I don't claim to be an expert on fashion, but I have become enamored with fitted suits. I am calling these "skinny suits" for lack of a better term. Above is actor Matt Bomer from the show "White Collar" in such a suit.
As opposed to skinny suits, you have the standard "michelin man" type dress suits. These give men the inflated look.
The last few conferences I've been to, most men had "michelin man" suits (myself included). I did see one person with a skinny suit in Vancouver, and he really stuck out.
Are there any suit experts out there? Is there any way to get a skinny suit without breaking the bank?
Matt,
Two decent places to look for skinny suits that don’t break the bank are Dillard’s and Jos A.Bank
Kenneth cole and calvin klein make nice ones that are in a price range of 200-300 dollars, the “cut” is good but material is so so.
You can go to Nordstroms and have someone help you but you will find the prices there to be around 500-700.
The High end designer skinny suits that you can find at saks and high end fashion stores have price tags ranging from 1200-3500.
Hope that helps some.
Please do make sure that you wear “slender” shoes with the suit the wider fatter shoes are out of style now and. Don’t go well with it.
Thanks Marc!
Check out http://www.indochino.com , exactly what you are looking for.
I’m a big fan of the style/cut of suits at J Crew and Bonobos.com. They may run in the $400-600 range but definitely have more of the style you’re referring to and fit pretty well off the rack. I also think the materials are a big step up from what you’d find at most department stores.
Just stay away from pleated pants haha
That image is a great example of a good-fitting suit.
Matt, what’s your definition of “breaking the bank?” Something more than $500? I find that it’s very hard to get a decent-fitting suit for less than $500.
My partner is a slim guy, and he used to wear these ill-fitting Michelin man-baggy suits. They looked terrible on his slender frame. Being the good ladyfriend I am, I went out shopping with him and found a few great suits that work well with his build.
That said, Dior, Paul Smith, and John Varvatos suits do a slim cut VERY well. They’re not cheap, though. If you’re looking for something more budget friendly, I know Zara Men has decently made suits that aren’t terribly expensive. H&M has men’s suits that, while they aren’t using the best materials and craftsmanship to construct for the tailoring, they do communicate that slim silhouette very well.
I think the slim cut works well on super skinny guys, not so well on others. For a guy with a medium build, I think suits should always look as well tailored as this: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_JIhCwxOep6g/TFd9dHXlXUI/AAAAAAAABq0/yqSPUXOQDwM/s1600/62310LR_5245Web.jpg.
Sorry, more than two cents!
Matt,
The important thing is to look for ‘drop’, the difference between jacket size and waist size of pants.
Most suits have a 6″ drop i.e. 42” chest and accompanying 36″ waist trousers. Look for 8″ drop or even 10″.
European manufacturers, particularly the Italians have a wide selection, but they may be pricer in the North American market, though I do know that Nordstrom (sp?) do have sales with big discounts.
Matt,
head to a macy’s or similar type large dept store, and ask a sales person for a slim fitting suit in your size. they have calvin klein, tallia, tasso elba etc that are all pretty cheap (under $300) give or take,
as well make sure to do the following:
get the suit tailored to fit properly, this makes all the difference, pants should be resting on your shoe, not bunched up at the bottom
invest in a decent solid-light blue dress shirt with a spread collar and a plain solid coloured tie along with proper slim soled dress shoes. (ask sales person)
for $600 or so you should have a proper outfit, just having the suit with dumb clunky shoes and a bulky dress shirt with a small collar will look half assed!!! ha! good luck!
http://artofmanliness.com/2010/02/12/the-art-of-manliness-suit-school-part-i-fused-vs-canvassed-suits/
There are a bunch of articles about suits. Search around the same site.
YES! Ugh, so tired of seeing men who publicly speak about health in suits that make them look like they might have potbellies.
You can get these in Asia custom-made for almost nothing too. If you are ever in Hong Kong….
Thanks all for the suggestions. Maybe I should turn this into a fashion blog!
I started wearing fitted clothing six months ago. It makes a world of difference to ones appearance. I started my journey to “fitted” by simply getting my dress shirts altered. From there, I got a tailored suit. T-shirts and polo shirts can even be altered for a few bucks. Build a relationship with a tailor.
I wear a suit almost every work day. Whenever I’m in NYC, I get my suits at Century 21 next to the World Trade Center site in the financial district. They have holdover European and American suits, much cheaper than new. Typically about 30-40 percent off full price. Wide selection sorted by size. Real easy to shop. Plus, they will ship them home for about only a few bucks more per suit. The above comment about sticking to European styles is helpful. They generally have a trimmer fit, especially in the leg. My wife has also commented how she likes that look better than the traditional baggy look. The Italian manufactures, and Calvin Klein, tend to fit the mold.
I have also gone the custom fitted route, and was generally pleased. But at 2x the Century 21 prices, it’s hard for me to do again.
find a tailor to measure you to find out roughly what size to order. Go to gilt.com hautelook.com ideeli.com. Order top quality suit at 75% discount. Show patience. Have tailor make final adjustments. You will save a bundle on top level gear.
A tailor can make all the difference in the world. Not all of us can afford expensive suits – but tailoring is one area you don’t want to skimp on.
I’d check this link out from GQ. $300 or less suits – properly tailored – can make you look like “the boss.” http://www.gq.com/style/wear-it-now/201206/interviewer-suit-boss#slide=1
Tailoring/suits guide: http://www.gq.com/style/style-manual/201204/suits-guide-tailoring-fit#slide=3