Need advise to buy suit

lhwjud

Live in London and not really sure where's all the outlet store - it seems to be an good idea to visit outlet if there's one near my place. Any idea?

DonGotti

lhwjud wrote: »

How possible to buy cheap suit for working purpose?

Just got a job in bank and need to wear suit to work. While I have never work in suit before, I'm wondering how to get these stuff at relatively low price. High street's price is typically between 100-200 pounds, which is killingly expensive - and I guess I need approximately 5 of it for a start.

So, where do you get your suit for work? Any tips?

Many thanks.

Congrats on the job! I'd definitelt recommend Matalan's suits. They're good quality and the good ones range between £50-£70.

claire21

TK Maxx shop, sometimes great bargins to be found

finallydebtfree!!

I got my first suit for work from tesco, florence and fred, cost me £50 and got no end of compliments!

comicmankev

Most high street clothes shops now do budget suits, and some very good quality too. Just think yourself lucky that your not 6' 9 like me and have to have them made to measure - lol .

Now find me a good deal there - lol

ultrak3wl

Don't be cheap - the whole entire point of a suit is that you are supposed to look smart. A horrid polyester suit really does make you look and feel rubbish, it is worse than scraggy jeans. Go for pure wool if you can afford it or a wool/poly mix if not.

Having said that if you do find something nice in Primark then don't be put off just because it is low price, I have had some good stuff there. I am wearing their "two pairs for a pound" spectacles right now. I agree TK Maxx can be brilliant if you are prepared to have a go at whatever style they happen to have in.

Best tip I can give after years of trying to look suity on a budget is instead of a suit try blazer & trousers. A dark navy blazer with charcoal grey flannels does look excellent and will pass most company's dress code policy. Avoid really eye-catching brass buttons though in case it accidentally gives a nautical effect, I personally like gunmetal buttons. The good part is you can mix and match the trousers with the jacket and not have to buy all at once, or worry about one wearing out before the other.

bluep

Next clearance are doing suit jackets for £14 and if you are lucky/or happy to search through, matching trousers can be found for £15 or so...these are suits that are wool mix and reduced from £150ish.

There is bound to be a next clearance shop in London - I'll try and find out where for you.

Agree with some of the above comments...a cheap suit can look awful and shiny so unless you can find good quality fabric and cut in Asda/Matalan/Primark (which might now be the case, I haven't looked at men;s suits in there for a long time)...you might be better off going for buying 2 more expensive suits and rotating them each day with very different looking shirts! Men can get away with wearing 3 different suits per week comfortably, although dry cleaning becomes a bit time pressured! 2 suits is problematic but could be done until your first paycheck? You don't need 5 suits to start off with.

Debenhams sometimes does good sales where they reduce good quality suits to £99, Burton also do the same (and offer a student discount incase you still have a student card?).

I'm afraid I would disagree on the blazer and trousers but maybe I have worked in more traditional workplaces so no offense meant ultrak3wl.

What are you doing in the bank? Some places provide suited uniforms for public-facing staff - have you checked?

JeLLyMaN_2

Tesco's FandF range are nice and cheap.

DKLS

Take a friend, a trusted one who will be (brutally) honest, The quality in suits under £100 can vary enormously, I picked up 3 Mexx suits for £59 ea at a discount shopping out of town type place, so decent quailty can be good, but check how it hangs, and make sure it fits properly, remember Gareth from the office.
If funds allowed I would love a bespoke suit or 3, and next years visit to the far east will hopefully allow that.

therealdessie

There are always adverts for suit makers visiting London from HK and selling cheap suits from over there (if your conscience allows for it). I usually sign up for e-mails from https://www.ctshirts.co.uk - they have a permanent 25% sale where I don't buy anything, but they also have end of season clearences at up to 80% off, and that's the right time to buy for me.

If you do buy a suit which isn't washable, remember you're also buying a dry cleaning bill. Invest in a trouser press and you won't have to keep shelling out every time you lose the leg crease, provided you're careful not to get mucky - and remember to take them in for cleaning now and again anyway. Don't wear your suit to the pub, you'll ruin it with smoke and spilt drinks.

As someone who voluntarily started wearing suits to work many years ago, I can tell you few places enforce it as a policy - and those that do often give a clothing allowance. If you're being told you *must* wear one then enquire as to whether it's a tax deductable expense, or if you get clothing vouchers. If it's a junior role it's probably not an absolute requirement an I expect you could get away with a nice shirt and a smart pair of trousers from one of the many Next sales.