Best Suit Brands 
(Senior Monkey, 87 
Points) on 7/2/09 at 12:48pm
So I was searching WSO archives about the best suit brands for IBD/PE, but I couldn't find anything.
So I wanted to ask all of your opinion about the best suit brands/tailors for banking/PE jobs as well as the average price for a suit from these brands if you know them. Not that I want to be a conceited fashion-minded douche, but I really know nothing about this stuff and wanted to get some advice.
Myself and some of my
by Guest1655Myself and some of my buddies from Yale that are now at big dick PE firms typically head down to the 34th st area to the shops run by those immigrants and buy 2 suits for $50. I once bargained it down to $44 for a pair! They arent brand name but our MD's always compliment us on our great fitting shiny sea foam green suits.
I've always gotten Men's
by big unitI've always gotten Men's Warehouse (no joke) because I don't feel like spending much money on suits and I wear business casual most of the time. People don't make fun of me because I'm taller than them.
nobody cares what you wear,
by yuntsucksnobody cares what you wear, as long as it fits, is not worn out, and isn't in ridiculous colors. On the other hand, people do care if you look like you are trying to hard to look like a banker.
So keep in mind fit and not wearing out quickly, and you realistically need to get quality stuff where the collar does not get fucked up after two drycleanings. However, whether this comes from brooks brothers, bloomingdales, charles tyrwhitt, or other decent brands/stores, nobody will care.
I like the slim fit 2-button
by spinnerI like the slim fit 2-button grey suit that Hugo Boss is currently selling for around $800. It fits like an Italian suit at half the price. Have to be in good shape to wear it.
Suit Brand
by killscallionHere are a few conservative suit brand recommendations. Usually I would aim to spend around 1K-1.5K for a decent suit.
Corneliani
Hickey Freeman (main line not Hickey Freeman LTD)
Canali (very padded shoulders if that's your thing)
Brooks Brothers (1818 line)
Ralph Lauren Blue Label (Polo)
Zegna (main line)
Isaia
Stay away from Hugo Boss and Z Zegna. They are fused suits and are constructed poorly for their price range. I would usually go for suits that are at least half-canvassed.
I personally like slim-fitting brands such as Ralph Lauren Black Label, but it has a very aggressive, modern look that may not be conservative enough for your taste. However, I haven't gotten any comments on the style throughout this past year in banking.
Keep in mind that the key to looking presentable is always, always fit. Suits will typically not fit you perfectly off-the-rack so I would recommend taking them to the tailor after you buy them. Let me know if your budget is lower or higher than the brands listed. You can usually find suits at less than 50% retail if you keep your eyes peeled.
Hope this helps.
The Best of the Best
by GeneralThadeIf you are asking purely about the best suit there is, none can compete with Kiton. A Kiton suit is umatched in both quality of fabric and stiching, which is done by hand. You can expect to pay anywhere from $5000 to $50000 for the finest, handmade suits in the world.
When I was 21 my after-tax
by big unitWhen I was 21 my after-tax take home (including bonus) was about that.
killscallion knows what's
by endlessrainkillscallion knows what's up, good recs
fused vs stitched
by spinnerStay away from Hugo Boss and Z Zegna. They are fused suits and are constructed poorly for their price range. I would usually go for suits that are at least half-canvassed.
From what I understand the glue that higher-end fused suits now use, as well as the bonding process have improved in recent years. I have worn my Hugo several dozen times over the past year or so and have had it dry-cleaned at least a dozen times. So far I don't see any traces of bubbling and the fit is still perfect. Just food for thought. Is the extra 400 - 800 worth it for stitching?
Fused Suits
by killscallionYou could very well be right about that. Fused suits are steadily improving in terms of quality and durability. However, there is something to be said about the drape of canvassed suits that can be pretty noticeable (to the trained eye).
Stay away from Hugo Boss and Z Zegna. They are fused suits and are constructed poorly for their price range. I would usually go for suits that are at least half-canvassed.
From what I understand the glue that higher-end fused suits now use, as well as the bonding process have improved in recent years. I have worn my Hugo several dozen times over the past year or so and have had it dry-cleaned at least a dozen times. So far I don't see any traces of bubbling and the fit is still perfect. Just food for thought. Is the extra 400 - 800 worth it for stitching?
killscallion, Would you
by Devils Advocatekillscallion,
Would you seriously spend 1-1.5k per suit as a 1st year analyst? That seems a bit much...
Anyway, I'm looking for slim-fitting suits, so right now I have the Brooks Brothers 1818 Fitzgerald in mind but also want to hear from others about good slim fitting, reasonably priced brands.
I'm a pretty fit guy, and Hugo Boss' slim fit works well for me; however, I have also heard from others concerns regarding its poor fusion.
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my ex used to work at ralph
by dipset1011my ex used to work at ralph lauren and got hooked up with some good suits
what about dress pants? i'd
by dvd56xwhat about dress pants? i'd like some pretty high-end flat front pants. i'm business casual most of them time so i'd like to invest pretty well in slacks, possibly something that retails for 300-400 but i can get 30-50% off now with sales going on. any recommendations?
Bonobos
by jjkwhat about dress pants? i'd like some pretty high-end flat front pants. i'm business casual most of them time so i'd like to invest pretty well in slacks, possibly something that retails for 300-400 but i can get 30-50% off now with sales going on. any recommendations?
Bonobos.
The best high-end slacks
by numiThe best high-end slacks I've found are Incotex (usu. for Zegna), Mabitex, and Vestium Officina. Normal pairs will probably run you $300-400 each, but they can be had via eBay for $100-200. Even better, you can occasionally find these on overstock or "slightly imperfect" at Daffy's for around $40, which is where I'd highly encourage you to look. These pants have their labels cut out but I've seldom noticed any material imperfections...and if I can't see them, they're as good as new as far as I'm concerned. Anyway, there are a lot of people who buy and sell overstock on eBay so these pants tend to get snapped up from Daffy's pretty quickly, but it's certainly worth checking.
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If you're going to pay 1.5k
by GenghisKhanFigure out what you like, and have WW Chan make you up a suit.
At Kiton/Brioni prices, get one made by Huntsman, Anderson & Sheppard or Gieves & Hawkes, depending on how structured you like your jacket.
I made the mistake of buying a number of branded suits in my past, and now regret not having had Huntsman do it right from the start. A word of warning: it will take them several efforts to really calibrate to your liking. Get one suit, then tweak the things they didn't get right on subsequent purchases. The worst mistake you can make is to go out and buy a whole set and just hope they get it right the first time. They probably won't.
nice
by hiitFigure out what you like, and have WW Chan make you up a suit.
At Kiton/Brioni prices, get one made by Huntsman, Anderson & Sheppard or Gieves & Hawkes, depending on how structured you like your jacket.
I made the mistake of buying a number of branded suits in my past, and now regret not having had Huntsman do it right from the start. A word of warning: it will take them several efforts to really calibrate to your liking. Get one suit, then tweak the things they didn't get right on subsequent purchases. The worst mistake you can make is to go out and buy a whole set and just hope they get it right the first time. They probably won't.
Very good taste. WW Chan and A-Man Hing Cheong are the best tailor houses in Hong Kong with a very British influence on their tailoring styles. Suits start at around $1100 USD. If you visit Hong Kong, they can have your suit ready in less than a week, but preferably two to three.
Huntsman, Gieves & Hawkes, and all the other Savile Row tailors have their own unique touches on the suit. You can't really go wrong with any but I don't think any analyst should really be rocking Savile Row stuff yet. Plus, wait til you know more about suits before your splurge. At most I'd go with WW Chan or A-Man as an analyst as their prices are fairly reasonable. WW Chan does do tours in the US, but it might take upwards of a year to get a suit made.
Don't forget Adolfo and
by Banker88Don't forget Adolfo and Joseph Abboud. They can be found at Syms or Filenes.
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it's all about alfani suits.
by jackdanielsit's all about alfani suits. the name even sounds expensive. alfani. just rolls right off the tongue.
Alfani?
by WallStreetWhartoniteit's all about alfani suits. the name even sounds expensive. alfani. just rolls right off the tongue.
I am not sure about that...to me it sounds like the stuff I used to buy at Macy's as an analyst.
hands down ralph lauren
by dipset1011hands down ralph lauren
Every now and then, usually
by JulianRobertsonEvery now and then, usually in mid-summer and at Christmas, Brooks Brothers puts on a huge sale where you can get 1818 suits for $500.
Hickey Freeman suits are
by Boutique BankingHickey Freeman suits are pretty sweet.
"I don't think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
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"I don't think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance. It overcomes almost everything, even nature."
-John D. Rockefeller
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by drexelalum11Hickey Freeman or if you want a younger look, some of the more conservatives look in the Hickey line are both pretty good.
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...
by ideatingI love the kids casually tossing around Kiton as an option... I would say I'm relatively fashion conscious but most people seriously don't give a shit as long as it fits well.
Had to laugh at the dude claiming the distinction of fused vs. canvassed - sure, there are people who can tell the difference ("the trained eye") but not many of them work in finance. And even if they do work in finance, they don't give a shit.
You can do Men's Warehouse for at least a couple of years - I wouldn't personally, but no shame in doing it.
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.........
by Chim ChimHere is some advice of how you SHOULD choose a brand. Based on shoulder fit for the jacket. Slacks can be altered, and jackets are sized to fit in consideration of chest and arm length. However, all shoulders on suits are a little different. Go and try the same size on multiple brands, for the brand that fits the shoulders the best. For me, Hugo Boss seems the best. For everyone its different. That's how I believe "your" best brand of suit can be determined.
.
by killscallionI love the kids casually tossing around Kiton as an option... I would say I'm relatively fashion conscious but most people seriously don't give a shit as long as it fits well.
Had to laugh at the dude claiming the distinction of fused vs. canvassed - sure, there are people who can tell the difference ("the trained eye") but not many of them work in finance. And even if they do work in finance, they don't give a shit.
You can do Men's Warehouse for at least a couple of years - I wouldn't personally, but no shame in doing it.
Aside from a canvassed suit conforming to your body better, there's always the fear of "bubbling" which may occur to fused suits after dry cleaning. There is really no fix for it and you'll have to throw away the suit.
Here's a link which examines both types of construction pretty objectively:
http://suitone.com/fused_construction_versus_canvas.htm
.
by mrvau.
Stafford suits by JC Penney -
by PutzStafford suits by JC Penney - $100 jacket, $50 pants, looks like any other $200 - $300 range suit.
Lets be serious
by DirectourBrooks Brothers = Ops
insecure much?
by DaCarezBrooks Brothers = Ops
Let's be serious.
The overcompensation of this post = Ops
Really?
by OvechkinBrooks Brothers = Ops
Who do you think you are?
Oh, wait, I found you:
Industry
Investment Banking
Status
Prospective Monkey
Sex
Male
Birth Date
Apr 9 1988
custom stuff
by eiffeltoweredgo for the hickey freeman or ROCK's custom tailor
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hhhhhhmmmmmmmmm
by monty09my ex used to work at ralph lauren and got hooked up with some good suits
you sounds like the dude from the "fashion of new york city" book.
he said almost the same thing to the word.
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What about century 21?
by barboonCentury 21 has a wide range of suits at about 60% off, they are off season but who really cares as far as fashion goes? as long as they look good
what do the pros think about their suits?
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