So it's time to buy a suit

Doodee

I've decided that I have gone long enough in my life without having a proper suit to wear other than my birthday one.

I know nothing about suits other than they are expensive.
I am wondering where would be best to get a suit in Dublin?

I had a look in M&S and they have a great range, but it just seems more sensible to make the investment in a proper fitting one rather than a one size fits all.

I was told that Capel street has a number of fine tailors and suit shops, does anyone have experience with these?
I am also wondering how long it would take for the suit to be prepared? If I was to choose one tomorrow would it be ready for Thursday etc?

any and all help is appreciated.

pseudonym1

You don't have to spend a fortune on a suit nowadays. Lots of high street retailers offer a decent range. Topman River Island
However if you are considering an investment and want a tailormade (which would be fabulous btw) it'll set ya back a bit. Probably better going on holiday actually in that case.

Lots of well established taloirs in dublin st stevens green side of grafton street little place. St Annes street.

Ted Baker or Reiss or OK. Id recomened suit specialists Louis Copeland or Magee for best of both worlds.

Oh and a couple of things to bare in mind
Get a classic style and colour that will see the test of time.
Ensure you get a good wool mix 70%+ virgin or pure wools cashmere mixes can be dodgy.
Something that co ordinating a shirt and tie won't be a nightmare but will gice the suit a fresh look.
The lining pockets and finish are perfect!

Happy shopping

Aidric

If you are willing to commit to about five/six hundred quid you could pick up a Paul Smith suit. They are extremely well tailored suits and hold their shape brilliantly.
Stay away from River Island, their suits wont last you a year if you're going to be wearing it every day.

4Xcut

Aidric wrote: »

If you are willing to commit to about five/six hundred quid you could pick up a Paul Smith suit. They are extremely well tailored suits and hold their shape brilliantly.
Stay away from River Island, their suits wont last you a year if you're going to be wearing it every day.

While Paul Smith are very well tailored suits, the OP may not be able to wear them. I for one can't, wish i could.

OP, as aidric said, stay away from river island. There's a few good sales on at them monent on off the peg suits. The thing is that if you know what you're looking for, you can pick something that will fot very well. My recomendation is to take time on a morning off(except saturday), or early on a sunday afternoon and go to a diffeneys store. Go in when it's quite on a tuesday and the staff who aren't on commission will spend a good bit of time with you.

Bring someone who has a decent sense of style to give a second opinion.

The important thing is that you know how important the fit is. What build are you, how much money would you be looking to spend?

As was said above, try and get a wool mix. It will wear so much better than the pure wool and on a good suit the difference will only be noticible if someone reads the lable to see what material is in it.

Ensure that someone with you checks the back of the suit across the shoulder blades on you. If the fit is a little of you can get a fold of material here that you can't see properly from turning your head to look at. Also, wear a pair of shoes you'd wear with the suit so you can get the leg length right, wear a shirt to get the fit right on the jacket too.

Louis Copeland have some very nice suits at the moment bit you can go a little bit cheaper than them with diffeney's or a bit more expensive with the likes of Tommy Hilfigure, depending on taste.

Stay away from Hackett, their suits are nice but far too expensive for something not tailor made. Brown Thomas do a good selection of Paul Smith and Ted Baker have some nice suits too. If you're quite broad, you may want to look at Hugo Boss, they tend to fit quite nicely.

The suitable company aint bad if you're looking for a cheap enough designer suit.

Doodee

Rojomcdojo wrote: »

The suitable company aint bad if you're looking for a cheap enough designer suit.

That the place in D24?

OldGoat

A suit is an investment and a well made suit will last you for years so try to avoid anything that is too fashionable as the fashion will wear out long before the suit does...think classic before fashion.
Decide how much you want to invest and then get the best that you can in your price range.
If you are spending €300 or under you will only get off the peg suits.
Next up in price range are the tailored or made to measure suits. These are off the peg and adjusted to fit by a tailor.
Ultimately there is the bespoke suit, made fully from your measurements and patterns cut from your chosen material. Dublin prices for bespoke suits are from €800 and there is no upper limit. :-)
You can try online tailors for that bespoke suit. You fill in the measurement charts, pick the style, material and colour then give 'em your cash. Roughly 4 weeks later your suit arrives in the post (plus another bill for €40-50 tax). I've purchased a few suits this way and beyond a couple of small gripes I've been happy with the service.
Remember though that the suit is just the first item of your wardrobe. You can't wear a good suit with crappy shoes, or a bad fitting shirt, or a cheap plastic belt, or paper tissues in the breast pocket, or that school uniform tie...The accessories will set you back a chunk of money too.
However, buying quality goods will pay dividends. As your figure changes over the years you can have your bespoke suit tailored and re-fitted. Your €250 Loafers can be re-soled and heeled. It's an investment...at least that’s what I tell wifey when she hurls the credit card bill at me every month.

zAbbo

Doodee wrote: »

I've decided that I have gone long enough in my life without having a proper suit to wear other than my birthday one.

M&S do good suits, and I'm not sure how much additional fitting would be required - and M&S will do the alterations for you as well.

There's a suit place upstairs somewhere on Grafton street (suitable company??? nearer the Green side) who do discount suits - you might pick up a nice Hugo Boss one for 300-400.

Personally, I'd wait till after Xmas. Once you know your size - picking a suit is relatively simple - I'd rather save a couple of hundred on a suit, and pay for alterations and a good shirt and shoes

For example, on Burton.co.uk you could pick up a Ben Sherman suit for £65 (about €75) and add a nice shirt/tie and dress shoe as well. (Burton will have probably have a 20% discount sale as well)

I'm not saying Ben Sherman make great suits, but at that price it's not a big deal.

Hope that helps.

Doodee

would it be wiser to wait until January when prices should fall?

4Xcut

If it's for very regular use, try and get either a second pair of trousers with the suit when you buy it or buy one where you would wear the jacket as a blazer afterwards. The reason for this is that the trousers will wear much faster than the jacket.

zAbbo

Doodee wrote: »

would it be wiser to wait until January when prices should fall?

It depends, you will be able to haggle in a traditional suit shop, more than the likes of M&S (stay away from Topman/River Island)

I tried on around 10 suits before settling on an M&S one, so there's no harm in trying a few on and getting your size sorted - you're under no obligation to buy

The Hustler

zAbbo wrote: »

It depends, you will be able to haggle in a traditional suit shop, more than the likes of M&S (stay away from Topman/River Island)

I tried on around 10 suits before settling on an M&S one, so there's no harm in trying a few on and getting your size sorted - you're under no obligation to buy

Buying a grey skinny fit suit in Topman after work, looks the biz

Doodee

Doodee wrote: »

That the place in D24?

Nah it's upstairs beside HMV in Grafton St.

I wouldn't go for a M&S suit tbh. Personally I think they look a bit cheapish or something. Can't really put my finger on it.

OldGoat

4Xcut wrote: »

If it's for very regular use, try and get either a second pair of trousers with the suit when you buy it or buy one where you would wear the jacket as a blazer afterwards. The reason for this is that the trousers will wear much faster than the jacket.

+1
Take a very good look in the mirror before you decide what to get. Better still take a good look at 'yore da' cos thats the shape you have to get the suit to fit. If you are in anyway different from the ideal you will never get an off the peg to fit well. If you are tall and thin then make sure you get a jacket thats long enough (good luck with that!). If you are barrel chested or sport a magnificent pair of man-boobs then go for a double breasted suit. A jacket with no vents will help 'thin' your silloette. Single vents and double vents give you hips.
2 piece, 3 piece, English cut, Italian cut, single breasted, double breasted, vents, ticket pockets, notched lapels, wide or narrow lapels...the list goes on and on. And all of that is before you even decide what material you want.
Take your time, figure out what you need and then buy what (pun alert)suits you.

anonymous_joe

I would offer one piece of advice - don't buy a cheap one.

Suit's are relatively subtle, so I'd suggest looking for a cheap designer one, and be willing to pay about three or four hundred. For the love of God avoid River Island, Top Man, or anywhere mainstream. A bad suit is very apparent and it makes you look bad. Horribly shallow thing to say, but if you're talking about job interviews etc, then be realistic - people are shallow.

Oh and if you are getting a nice suit, get nice shoes if you don't have them already.