Cheap suit? Okaaay...
Other than the first 2 years of my working life, and for some interviews, I haven't worn a suit in anger. We do dress up for random get togethers, just for the sake of it, and then there's the cruises with dress codes for dinner...
That being said, I've always bought good quality classic styles that have lasted for ... more years than I'm going to admit to. My guess is, accounting for inflation, they've all had 4-figure price tags (tags, not always actual!).
So yesterday I donned a nice shirt, proper shoes, expensive watch and off to look at some fancy suits.
A couple of complimentary coffees and several try ons later and I felt a bit... lukewarm. The same feeling I've had when trying on some expensive watches, or when looking at proposed art that doesn't hit the spot.
Time for another coffee and a gaze at my watch, which gave me a thought.
An expensive watch needs to be perfect, or as near as possible. Same with the art, I've rejected paintings based on a dodgy colour or brush stroke that doesn't fit. With a watch the cyclops or dodgy number font means it doesn't pass go, we all have specifics that we can't see past.
But I have lots of inexpensive watches that I love, irrespective of faults - at the lower price points they don't need to be "perfect". Same with some cheaper art purchases. Why not apply that thinking to buying a suit, remembering that it has to work for a wedding but doesn't need to impress, and doesn't need to be perfect
Freedom!
But I did have to start the process again and get a move on. Several stores later and I was down to M&S as a last resort. Hmm, I wasn't hopeful. Which turned out to be somewhat prejudicial.
They surprised me with two that I liked. I really just need the one, and fortunately they only had one in the right size. And it's a linen (well, something in with the linen to resist too much creasing) which is more comfortable in the summer sun.
Excellent, an inexpensive suit that works for the event and one that I'm going to enjoy wearing, just like some of my cheaper watches.
I'm still going to wear a nicer watch on the day though.
Art. Jazz. Dachshunds. Bolton Wanderers. Reading FC.
Marks and Spencer saves the day .
I’ve worked in fashion most of my life. A cheap material can feel expensive and an expensive material can feel cheap. It really is all about the cut and how it fits on your sillohette. Crazy expensive Alexander McQueen suites with pointy shoulders don’t make any sense, and I prefer my Tommy Hilfiger suit compared to my bespoke. Same goes for watches I’ve had expensive watches as sharp as knock offs and $200 that were way to nice for the money.
The suit does not make the man, the man makes the suit.
Someone tag me when the inevitable crowd comes in saying that there is no right size suit and that one should wear what they want. But yes, a well-fitting suit looks and feels better than an ill-fitting expensive one. I'd say the same with watches but the angry mob might come for me.
Good old M&S, as a non shopping man I go twice a year, buy everything I need in under 20 mins and get a fair amount of tutting from my other half.
Someone tag me when the inevitable crowd comes in saying that there is no right size suit and that one should wear what they want. But yes, a well-fitting suit looks and feels better than an ill-fitting expensive one. I'd say the same with watches but the angry mob might come for me.
You are 💯 on the suit. Cheaper, but well fitted/tailored and solidly made suit trumps off the shelf expensive one any day, full stop.
I'll always hit up thrift stores and second hand places when I'm in bigger cities, buy slightly oversize, then take to a tailor I like for a fitting and/or removal of liners. Don't know if it saves me a ton of money, but it does save some.