You shouldn't be asking us this, you should be checking with your tailor and asking him/her what they think about the fit. If you fill out a 52L and don't need much taken in, odds are you should be able to clean up a 54L to suffice - but I'm not a tailor, I just know how much trouble my tailor has with me when I buy suits that need tailoring.

 

From what I've heard , the most important fit is your shoulders, it's the one thing that cannot be changed.

I would go over to the individuals at styleforum , they are pretty knowledgeable.

 

The honest answer is it depends. If the 54L is too large in the shoulders, the tailoring required to make it a 52L (about a 1/2" difference) is extensive and will cost at least $500 by reputable tailors. If it's too large in the chest, then that's a fairly easy alteration (taken in from the back seam), and can be done for less than $100.

When one man, for whatever reason, has an opportunity to lead an extraordinary life, he has no right to keep it to himself.
 
Best Response

I don't see why buying a suit is so complicated if you're an analyst:

1.) Find a JCP coupon in the local newspaper. They usually run ads that give you 15% off coupons, and those discounts usually extend to suits. 2.) Go to the suit separates section at your local JC Penney's. 3.) Buy the cheapest dark-colored 100% wool jacket and pants available. 4.) If they don't have your size available, step up from the $150 suit to $165. 5.) Then buy an extra pair of pants if it's less than $60 (they usually wear faster, so you essentially get a free suit for $60 more.) 6.) Save $1000 over the geniuses who are buying $350 suits to try and impress people wearing $2K suits but also couldn't afford $350 suits when they were analysts. 7.) Stick the savings in the bank; it will help you sleep better if they announce layoffs before you get your first bonus.

 

Bad advice above.

Better quality can be acquired at reasonable prices.

You NEVER need to settle for garbage.

But you also don't need to spend a fortune to get high quality, great fitting gear.

Analysts have plenty of time to:

Scour Woodbury Commons and other outlets for mega-reduced high quality brands. Get to a traveling Hong Kong tailor (in addition to suits, grab shirts and extra pants) Check out various US tailors, especially in NYC- "bespoke" is expensive, MTM (made-to-measure) is not.

********************************* “The American father is never seen in London. He passes his life entirely in Wall Street and communicates with his family once a month by means of a telegram in cipher.” - Oscar Wilde
 
veritas14:
Bad advice above.

Better quality can be acquired at reasonable prices.

You NEVER need to settle for garbage.

Doubtful, and BTW, most of JCP's suits come off as pretty respectable by NYC BB standards. The Stafford and Jeffrey Banks brand suits I bought at JCP lasted 5 years. Yes, the "Hecheo en Mexico" is a little embarassing, but otherwise, they don't look any different than the Jos. Abbouds and Uomos I see some analysts wearing. It's not incredibly fancy, but it's not cheap fabric, either.

It's hard to match JCP's prices on "quality" brands unless you buy on Ebay and the "Authentic" Italian suit ships from China and oddly seems like it's made from polyester. The closest you'll get is $250- $300 Joseph Abbouds at Century 21 if you're lucky enough to find them in stock. If you're going to go that route, I'd recommend spending the extra $50, going to Men's Wearhouse, and avoid settling for the suits that couldn't sell at Macy's (often because of factory defects or weird styles/colors).

As an intern or analyst, your goal is to find something cost-effective that works and fits (proper size, proper tailoring, 100% wool). Nobody really cares whether the lapel says Armani or not as long as you look presentable and DO YOUR JOB. If you're an Associate or higher in IBD or Sales and have to meet with a lot of clients, that's a bit of a different story, but you wouldn't be coming to an online forum for fashion advice or be trying to turn a 54 into a 52 to save a few hundred bucks.

 

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