<p>So my son is traveling in a country where he can get a custom made suit for about $115. Should he? He’s interested in a business where he may well want to be wearing suits. (International Relations - security issues). </p>
<p>And if he does get a suit what should he get. I know nothing about suits to advise him - my husband’s one and only suit is 30 years old. How many buttons? Back slits? Material?</p>
<p>Yes - he should get a suit. Even if he doesn’t need it for work, he’ll need it for interviews and friend’s weddings; and if he can get a quality suit for $115 … that’s a steal. I’ve been helping my H shop for a suit and they are so expensive! I found this when I was looking to see what is current:</p>
<p>[Men’s</a> suits: modern suit styles for 2011 > Men’s Fashion Trends](<a href=“http://www.fashionising.com/trends/b--mens-suit-styles-designs-modern-suits-1467.html]Men’s”>http://www.fashionising.com/trends/b--mens-suit-styles-designs-modern-suits-1467.html) </p>
<p>There’s lots of other sites that have info on suits, too.</p>
<p>Tell him to insist on at least 2 fittings. A suit made within 24 hours is not worth it, even at $115. Material should be wool, even a light grade one. He should squeeze the fabric for 5 seconds and let go, the less wrinkling the fabric has, the better it is.</p>
<p>He should also ask around to be sure wherever he’s thinking of getting it done has a lot of satisfied customers (quality varies considerably). If he can see samples of what they’ve created for others, that is important as well (check the sewing & workmanship to see whether it appears corners are cut or not). It would be great if he can get one that fits him well at a good price, even if it’s more than $115. If they do a great job, he might want to get an extra pair of slacks in the same fabric, since that is the piece that tends to wear out before the jacket.</p>
<p>The less wrinking the better is indeed important. My favorite suit is still one I bought when I graduated from law school decades ago–it’s wool & resists wrinking & was recently re-tailored so it continues to fit perfectly!</p>
<p>I suggest the same to DS when he was traveling in China after his graduation.
Save your breath.</p>
<p>My neice’s husband, bought silk undershirts and tailored dress shirts when they were traveling.
Which I thought was as a better idea and would be more likely to be worn.</p>
<p>^???</p>
<p>My son asked me if he should get a suit, it wasn’t my idea. He likes clothes, and I think he’d wear the suit sooner or later. He was cross last spring that no one was making 3 piece suits any more because he really wants to wear a vest! Thanks for all the advice. I’ll pass the link to the thread on to him, so feel free to continue posting.</p>
<p>DS didn’t buy shirts. Still dress as when was at CMU, except he now wears closed-toed shoes.
Works at Udub, where its bit wetter.</p>
<p>LOL, a CMU kid, no wonder! My son’s CMU older brother would never buy a suit voluntarily. He does have a nice blazer, but I think he last wore it at a job fair. He certainly didn’t have to wear it to work!</p>
<p>Fit is more important than material or brand.</p>
<p>You can’t go wrong with a solid gray suit, it can be worn year around. A solid color suit is best to start with (black, gray, navy blue), then if you find yourself wearing them more often begin to look at stripes/designs.</p>
<p>I like two buttons. I prefer pants with no pleats or cuffs. However that appears to be the new style, more streamlined and fitted with only two buttons.</p>
<p>When I was a teenager I worked at a country club and one of the members I knew owned a mens clothing store. Very sharp guy. He told me that every man should have three things in his wardrobe. A navy blue blazer, gary pants and cordovan shoes. If you have those three items you can blend in any environment. It can look as sharp and professional as you want, or as casual and laid back as well.</p>
<p>I can’t imagine a well made suit costing only $115, let alone a custom one. I have a unique built (6"4" 230, broad chest, narrow waist, athletic) so I have a couple tailor made suits and they get very pricey. I’ve never shopped for a suit in a foreign country though.</p>
<p>Word for the wise, find a good local tailor and bring bargain deal suits for fitting. I’ve found nice suits at stores like Marshals and TJ Max for very cheap and had them fitted. I took a 46L suit and had it brought in to fit my 43L frame, the whole process still costed far less than if I would have bought a brand name suit at a higher end retailer.</p>
<p>My father is semi retired and gave me alot of his business suits and jackets and I had them retailored to give me a great fit.</p>
<p>^I can imagine it. We used to get beautiful hand made shoes for peanuts when I was in Africa.</p>
<p>I’d recommend a mid-weight worsted wool, gray, two-button, single vent. I would look for a good quality, conservative American look, nothing too edgy. Something he can look nice in anywhere and fit in, and wear for a long time.</p>
<p>What is your son’s build? Tall-short, thin-stout?</p>
<p>Wool blend, two button jacket, pleated trousers, navy blue, suspender buttons, pant cuffs, dress black shoes and a tie to complement a sincere white shirt. He’ll need dress shoes when being fitted.</p>
<p>He’s six feet tall and thin. He likes wearing old fashioned hats. (He has a fedora, an Indian Jones type hat, and a top hat.) He’ll often wear a suit jacket with his jeans and t-shirt.</p>
<p>My H would recommend a dark navy (closer to black) color suit. He gets his suits made in Italy, and he would usually get 2 pairs of pants made with a jacket.</p>
<p>If he could get a suit made for 115, he may want to get a more fashionable suit. I am seeing a lot of young men (especially the Europeans) with very skinny pants, and I have to say they look good. For that kind of price, he could throw them out when they are no longer fashionable.</p>
<p>In business, at least where I work, 99% of the suits men and women wear are black/dark blue. Someone with a gray suit stands out like a sore thumb. Suits are part of a business uniform. Style, fashion and variety considerations do not pertain.</p>
<p>Times have changed. I wouldn’t spend much on a suit until he go to a point where he had to interview for a job. Then I would overspend, and go to a really good place. He has the issue of figuring out what most people in his business would wear, without actually being there yet. </p>
<p>I the meantime, most jacket and tie requirements could be satisfied by grey slacks and a classic blue blazer. These are available pretty reasonably.</p>
<p>If you have the means, I recommend Paul Stuart in Manhattan for the best possible off-the-rack suits available. They have great selection, terrific service, the best materials , and prices that are triple what you think is reasonable. If you buy a suit from them, you will never buy another suit anywhere else.</p>
<p>Most of the people I’ve known who’ve gone to the Hong Kong tailor custom suits have eventually returned to the higher quality suits form Nordstroms, Brooks Brothers, or Paul Stuart. I personally don’t think Brooks Brothers quality is what it once was, but you are in an area where you can easily compare selections.</p>
<p>How about this idea–will they make a classic tuxedo for that price?</p>
<p>Not sure how useful tuxedos are–depends on the circles you run in. S had one for band but has since been loaning out to the neighbor to wear to proms. Has not used it since band ended in HS. Of course, this may change, but HI folks generally don’t dress that much (except those who make the charitable events gala circuit). My older brother did this for a while & acquired several tuxedos while in his mid-40s. Those fashions change as well & am not sure how useful it would be.</p>
<p>A navy suit sounds MUCH more useful to me than a formal tux–just try to stay pretty classic and tailored & it should be useful for a while, until he grows out of it (is he still growing in height or width?)</p>
<p>My brother has a dance party once a year where they encourage everyone to get as dressed up as possible. The guys who have tuxes where them. In fact, one year a guy showed up in a regular blazer took one look at what my brother was wearing, and went home and changed! </p>
<p>He does have an inexpensive suit, now. I don’t know if he’s going to be the sort of person who buys Brooks Brothers suits or not. I look at those prices and just can’t imagine spending that kind of money on clothes.</p>
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<p>I believe you get what you pay for. If the same person spends an equal amount on a suit from Nordstroms, Brooks Brothers etc, I believe you can get an equal or better quality in a custom suit from SE Asia. Prices for a custom suit from a high end tailor in Hong Kong (where prices are no longer cheap) are still lower than those in a quality custom suit in NY.</p>
<p>I believe the $115 custom suit that the OP’s son eventually gets will be a slightly higher quality (and custom made) than that found in a $115 off the rack suit in the US.</p>