A lot of items men shop for are seasonal, such as summer gear like swimsuits. Car manufacturers roll out their product line in early September, so cars introduced the year earlier are available at bigger savings than normal in August. Clothing is also seasonal, not only because of the weather, but because new styles, prints and designs, hit the stores at certain times of the year, and men can benefit from sales on suits at these times.
So, when do men’s suits go on sale, and when is the best time to buy a suit? January is the best time to find suits on sale, for two reasons. Sales lag on retail merchandise in January overall, so men can find suits at 30% or more in January. During the sales lull, retail shops are bringing in their spring line, so heavier winter clothing starts coming off the sales floor.
There are still a few more months of winter, so January is a great time to buy a winter suit. But how much of an investment a man should make is a completely different question.
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How Much Should I Invest in a Suit?
The familiar saying, “you get what you pay for” is certainly relevant when buying a suit. A suit covers the whole body, so you are wearing more material, top and bottom.
Fortunately, thanks to new manufacturing technologies and cheap labor, men today get a lot more quality in a cheaper suit than before, such as quality lining and worsted wool, and some of the once more expensive options are now less expensive.
Bear in mind that any decent suit is still going to hover around the $300.00 price point, and things to consider when buying a suit are
- What you use the suit for (work, formal events like weddings and funerals, etc)
- How often will you wear the suit
- How long you want it to last
Suit prices range from under $300.00 to suits made to order in the thousands and more. Suit colors will change based on where you will wear the suit. If it’s for a somber even such as a funeral, you will want to wear a dark-colored suit, preferably black. Perhaps a lighter color suit if you’re going to a wedding, or a darker blue if you’re in the wedding party.
Should I Buy a Suit Online or Go Into a Store?
The answer depends on your experience with suits and how closely you match to a size. Suit makers assume you know your measurements. A man who has either an ectomorph or endomorph physique (very thin or on the heavier side), may want to consider going to a store for a fitting. You don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a suit and not have it fit well.
If it’s your first time buying a suit, it’s a good idea to go the brick and mortar route and have it tailored before you take it out of the store. Later on, you can purchase online and if there are any adjustments to be made to the fit of the suit, take it to a local tailor for adjustments. Pay the price he asks and leave a tip, because you may need him again in the future.
In-store purchasing
It’s great to be able to look at a suit, touch the fabric and try it on. Beware of suit salesmen, though, because they will always tell you only what you want to hear to make the sale; you may be told by people you can trust that the suit isn’t your color at all, and the style is not right for you.
If you don’t trust your own sense of style, bring a friend who is savvier about suits. You’ll learn along the way what colors go best with your complexion, or if a wide lapel looks better on you than a narrow one.
Suits are definitely not of the “one size fits all” variety. There are some suits that fit, and then there are other suits that fit so well that they make a statement about your good taste and appeal. Let the tailor do the work he does best, but remember you are the one who will be wearing the suit.
If it’s too tight at the crotch or too loose around the chest, make sure you have it fit the way that makes you feel the most comfortable in it. Some men can wear a suit but it’s not natural looking on them, so the suit fails to make a positive impression. Then there are other men who seem “made” for the suit they wear. You want to be in this latter category.
Online purchasing
You’ll have a lot to choose from if you decide to buy your suit online. Remember, though, that sizes vary, depending on the brand of suit.
The first thing to do is to check customer reviews. They can tell you which brand suit fits best and what issues they had with the fit of the suit overall.
It’s imperative that you know the measurements for your body type. Critical fit areas are around the chest, the crotch, under rthe arms, and behind.
Learn as much as you can about the product before you buy and read the description thoroughly. Move past products that offer a too good to be true deal but have no information about the suit. The more you know, the better the suit will fit and the more comfortable you will feel wearing the suit.
Know the website’s return policy before making a purchase. When you get the suit and try it on, hold onto everything, including any tags attached to the suit, even the box it was delivered in. Don’t throw anything away you get when the suit is sent you until you’re completely certain it’s going to work for you.
Whether you buy online or in the store, don’t settle for a suit that doesn’t fit well. Fit is the number one concern men have when wearing a suit. If it’s comfortable, you’ll feel more confident wearing it. If it fits poorly, then you will never look forward to putting it on again, and it will stay in your closet.
For those who invest a lot in a suit, and use it to make positive impressions at work, or want to make a statement whenever they put it on, then men would go to a brick and mortar store and have it fitted properly.
Visiting a store and trying on suit jackets and pants has no substitute. If you’re very familiar with suits and you know you size well, you can grab a bargain online as long as you know what you’re looking for. I have been the same size for almost 20 years, and I’ve bought a lot of suits, so now I often go online to get the best deal.
What to Look for in a Quality Suit
You can buy a $1700.00 suit, but if it’s not the right color for you or it doesn’t fit well, you won’t want to ever wear it. Keep these things in mind when buying a suit.
Measurements
Know exactly what your measurements are. Visit a men’s apparel store and get yourself measured, and hold on to the measurements for future use, providing you don’t gain or lose weight. The most important part of measuring, aside form a comfortable fit, is getting the drop for the suit right.
The drop is the difference in inches between the size at the chest and the size around the waist. There is a rough difference of 6 inches between the chest size and the drop in size for the waist.
This means that if you have a size 40 chest measurement, your waist size should be 34 inches, more or less. Knowing your drop will help when you order online.
How a Suit is Made
The way a suit is structured is very important. Shoulders that are dramatically wider will alter your overall appearance, so decide on what look you like the best.
Well-made suit jackets will be smooth from the shoulders and down the sleeve with no creases. The lines of a suit must be a flawless as possible for an elegant looking suit.
The Way a Suit Fits You
Check particularly around the armpits when trying on a suit jacket. Rotate your arms with the jacket unbuttoned. If the jacket doesn’t rise too much then it’s a good fit.
The length of the sleeve should not go beyond your wrist or cover over your thumb. In addition, the top button of a two-button suit should be above your navel, not below.
Ideally, about ¼ inch to ½ inch of the shirt’s cuff should be visible. The legs should touch your shoes.