kenk667
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- Dec 30, 2016
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First time poster, long time lurker here. I wanted to share my experience upgrading my wardrobe over the last couple of months.
I made the decision to dress like an adult and read everything I could find about how suits are made, how they are worn, the details that differentiated one suit from another. I landed on well fitting, modern trim suits with a less structured shoulder for preference these days. Aftet my first year in ok fitting suits along with significant weightloss, time for new suits.
Reading about all the fine suits, who wouldn't want one? I can afford to buy one, but I have to replace my entire wardrobe because I've dropped nearly 3 suit sizes down and the cost of tailoring cheap suits isn't worth it. So I turn to eBay.
My first nice suit I purchased off of eBay was a Paul Smith in black with a pin stripe. I know, black suit....but i won the auction for $60 including shipping for a half canvassed suit. Since then I've been frugal and watched many auctions, knowing when the deal is right for me and to date, that Paul smith is the most expensive of my eBay suits. In my collection are now Kilgour French & Stanburu, Versace, Brooks Brothers, Oxxfors, Jack victor, and Paul Stuart. All of them tailored by my tailor to the fit I'm looking for. They all fit really great, and all of then under $60 plus tailoring. I will say that the tailoring costs add up, they aren't cheap, but the tailor has been ranked year after year as the best in Boston and the greater Boston area.
As for tailoring, I've found that it's possible to easily reduce two, almost three suit sizes down. I'm an odd suit size and not everyone makes an odd size, but additional sizes means a wider potential for eBay items. Keep in mind that the work to drop two and a half sizes did cost me a little over 300 in tailoring, so keep it as close to size as possible to minimize tailoring costs. But also keep in mind the cost balance of retail versus total saved.
I specially look for suit brands that are known for quality construction and routinely by suits that are at least half canvassed. There are many forum threads and other information on the Internet to help narrow your preference down against brands. For example, short of vintage or fitzgerald fit i avoid brooks brothers due to their boxy fit.
All in all it's been a rewarding process with some road bumps, but resolved all of them. One seller claimed no returns, but when i pointed out that the seller didn't measure correctly and the jacket didn't fit me, offered me a return and refund. Know your sizes well before getting into this, look up how to measure an existing suit that fits you well.
I have sights set on a tux next, because why not?
I made the decision to dress like an adult and read everything I could find about how suits are made, how they are worn, the details that differentiated one suit from another. I landed on well fitting, modern trim suits with a less structured shoulder for preference these days. Aftet my first year in ok fitting suits along with significant weightloss, time for new suits.
Reading about all the fine suits, who wouldn't want one? I can afford to buy one, but I have to replace my entire wardrobe because I've dropped nearly 3 suit sizes down and the cost of tailoring cheap suits isn't worth it. So I turn to eBay.
My first nice suit I purchased off of eBay was a Paul Smith in black with a pin stripe. I know, black suit....but i won the auction for $60 including shipping for a half canvassed suit. Since then I've been frugal and watched many auctions, knowing when the deal is right for me and to date, that Paul smith is the most expensive of my eBay suits. In my collection are now Kilgour French & Stanburu, Versace, Brooks Brothers, Oxxfors, Jack victor, and Paul Stuart. All of them tailored by my tailor to the fit I'm looking for. They all fit really great, and all of then under $60 plus tailoring. I will say that the tailoring costs add up, they aren't cheap, but the tailor has been ranked year after year as the best in Boston and the greater Boston area.
As for tailoring, I've found that it's possible to easily reduce two, almost three suit sizes down. I'm an odd suit size and not everyone makes an odd size, but additional sizes means a wider potential for eBay items. Keep in mind that the work to drop two and a half sizes did cost me a little over 300 in tailoring, so keep it as close to size as possible to minimize tailoring costs. But also keep in mind the cost balance of retail versus total saved.
I specially look for suit brands that are known for quality construction and routinely by suits that are at least half canvassed. There are many forum threads and other information on the Internet to help narrow your preference down against brands. For example, short of vintage or fitzgerald fit i avoid brooks brothers due to their boxy fit.
All in all it's been a rewarding process with some road bumps, but resolved all of them. One seller claimed no returns, but when i pointed out that the seller didn't measure correctly and the jacket didn't fit me, offered me a return and refund. Know your sizes well before getting into this, look up how to measure an existing suit that fits you well.
I have sights set on a tux next, because why not?
