Ozbargain goes crazy when there is a CT or TM Lewin shirt sale. But what about the suits? If there was a particular suit brand that went on sale, which brand would you go gaga for?
Who Is Your Favourite Suit Maker?
MasterNoob on 05/02/2017 - 16:16
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TM Lewin or MJ Bale are two of the top value suit picks in AU. I've heard good things in the same vein about Peter Jackson and Bell & Barnett. The latter three are AU-owned but of course not AU-made.
For shirts, a great value but more expensive offering is Kamakura. Unfortunately they don't have a physical store in AU but they're the bees' knees if you want to step up from (or want more variety than) traditional OZB favourites.
My tailor.
Extremely unlikely you are the same as me, but…
I am short and "stocky" with a very short neck, broadish shoulders and pecs that have been overcome by moobs, so most OTR suits will have this massive crease just below the collar between the tops of my shoulder blades. Obviously usually need to shorten the sleeves and pants also.
The only OTR brand I've found that I don't need to shorten the sleeves and the neck crease is minimal, appears to be Paul Costelloe suits. I think they are only at DJs usually around $600, but I've bought 3 on sale for around $300 or $400. Size 40S
I used to wear suits every day and spend my time talking to bankers and lawyers. I don't any more, so take that with a pinch of salt, but like toristo says, the best suit is one that fits you properly.
I have a body that has fluctuated between lazy young aussie to lazy middle age aussie, so expanding waist line and no risk of stretching at the biceps!
Off the rack suits from DJs, Grace Bros or the conservative old mens stores (roger david etc) cut their suits for people in my not-very-svelt format. You would not be likely to get a well fitting suit from the usual high street stores. Places aimed at the younger, more fashionable crew (Brookfield etc) cut to a more wedge shape body, and this is what you get with anything labelled slim, euro or styled.
I think all are a waste of time.
Asia is full of an indian diaspora who cut suits to your own measurements for peanuts ($200 in Vietnam, $300 in Thailand, maybe a bit more in Fiji, Indonesia, Hong Kong or elsewhere).
There are 'tailors' all through Sydney who will measure you and off-shore the cutting and stitching to deliver a suit for around $600.
If you are a body type that happens to fit a high street vendor (slim Asian at superdry - they sel suits too, right, wedge aussie at Brookfield) then seek out their brand, but my strong recommendation is book a holiday to Asia and get a suit (and business shirts!) fitted and made.
The cheapest suit in a sleazy backstreet in Hanoi will look better than a $1000 off the peg at Hugo Boss in Sydney, if the fabric is the same.
So then it comes down to the fabric. I have found shitty provincial tailors in Asia who can still make beautiful wool suits.
The guy in the Thai street market will offer "Italian wool", and maybe it is, most likely it isn't, but if it feels good and looks good, you will have a beautiful suit for peanuts.Be aware that some of my "top shelf" acquaintances who are on TV and are very wealthy get their suits made by a guy from Hong Kong who flys in 4 times a year. While some of the the best tailors in the world are in Hong Kong (second only to Jermyn Street in the UK, I believe) you can access similar results if you find a careful tailor with access to good fabric.
So, step one is book a trip to asia and get some suits made,tell them you want light weight wool suits, for god's sake avoid anything shiny, and also half a dozen cotton business shirts. You will immediately be a serious customer. They will work hard to please and keep your measurements for a re-order via mail.
And the result will be everyone complimenting your attire (note, I think many more people are doing this, these days, so you may get fewer compliments).
Mid range:
Crown Tailor Bangkok
A Dong Silk Hoi An
Budget:
Amit Tailor Khao San Rd Bangkok
Unless you have a very "standard" body size, off the shelf suits are a poor choice most of the time and the cost of buying a suit then having it properly tailored to fit kills any savings.
If you are lucky enough to fit them off the rack, lucky you - stick with super 120 wools in styles that you feel comfortable in rather than brands. Nobody cares if you wear Tom Ford if it fits like a sack.
If you can't buy off the rack, try made to measure. It's not bespoke, and it will cost a few dollars more, but you'll actually enjoy wearing it a lot more and look a damn sight better.