I Bought My Kid a Suit Yesterday

WashDad · 10-05-2007, 04:08 PM

Does anyone else do this? This was for TallSon -- the high school sophomore. He is going to Homecoming Dance next week, and it is semiformal. Unlike WashDadJr, TallSon is a social butterfly and will likely be attending all the dances and such that are available over the next three years. He's already 6-4, so I'm hoping he isn't planning to outgrow it in that time, and I asked the tailor to make cuffs on the trousers (they can be let back out if he grows), and to not snip anything off the waistband or the coat.

So, do I have the only high school kid in America with a charcoal gray, 3-button suit, complete with three shirts (one with Liberty cuffs), ties, socks, and black cushion-soled dress shoes (doubles as band shoes)?

Kind of a male bonding moment. It was fun teaching him how to buy a suit -- except for paying for it all, that is.

missypie · 10-05-2007, 04:38 PM

We bought our son his very first suit last June, for his cousin's wedding...He was 16. I'm hoping he can wear it next spring to the various school banquets. It's a greenish-gray...looks great on him because he's a redhead.

simba · 10-05-2007, 04:47 PM

now teach him the tie thingy (good luck)

doubleplay · 10-05-2007, 04:52 PM

Oh, the tie thing!
I remember helping my sons when they were young. Dad couldn't teach them very well, because he's left handed (and they are not). I can only do the simple knot (Dad knows the double, which is better, but can't teach them how to do it).

mathmom · 10-05-2007, 05:17 PM

My son owns a dark charcoal wool suit with pinstripes, but I don't think he's ever worn it. (It's a hand-me-down from a cousin.) He wears the pants for orchestra concerts.

crabbylady · 10-05-2007, 05:19 PM

I have daughters - please tell me what "Liberty cuffs" are?

WashDad · 10-05-2007, 05:38 PM

Sorry, crabbylady, it was another in a long line of attempted jokes. "Freedom Fries" and "Liberty cuffs" = French fries and French cuffs.

jacdad · 10-05-2007, 05:46 PM

Washdad- We are at opposite ends of the spectrum(as well as geographically), my younger son is fairly small and so fits in between the largest kid size and the smallest man size. Fitting him was not easy as we in addition live in the proverbial boonies.
He had a wonderful hand me down Italian made creamy white suit, which he wore as a member of the Homecoming Court, and at various talent shows his senior year. Just before summer, he landed a very nice piano gig at a fancy restaurant. The week of his first night we dropped the suit at the dry cleaners so he would be stylish and pristine. Thursday he went to retrieve it and it had been cleaned in a batch of clothing that included a black magic marker. Suit ruined. Took us three weeks of evening trips as far as 11/2 hour away to finally find a suitable(add smiley face), replacement.
It is a nice suit, but not as luxurious and designerish as the poor destroyed suit.
PS- He prefers the Windsor knot.

3bm103 · 10-05-2007, 05:48 PM

I had three boys. So they always had a suit. Bought it for the oldest and it kept getting passed down. Until the younger two started growing taller than the oldest.

Oldest started school in England were school uniforms were required. So he could tie his own tie at 5. Brothers just learned from him. Dad couldn't teach them unless he was standing behind them because that's the way he does it. Mom can do it facing them.

Bought them each their own suit after they graduated from high school and I figured they were fully grown.

WashDad · 10-05-2007, 05:55 PM

I haven't had to teach TallSon to tie a tie -- he just seemed to pick it up. Because of band he's been wearing ties for a couple of years. Maybe that Scout training has paid off...

bookworm · 10-05-2007, 05:56 PM

Did this last winter, too late for interviews. S finally realized importance of appearance. Never worn yet. But, a nice solid navy suit. Followed by a lunch. nice day.

dragonmom · 10-05-2007, 06:21 PM

Oh gosh, the first suit! My son needed one for a formal family wedding jr year. He wore it a few more times (mostly the pants without the coat) but it was too small by college days. Passed it on to a cousin. If I were doing it over I would buy a tux instead....save some money on rentals for homecoming and prom.

WashDad · 10-05-2007, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dragonmom

If I were doing it over I would buy a tux instead....save some money on rentals for homecoming and prom.

TallSon is issued a tux as a band uniform! I mean, he won't want to wear it to prom, but he could...

Icarus · 10-05-2007, 06:38 PM

I did this my senior year of high school. I hate shopping and know nothing about fashion or style, so I took some female friends (who were way too excited about the prospect of picking out a suit for me lol). Ended up with a $1200 Armani suit

I do like the spread collar and french cuffs, though.

peariceparent · 10-05-2007, 06:42 PM

DS is a college senior and bought his first suit this summer. Has worn it for two interviews already. Hopefully it will get more use after he graduates.