OCI/callbacks/etc Men's Clothing Mega-thread Forum

[VulcanVulcanVulcan]

Anyone have thoughts on this suit?:

http://us.suitsupply.com/en_US/suits/ha ... rt=0&sz=24

The color is fine and overall the suit is mostly fine but I'm not so sure about the patch pockets on the jacket for a business formal occasion. I like patch pockets on blazers/sportcoats but not so much for suits. I think the standard flap pocket is the safest bet. Is there any reason you don't want to go for the Napoli cut from SS? Better price, no patch pockets, and probably negligible difference in quality. Will have a similar grey as well. The Napoli from SS is pretty much the standard law student interview suit from SS. Just my thoughts

I shop at SS. I can spot the Napoli because it looks cheap compared to the Sienna. Tons of kids on CBs were wearing the Napoli. Spring to get the Sienna. It's a nicer constructed suit and will look better on you assuming you are not a total porker. It is worth the delta.

I've tried on the sienna as well and its definitely a decent suit but if we're talking about a few hundred more dollars there are some other options to consider as well. Also, the ticket pocket is not credited for an interview suit IMO (for the reasons stated by the poster above). It is just safer to find something with standard flap pockets. Spring for the sienna after you've been on the job a few weeks. The Napoli looks like a cheaper suit (although it's better than other suits in the same price band) but its fine for LS interviews. I don't think interviewers necessarily expect you to be rocking a $1,000 suit, they just want to see that you know how to exercise judgment in the way you present yourself.

Also you don't have to be a porker to not fit into those skinny SuSu pants.

I'm a big fan of the Sienna line. What else is good in that price range?

[BmoreOrLess]

The Navy York also looks better than the Napoli IMO and doesn't have a ticket pocket.

[emciosn]

Anyone have thoughts on this suit?:

http://us.suitsupply.com/en_US/suits/ha ... rt=0&sz=24

The color is fine and overall the suit is mostly fine but I'm not so sure about the patch pockets on the jacket for a business formal occasion. I like patch pockets on blazers/sportcoats but not so much for suits. I think the standard flap pocket is the safest bet. Is there any reason you don't want to go for the Napoli cut from SS? Better price, no patch pockets, and probably negligible difference in quality. Will have a similar grey as well. The Napoli from SS is pretty much the standard law student interview suit from SS. Just my thoughts

I shop at SS. I can spot the Napoli because it looks cheap compared to the Sienna. Tons of kids on CBs were wearing the Napoli. Spring to get the Sienna. It's a nicer constructed suit and will look better on you assuming you are not a total porker. It is worth the delta.

I've tried on the sienna as well and its definitely a decent suit but if we're talking about a few hundred more dollars there are some other options to consider as well. Also, the ticket pocket is not credited for an interview suit IMO (for the reasons stated by the poster above). It is just safer to find something with standard flap pockets. Spring for the sienna after you've been on the job a few weeks. The Napoli looks like a cheaper suit (although it's better than other suits in the same price band) but its fine for LS interviews. I don't think interviewers necessarily expect you to be rocking a $1,000 suit, they just want to see that you know how to exercise judgment in the way you present yourself.

Also you don't have to be a porker to not fit into those skinny SuSu pants.

I'm a big fan of the Sienna line. What else is good in that price range?

I mean, that's kind of a tough question. SuSu is easy to point to because pricing is reasonable, most will agree that the quality is solid, and you don't have to worry about waiting for/missing a sale (because there are no sales). If you have $700 to spend on a suit but are not on a tight timeline, your options open beyond SuSu, though. For example, it is conceivable that you could find a main line Hickey Freeman suit within shouting distance of that price and I think a main line HF is quite a bit better than a Sienna in terms of quality and styling (and I don't think the quality part is really even debatable). There are a ton of threads out there in style forums discussing suits in particular price ranges. Just google "best $700 suit" or something similar (add forum titles too--focus on "StyleForum"; "Ask Andy About Clothes"; and "Dappered Threads").

If you wait for a sale, you can get Brooks Brothers 1818 suits in the $700 price range (probably have to buy two, though) and depending on how you feel about the lapels, you can get J. Crew Ludlow/Crosby in that price range all the time (people have differing views on quality w/r/t J Crew, but people in this thread have given it decent marks--I have seen the Ludlow in person and it looked good, better IMO than the Sienna).

Take a look at this thread:

http://www.styleforum.net/t/140387/the- ... whsql/1335

Scroll down until you see the latest version of the list. Bear in mind that the people posting in this thread are intolerable suit snobs, so just skip right to the Good/Satisfactory sections. They focus on some brands or a price range and just read up. You will find some pretty good advice on those forums. Once you settle on a brand/price, find a place you can get the suit for the price. I went on a suiting odyssey earlier this year and ended up snagging a couple Hickey Freeman main line suits on sale for less than a $1000 each in staple charcoal/navy. Obviously my price range was a little higher, but they are great suits at a pretty good price (if I had more time and wasn't looking for staple colors I probably could have done better w/r/t price).

One other piece of advice I have for you if you are interested in hunting for a deal: be sure you know exactly what you are getting. For instance, Nordstrom Rack/Nieman last call/Off Fifth/etc. sell suits branded as Hickey Freeman, but they are not main line and are not worth the $1,500 fake retail price listed on the sticker (they are not fully canvased like Hickey main line for example). These are made specially for the discount stores and are of lower quality (but still may be a decent deal for like $400 or something). If you are ok with that and comfortable with the "sale" price then go for it, just know what you're getting. FYI main line Hickey Freeman will be called "Addison" or "Beacon" or some name starting with a "C" while the cheap-o version are "Lindsey" or "Milbank."

Obviously I'm a HF apologist. And or good reason. It's a solid suit, especially if you find it on sale, with the right kind of styling--just know you will likely have to spend some money on tailoring to slim the jacket down and will want to look for the Beacon cut. You should be spending money on tailoring anyway, though (tailoring is the single most important factor for any suit). You may find another brand you like. The point of all this rambling is that if you put in the time, research and are willing to look for the right deal you can get a great non-SuSu suit when the budget gets into the $700 to $1000 range. I tried on the La Spalla (I think) and didn't like it as much as HF. I thought there was a noticeable difference in quality.

[emciosn]

P.S. the post by "killscallion" in this thread that lists a few brands is pretty good:

http://www.wallstreetoasis.com/forums/best-suit-brands

Keep in mind some of his recs are pretty spendy so you will have to hunt down a deal.

[omegaweapon]

How stringent are standards about suit fit for interviews? I'm REALLY short, so getting a suit with a good button stance and length is going to be really hard if it's not MTM. Is that a requirement, or is getting one that fits my shoulders and having the sleeves shortened good enough?

[PB&J.D.]

What's the deal with button-down collars? Always too casual or just not to be worn with jackets? (biz casual, non-NYC)

[ScottRiqui]

What's the deal with button-down collars? Always too casual or just not to be worn with jackets? (biz casual, non-NYC)

I was at a business casual non-NYC firm this summer, and button-down collars were by far the most common choice. Second most common was a regular dress shirt without a tie, but I've always thought that looks a little sloppy because of the way the collars spread.

[Glasseyes]

What's the deal with button-down collars? Always too casual or just not to be worn with jackets? (biz casual, non-NYC)

Debate rages over this, but I think it's context dependent more than anything. Button down collars are informal by nature, so they're absolutely not for interviews or court, but I think they're fine with a jacket and no tie. Personally I think they look weird with a tie, but if you're rocking a less traditional suit (I dunno, maybe a linen summer suit or something like that) it can work with a tie as part of an ensemble. That said, that's probably not work appropriate anyway.

tl;dr BDC is fine with a jacket sans tie

[ScottRiqui]

What's the deal with button-down collars? Always too casual or just not to be worn with jackets? (biz casual, non-NYC)

I was at a business casual non-NYC firm this summer, and button-down collars were by far the most common choice. Second most common was a regular dress shirt without a tie, but I've always thought that looks a little sloppy because of the way the collars spread. No jackets in either case - I don't know if "business casual" normally includes a jacket or not, but it didn't where I was.

[PB&J.D.]

What's the deal with button-down collars? Always too casual or just not to be worn with jackets? (biz casual, non-NYC)

I was at a business casual non-NYC firm this summer, and button-down collars were by far the most common choice. Second most common was a regular dress shirt without a tie, but I've always thought that looks a little sloppy because of the way the collars spread. No jackets in either case - I don't know if "business casual" normally includes a jacket or not, but it didn't where I was.

This is what I was thinking - collar spread was my primary frustration, so having the button-down option is ideal. IME "business casual" has been sans jacket except for receptions/dinners; the summer firm is definitely sans jacket.

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Is it weird to have two pairs of the same shoe (one brown one black)? Its an Allen Edmonds line if that matters.

[ScottRiqui]

Is it weird to have two pairs of the same shoe (one brown one black)? Its an Allen Edmonds line if that matters.

Not at all - my thinking is that if they're different colors, they're not the "same shoe".

[Hutz_and_Goodman]

Is it weird to have two pairs of the same shoe (one brown one black)? Its an Allen Edmonds line if that matters.

Not at all - my thinking is that if they're different colors, they're not the "same shoe".

Ok thanks!

[ScottRiqui]

What's the deal with button-down collars? Always too casual or just not to be worn with jackets? (biz casual, non-NYC)

I was at a business casual non-NYC firm this summer, and button-down collars were by far the most common choice. Second most common was a regular dress shirt without a tie, but I've always thought that looks a little sloppy because of the way the collars spread. No jackets in either case - I don't know if "business casual" normally includes a jacket or not, but it didn't where I was.

This is what I was thinking - collar spread was my primary frustration, so having the button-down option is ideal. IME "business casual" has been sans jacket except for receptions/dinners; the summer firm is definitely sans jacket.

If you already have a lot of non-button down dress shirts, but rarely need to wear a tie, you can still use them without the collars spreading - just get some of the stainless steel collar stays with the little magnets to hold them in place.

[sprezz]

Is it weird to have two pairs of the same shoe (one brown one black)? Its an Allen Edmonds line if that matters.

weird, no; efficient use of resources, equally no. but if you don't care about shoes, it's fine.

[Anonymous User]

Embarrassed to ask this, but anyone have tips on how to keep work pants smelling fresh without dry cleaning?

I'm cheap and am trying to avoid dry cleaning. I got this odor spray off amazon that has produced mixed results and sometimes smells a little chemical-y. I'm probably just a smelly person but appreciate any advice here. Thank you.

[sprezz]

what odor spray did you get? how long are you trying to go between trips to the cleaners? does a trip to the cleaners eliminate the smell you're noticing?

general advice would be to air them out well between uses before putting them away and to try to manage it by sweating less, though of course that second bit of advice is pretty useless. you can try the cedar hanger thing but that's not going to do anything for pants.

also, that was a rare legitimate use of anon in this thread, imo

[bk1]

also, that was a rare legitimate use of anon in this thread, imo

[stannis]

Embarrassed to ask this, but anyone have tips on how to keep work pants smelling fresh without dry cleaning?

I'm cheap and am trying to avoid dry cleaning. I got this odor spray off amazon that has produced mixed results and sometimes smells a little chemical-y. I'm probably just a smelly person but appreciate any advice here. Thank you.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J ... ge_o03_s00

[Anonymous User]

Embarrassed to ask this, but anyone have tips on how to keep work pants smelling fresh without dry cleaning?

I'm cheap and am trying to avoid dry cleaning. I got this odor spray off amazon that has produced mixed results and sometimes smells a little chemical-y. I'm probably just a smelly person but appreciate any advice here. Thank you.

http://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00J ... ge_o03_s00

smelly anon

thank you. i tried this one to mixed odor results but it is solid for wrinkles: http://www.amazon.com/Wrinkle-Releaser- ... spray+odor

[usernotfound]

In the market for a new suit, and I noticed Amazon is having a sale today. Thoughts on this suit in particular for OCI or other lawyer related stuff?

[s1m4]

In the market for a new suit, and I noticed Amazon is having a sale today. Thoughts on this suit in particular for OCI or other lawyer related stuff?

Im going to be honest - kenneth cole is a mass-produced garbage - it will loose its form fast. It also looks like something that people wear to lower-end clubs. Also, how can you possibly buy a suit without trying it on? If you are looking for something cheap, try to find a very small suit shop (the one in random plazas next to subways or in downtown areas run by immigrants) that sells "italian suits" - you can actually pick up some quality suits for around 150-300 at places like this, plus, the seller will typically find something that will fit well with your body shape. Remember, fit is more important than fabric.

[Anonymous User]

http://mobile.josbank.com/?CAWELAID=430 ... gQodCgoACQ

find one near you

[SplitMyPants]

In the market for a new suit, and I noticed Amazon is having a sale today. Thoughts on this suit in particular for OCI or other lawyer related stuff?

I picked up one of the Jomers suits they released earlier this month, and it is really great. Unfortunately for you, the pre-order they opened yesterday is already sold out. However, you could sign up for their list-serve and get notified when they release another batch.

[usernotfound]

http://mobile.josbank.com/?CAWELAID=430 ... gQodCgoACQ

find one near you

I have one suit I bought a couple years ago from Jos. A. Bank on short notice, but I'm looking to get a different color and want something that is not overly expensive that is still good quality per dollar. The suit seems OK, but are there any better options?