Need suits for work, can't afford it

klb_3

Can I suggest an Austin Reed clearance store.

I managed to buy 100% wool suits for less than £100 each earlier in the summer. They had been reduced from £350.

Have a look here to find a store.

rufusdog52

My oh wears suits to work and has picked up 4 or 5 from charity shops including 3 M&S ones and a designer name label which I cant remember, Paul something, it has a lovely silk lining. All were under a tenner and most under a fiver.

bandraoi

Try the charity shops in more expensive areas - Chelsea, High Street Ken etc.
H&M is good for girls suits, it might be worth a try for men too.
The one in Knightsbridge is excellent.

Tinuel

rufusd!!!2 wrote: »

My oh wears suits to work and has picked up 4 or 5 from charity shops including 3 M&S ones and a designer name label which I cant remember, Paul something, it has a lovely silk lining. All were under a tenner and most under a fiver.

Hi Rufus,
Where are these charity shops? Gosh, I must be going to the wrong shops.... or perhaps live in the wrong area.

going2die_rich

nillhouse wrote: »

Here ya go chap,

Asda - Buy online or instore
http://direct.asda.com/Suits/0408,default,sc.html

Tesco - Browse online, buy instore
http://www.clothingattesco.com/mens/ff3.html
£25 for Trousers and Suit Jacket!

Some of the suits in Asda and Tesco look as good as my Next one's for £150!

Can't tell the quality from the picture, but I suppose if you can buy 3 or 4 for the price of one it wouldn't matter.

going2die_rich

Tinuel wrote: »

Also, I am considering approaching the manager to explain my present situation and ask for vouchers or allow me to buy the suits on expenses, would you guys recommend it?
.

I doubt you'd be able to get any vouchers or be allowed to get suits on expenses. But when your appraisal comes up, highlight the fact that you need a raise to cover additional living costs along with the fact you need to be able to buy more office attire to keep up the professional image when meeting clients. I think if they see it as in the money goes in your pocket and then goes to you buying clothes to impress their clients they'll be more willing to pay for it.

But if you are on friendly terms with your manager, you can't lose anything by dropping it in to a conversation asking about expenses and where they stand on it.

Try not to be intimidated by the others in your office. The one's in expensive suits probably started like yourself in the normal suits and worked up as their salaries grew. The rest will just have been having mummy and daddy pay for it.

No one will see the label on your suit when you have it on, and it doesn't matter how good you look if you can't do the job. So just focus on the job.

emay

Tinuel wrote: »

Thanks all, that was going to be my next question. As you know the City "boys" like to flash a bit. Most of my colleagues wear suits from £500 upwards.
Anyone here wears Tesco, Asda or Matalan suits to office on a daily basis? If so, are they ok to "pass on" as normal City suits?

My o/h wears his Asda suit everyday (although i think his office doesn't enforce a suit policy, so don't think any of the other geeks notice where it's from), but he goes through the trousers really quickly, and recommends that rather than ending up with a load of odd jackets if you find a cheap suit buy 1 jacket and 3/4 pairs of trousers

haynrich

we have a m&s outlet near us that does some really good suits at great prices huuby picked up seperates for 30 pound. quality is good also

Dee140157

Tinuel it may help to know where you are as then anyone local may be able to steer you in the direction of reasonable shops. My oh has worn a Tesco suit to work for a year now. I bought one jacket and 2 pairs of trousers for abour £60 in total. It wasn't the cheapest suit! Although it said dry clean I washed it! And after a year it is now looking sad and he is in need of a new one. To be honest at that price I think they look good for about 6 months. They do pinstripe ones which I think look better. If you get a cheap suit for the immediate future in 6 months you may be able to get a better one. I think in the days of the credit crunch etc this is the best short term solution.

SandC

Is there a chance that instead of asking to buy a couple of suits on expenses that you ask for a loan to be repaid over a couple of months from your salary?

I know that often city businesses will pay for employees' yearly travel cards and then take a proportion back each month - what with so many commuting in to work.

Worth asking about?