Is this a decent suit to start with? (modern suit)

I'm looking to purchase my first suit, as I'll be heading off to USC next spring. While browsing around Ask Andy's, I found a link to this:

http://www.mensusa.com/products.aspx?id=1377

It seems like a good price, right in my range. It's supposed to be a somewhat slimmer fit (even on their regular fit) with somewhat narrow lapels, and they'll let me pick the trouser waist and inseam separately to the suit jacket's measurements. This is good for me, as I find most off-the-rack suits may have a 40 regular jacket, but 34 waist and 32 inseam pants. However, should I be suspicious of any of the product's details before I buy it? I want my first suit to be a decent suit that could last me at least several years, but then I'm noticing the use of the word "spandex." Should I be concerned over this? They also market it as being 100% wool. I can see wearing one of my hats with this too, especially my light grey fedora.

Those suits are dreck, plain and simple.

I live in Los Angeles and am also a student, and for that price you can probably find a vintage suit(depending on your size) for around that much maybe more maybe less. I'd save your money. If for future reference would like the names of stores to check out let me know.

I read your post a couple of hours ago and couldn't bring myself to be the one to break it to you... No, it's not.

I'd suggest that you talk to a local tailor and ask his advice, he may have had experience with locally available 'off the peg' suits and making them actually fit real people.

I'm delighted that you are going to attempt to dress 'well' at university and I hope that many will follow your lead.

Best Wishes in your chosen field.

MP

Of course, thank you. That's why I had asked. What do I know about measuring suit quality, with my amount of experience?

If any of you can however, try to find me a decent quality and affordable (that is, below 200 dollars) suit for my budget, and post a link to their website. I'd prefer to be able to purchase one online, actually, as I'm too busy to be checking stores right now. I doubt I could afford any tailor's suits at the moment. Vintage is another option I might look into, but I would rather be careful to not buy what may be considered a "dated" suit as my first. As a second suit, I'm fine with that, but I think my first suit should be versatile enough for a job interview and look somewhat current, though not trendy if you understand.

Also, thank you for the encouragement, Mike Potts. Ever since I started attending community college three years ago, I tried to make efforts to present myself more professionally, and it went from being a once in a while affair, to becoming a part of my lifestyle. I'm majoring in history, but may minor in archaeology or anthropology, maybe also English.

The Good said:

Of course, thank you. That's why I had asked. What do I know about measuring suit quality, with my amount of experience?

If any of you can however, try to find me a decent quality and affordable (that is, below 200 dollars) suit for my budget, and post a link to their website. I'd prefer to be able to purchase one online, actually, as I'm too busy to be checking stores right now. I doubt I could afford any tailor's suits at the moment. Vintage is another option I might look into, but I would rather be careful to not buy what may be considered a "dated" suit as my first. As a second suit, I'm fine with that, but I think my first suit should be versatile enough for a job interview and look somewhat current, though not trendy if you understand.

Also, thank you for the encouragement, Mike Potts. Ever since I started attending community college three years ago, I tried to make efforts to present myself more professionally, and it went from being a once in a while affair, to becoming a part of my lifestyle. I'm majoring in history, but may minor in archaeology or anthropology, maybe also English.

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Save another $150 and give Paul Frederick a look, their pretty good quality and have pretty good prices for what you get.

I came across these 40R suits while perusing eBay for myself:

These two JoS. A. Bank suits have small waists. This one in brown is listed as "barely worn" and is under $60, if you're on a budget:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joseph-Bank...284904?pt=US_CSA_MC_Suits&hash=item2a112551e8

This one is navy, also under 60, and has a satisfaction guarantee:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOS-BANK-SI...523259?pt=US_CSA_MC_Suits&hash=item35b47044fb

If you specifically wanted gray, this three button Armani is small-waisted and under $135. Looks real to me but have Tomasso check:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIORGIO-ARM...321798?pt=US_CSA_MC_Suits&hash=item519a7e5606

They're all "Buy it Now," so you wouldn't have to bid.

I've purchased many of my suits at big sales at old-fashioned department stores, many for under $200. Macy's is worth a look, for example, and Labor Day is around the corner. Ordering online may seem quicker, but if you get into returns and exchanges, the postage can add up quickly. If you have access to men's stores in LA, you'd be better served by trying things on in person.

I'm back. I just came back from a week vacation up in the mountains. Let me try to respond to some recent posts.

TCMfan25 said:

Save another $150 and give Paul Frederick a look, their pretty good quality and have pretty good prices for what you get.

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I had recently checked out Paul Frederick's website, and this is a model that seems good enough for me, below. I'm wondering if you were referring to their suit separates as being fairly good quality as well, which is what I'm after at least, on my budget. It does say "performance" wool, but looks OK. The fabric looks down to earth "wooly" as opposed to shiny, which is a positive for me also.

http://www.paulfredrick.com/Catalog/PFProductDetails.aspx?Category=Suits&ProductID=RMF500J

I could even add in a waistcoat if I'd like. Another thing about this suit that appeals to me, particularly with regard to the grey color option, is the fact that it includes relatively subtle pinstripes. They somewhat resemble the pinstriped grey suit worn by Alain Delon in some scenes of Le Samourai, a film I hold to be something of a sartorial inspiration (I've already got the hat).

Check out the vague similarity, although the lapels are different, and the stripes on the film's suit are more spread apart:

http://image.toutlecine.com/photos/s/a/m/samourai-1967-05-g.jpg


If I were to go a little more expensive, I might also consider a Charles Tyrwhitt suit for the British, almost James Bond aesthetic:

http://www.ctshirts.co.uk/men's-sui...ton-suit-?q=gbpdefault||ENA04MGY|||||||||||||

Actually, I might even go with this instead, but I'm wondering if the cheaper Frederick suit is a better deal for what I'm after; a suit that not only can look stylish, but also be appropriate (if perhaps a bit borderline bold) for a job interview.

_Nightwing
I came across these 40R suits while perusing eBay for myself:

These two JoS. A. Bank suits have small waists. This one in brown is listed as "barely worn" and is under $60, if you're on a budget:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Joseph-Bank-...item2a112551e8

This one is navy, also under 60, and has a satisfaction guarantee:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/JOS-BANK-SIG...item35b47044fb

If you specifically wanted gray, this three button Armani is small-waisted and under $135. Looks real to me but have Tomasso check:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/GIORGIO-ARMA...item519a7e5606

They're all "Buy it Now," so you wouldn't have to bid.

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Thanks, I checked out the links, but none of these will really work for me, whether due to size or stylistic preference. I do check eBay every now and again, but I rarely buy, and I'm pretty skeptical of the system.

I've purchased many of my suits at big sales at old-fashioned department stores, many for under $200. Macy's is worth a look, for example, and Labor Day is around the corner. Ordering online may seem quicker, but if you get into returns and exchanges, the postage can add up quickly. If you have access to men's stores in LA, you'd be better served by trying things on in person.

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Sure, I'll likely check out some more stores next month, but out of the ones I went through, I've found that while I've established my coat size, virtually none of the suits (off-the-rack suits) had pants that matched my waist size. They were all generic "40 regular, 34 waist" suits. I'm 32 with an inseam of 33 or 34 depending on fit/cut.

hmm,looks not good.