Advice/Recommendations for a Buying Relatively Cheap Suit with Decent Quality and Tailoring?

howtothriftpls on 10/07/2019 - 12:08

Starting a new job at a large investment bank in a couple weeks and I'm looking to buy a couple of suits for work. Unfortunately, I am a low budget student with low budget needs, but would still like to buy something half decent since I'll probably wear these a lot and at other events too. My price range is preferably < $200, MAX $300 per suit (not including tailoring). Please share any current deals/recommendations :)

The last suit I bought was from the gentlemans club in Chatswood and it was amazing, I think it cost $150 (because I bought multiple with my friends), great quality, and they did a great job tailoring and fitting. Unfortunately, their prices have more than doubled since and they dont have a multibuy promotion anymore :(

Fashion & Apparel Clothing Suit

Comments

  • Wystri Warrick on 10/07/2019 - 12:24
    +4

    Oxford outlet store nuff said.
    You won't find a store with prices as cheap and as good quality as Oxford's. Oxfords are all wool suits too.

    • howtothriftpls on 10/07/2019 - 13:24
      +1

      ooh theres one close to where I live, I'll be sure to check it out, thanks!

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 10/07/2019 - 12:26
    +2

    Congrats on the new job!

    We've all been there once. Starting the business wardrobe can be daunting.

    I have a few Van Heusen suits that are decent enough. ~$190-250 each if you buy 2 or more in 1 transaction. I went into Myer and tried them on to get my sizes then went home and ordered online.

    Looks to be a discount code\signup offer to make it cheaper. They also appear to still have free delivery as well.

    http://www.vanheusen.com.au/mens-suits/?filt_cat=65

    Biggest tip I can give is to buy multiple matching pants. They'll wear out quicker than the suit jacket.

    You can also spread out your wardrobe easier and quicker by buying cheap decent business pants and buying a decent "oxford style" jacket you can buy cheap from BigW etc.

    Then buy some better suits a year in and relegate your cheap suits to Fridays or boozy events where they might get trashed.

    • howtothriftpls on 10/07/2019 - 13:26
      +1

      Thankyou! I'll be sure to check that out, planning to make a trip to the city tomorrow night so I'll pop by Myer :)

      I will definitely buy more pants, makes sense to have more of those for sure hahaha

      thanks for the sage advice :)

  • [Deactivated] on 10/07/2019 - 12:27
    +1

    They're all pretty similar.

    At the $200 price range, they're unlikely to be in-house manufacturing.

    These companies send a buyer to trade shows and they pick a few things and maybe add some customizations.

    Pick one that fits and doesn't look like it's falling apart before it leaves the store.

  • Davo1111 on 10/07/2019 - 12:52
    +1

    go to an outlet type store and walk into a place with a heap of suits. Keep trying them on until one fits.

    At that price range, the features you'll be comparing are essentially material (wool/poly) and if the knees are silk lined.

  • Mikay89 on 10/07/2019 - 12:58
    +3

    From Perth, went to the MJ Bale outlet store at DFO 2 weeks ago and scored two pure wool suits for $320.
    Lucky for me tailoring was only needed on the pants length & taper, so another $60 there brought the total cost to $380.
    Pretty happy with the result given these suits can go for $400-600 at the standard retail stores, we shall see what the life of these is like though.

  • NotAnAudiophile on 10/07/2019 - 13:02
    +2

    Go to Bangkok. Fully tailored suits at a fraction of the price.

  • chalks1971 on 10/07/2019 - 13:28
    -4

    Youve just got an investment banking job. First impressions will count. Go get a loan & do things properly. Youll have the money back in a couple of weeks

    • Changskies on 10/07/2019 - 13:57

      Sorry, downvoted you. That is a bad advice. You should borrow ~1k from your parents or anyone around you

      • chalks1971 on 10/07/2019 - 15:44

        At least you put your "name" to it.
        Everybody below has basically said the same thing - spend more money to get quality. But where is he going to get the money for a couple of good suits if he doesnt borrow it, steal it?
        & Id never borrow off my dad instead of a bank, hes done enough growing me up & putting me through school. Big persons job, big persons responsibilities.
        A loan would be paid off in no time, & give great satisfaction to the OP.

        One other option for the OP is the OpShop

        • Changskies on 10/07/2019 - 21:39

          Ah, I know what you mean. My point being is theres no reason to go to the bank, minimum loan ~5k or such and have excess loan left for nothing. I recycled my first grey suit for 4 weeks, until I got paid and used about 790, biggest waste of money as it was ill-fitting and quite 'un'presentable. If he has a budget of 500-600; I would rather see him maximising them to appear neat, not overboard as aura of a person is made of what they are, not what they wear. For example, I feel uncomfortable wearing expensive stuff because I know I'll ruin them - so that comes out subconsciously when Im meeting key people. Getting a loan on a bank I think adds another negative connotation IMO. What I typed might not make sense, spent about 12 hrs in the office.

  • Seraphin7 on 10/07/2019 - 14:03
    +3

    Seriously, stretch out the budget a bit. The MJ Bale 2 for $1,000 is a pretty good go.

    If this is a proper, full time job, you need something decent. Be wary of cheap and nasties that look exactly that after a couple of wears.

  • Changskies on 10/07/2019 - 14:10
    +3

    Imho, good tailor > mediocre MTM suits.
    Go to retail, off the rack stores e.g. MJ bale or Peter Jackson, shop 300-400 section for a jacket that fits you well. I'd pick dark navy or grey as a starter. DO NOT GET TAILORED BY THEM. Then find an amazing tailor (if u live around chatswood Macq centre has a great one), ask for a slim fit qtr or half break for pants. If your tailor doesnt know what qtr or half break is, get out of there.
    This should be 375-500 per suit. As this is winter, wear w.e shirt that kinda fits you well and uniqlo crewneck sweater on top to walk around the office neat.

    • GabbaKing on 21/11/2021 - 20:40

      Recommendation for tailor please.

  • Randxyz123 on 10/07/2019 - 15:19
    +1

    MJ bale or Peter Jackson or maybe oxford.

    If you can buy separates buy more trousers as you’ll go through these quicker.

    You should try to buy in store where ever possible. They will help you get your size correct.

    Seriously as others have said, if you are client facing first impressions are everything. You’ll be wearing them everyday and the cheap ones will just fall apart and will look terrible after a week. I’d be buying maybe 2x $350-500 suits

    If you need to ask your parents for a loan and then pay them back off your first pay cheque.

  • Sweet3st on 10/07/2019 - 16:59
    +1

    Country Road on sale is decent quality for the price… https://www.countryroad.com.au/sale/man/clothing/suits

  • crentist on 10/07/2019 - 17:05
    +2

    do you absolutely need a suit? maybe you could rock the sweater and tie look for a little while.
    Smart, neat, cheap, easy to wash, saves you from ironing

    • Randxyz123 on 10/07/2019 - 18:40

      First day, I would wear a suit. Often you might be meeting partners or senior managers. After the first day, they can figure it out from there. If they are not client-facing then they may well be able to do chinos and a jumper some days. It depends on the team culture.

      • crentist on 10/07/2019 - 23:08

        Fair point. Me too actually, though I don't think I wore that suit after my first week as a grad. Kinda cringe looking back. But then for most of my roles a clean tshirt without a logo is already pretty overdressed.

        Investment bankers probably wanna see suits more than others. And meeting senior people you haven't encountered, and who may be somewhat inclined to judge, is probably worth rocking a suit just to be safe.
        Better to be overdressed than under. $300 is probably a bit tight actually

  • hdew47221 on 11/07/2019 - 07:34
    +2

    Def go to oxford! They are great suits - I used to buy expensive suits and I reckon Oxford are actually better cut and seem to perform pretty well. Only thing is don’t bother dry cleaning it too often otherwise it may go shiny (anecdotally - IMO faster than other suits). I got a deal and bought 3 suits for $500 about a year ago.

    Good luck with the new job!

  • thrillhouse on 11/07/2019 - 07:51
    +1

    If you can stretch the budget, Institchu make fully custom and tailored suits. Got my wedding suit done by them ($800) and it’s great.

  • munecito on 11/07/2019 - 08:37
    +1

    What about Kelly country factory?

    I used to get nicely tailored suits for not much back in another life when I needed to wear suits.

    A well tailored suit beats an expensive but ill fitting one.

  • [Deactivated] on 11/07/2019 - 09:35
    +1

    I would just go to target. Their suits are quite good. I wear them in a high corporate job.

  • SlickMick on 11/07/2019 - 11:30
    +1

    I buy a new suit for every job interview. I wear it one day. When I change jobs, the suit doesn't fit any more.
    I need to hire next time. Thanks, that's great advice, I'm going to find where I can do that so I can be prepared.

  • Nobby47 on 11/07/2019 - 11:56
    +1

    Look at M.J. Bale Outlet sale up to 70% off using code VIP40. As others have said make sure you buy at least two pairs of trousers as they always wear out quicker than the jacket.

  • Quantumcat on 11/07/2019 - 12:15
    +1

    Take a holiday in Bali and get one custom made

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