Suicidal Tendencies cap isn't good enough, it doesn't concern me.

My suggestion is that you go to a place like suit supply or indochino and pick a fabric you like then have a suit made to measure. This can be done for $400-600.

Most of the "bang for your buck" in men's formal wear is the fit.

Go to J Crew, buy the Ludlow Suit, and spend another couple hundred on a good tailor. That’s all you need and it will last forever (depending on body changes)

I own three of these suits so it's hard for me to credibly disagree, but I think they are very overpriced at full price ($750). They go on sale sometimes and if you can get one for $500, it's probably worth it.

That said, you should almost never be spending $100 or more on a new suit at a tailor. There are some things you should have tailored on a new suit, sleeves and pant cuffs for example, but for other things like shoulders you should buy something that fits in the first place.

Sleeves and cuffs don’t qualify as “tailoring”.

Shoulders are definitely something you should fit for at the store if possible but a good tailor can make a world of difference in the way the legs fit or the drape of the jacket - the difference between a super baggy, super tight or “just right” fit that looks flattering. My guy usually takes about $200 to do a full suit but it is a high COL area.

I’ll also note that sometimes you are forced by a wedding party to buy a suit that doesn’t fit ideally. A good tailor can make the special day a lot more comfortable.

You can often find them at a discount at the outlet store too.

The quality isn’t as important as the fit. Even a cheap suit can look good if you take it to a tailor.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com