Suits for dummies
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PhillT

Original Poster:

2,489 posts

255 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Greetings,
I'd like some help from those in the know, please.
I'd like a suit. However, I am, in my professional and personal life, much more of a jeans, sneakers and t-shirt kinda guy. Every now and again I'll go a bit crazy and wear a shirt. I like to think about what I wear and look good, but I pretty much operate within those parameters.
I have an off-the-peg suit that I wear for weddings or (occasional) work engagements, but it's fairly non-descript. I bought it because I needed one and could afford it, but I know nothing about cuts, materials, patterns etc.
However, I'm now living in a part of the world where it's possible to get a bespoke suit made for relatively little. And I like the idea.
This would not be a suit for business meetings or for looking like I went to a good school, it would be a suit for occasions such as weddings, parties etc - but that doesn't make me look like an 80s stockbroker or someone that's just come from the office. Something that stands out a bit but isn't brash or tacky.
However, being utterly clueless I don't know where to start or what to tell the tailor. So, could anyone recommend some sites to check out that might give me some idea of what I'm talking about? I figure if I can collect some images or understand the differences between different types of suit a bit better, I've less chance of looking like an 70s Indian businessman.
Cheers.

OliverTwist

1,292 posts

202 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all

Neil H

15,418 posts

281 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Single-breasted, 3 button in charcoal/ black.

GTIR

24,741 posts

296 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Trainers or pumps.
Never "sneakers". Ever. nono

hehe

Any tailor anywhere will/should have the latest trends.

PhillT

Original Poster:

2,489 posts

255 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
GTIR said:
Trainers or pumps.
Never "sneakers". Ever. nono

hehe

Any tailor anywhere will/should have the latest trends.
Not in the cheap places in Dubai they won't. Sources tell me you have to tell them pretty much exactly what you want or you look like something from an old Bollywood movie.
(The term trainer has a somewhat narrower connotation than sneaker. Pumps are what I wore in the school gym when I was nine...)

Bing o

15,184 posts

249 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Neil H said:
Single-breasted, 3 button in charcoal/ black.
Depends how fat the OP is, I'd stick with 2 buttons as it's far likely to remain fashionable. And black = no.

GTIR

24,741 posts

296 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
PhillT said:
GTIR said:
Trainers or pumps.
Never "sneakers". Ever. nono

hehe

Any tailor anywhere will/should have the latest trends.
Not in the cheap places in Dubai they won't. Sources tell me you have to tell them pretty much exactly what you want or you look like something from an old Bollywood movie.
(The term trainer has a somewhat narrower connotation than sneaker. Pumps are what I wore in the school gym when I was nine...)
Sneakers is an Americanism that has crept into our vernacular and has no right to be here. We already have perfectly good words already thanks very much.
I'm assuming as you live in Dubai the Amercian influence is pretty strong and your writings are written with this in mind.
thumbup

PhillT

Original Poster:

2,489 posts

255 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Bing o said:
Neil H said:
Single-breasted, 3 button in charcoal/ black.
Depends how fat the OP is, I'd stick with 2 buttons as it's far likely to remain fashionable. And black = no.
Not fat at all, thankfully. Well, for now, anyway.
Should probably add that it's a casual suit I'm looking for - one that doesn't require a tie and maybe even worn with a t-shirt/jumper. If such a thing is allowed.

Neil H

15,418 posts

281 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Bing o said:
And black = no.
Depends what business the OP is involved in.



Edited by Neil H on Monday 25th January 10:53

GTIR

24,741 posts

296 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Op you may be better to simply ask for a good tailor in Dubai. I'm sure there are plenty of PH'ers that would help.

digitise

179 posts

241 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
www.asuitthatfits.com gives you a pretty comprehensive breakdown of the various material types and style elements available when you go through their design wizard thingy.

I know nothing about suits, but that site gave me a good idea of how much I don't know about them.

mrmr96

13,736 posts

234 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
PhillT said:
Should probably add that it's a casual suit I'm looking for - one that doesn't require a tie and maybe even worn with a t-shirt/jumper.
Shell suit? Romper suit?

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

PhillT

Original Poster:

2,489 posts

255 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
digitise said:
www.asuitthatfits.com gives you a pretty comprehensive breakdown of the various material types and style elements available when you go through their design wizard thingy.

I know nothing about suits, but that site gave me a good idea of how much I don't know about them.
That's very useful indeed, thanks!

Greedydog

969 posts

225 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
PhillT said:
digitise said:
www.asuitthatfits.com gives you a pretty comprehensive breakdown of the various material types and style elements available when you go through their design wizard thingy.

I know nothing about suits, but that site gave me a good idea of how much I don't know about them.
That's very useful indeed, thanks!
Useful site but I wouldn't buy anything from them ever again.

PhillT

Original Poster:

2,489 posts

255 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
inkiboo said:
Basic rules:

Black or dark blue. Once you are comfortable with suit, go for other colours (dark grey, light grey). Crazy colours look awful.

I prefer 2 button as it gives more shape but 3 button is ok.

NEVER EVER EVER double breasted.

NEVER EVER EVER do up all the buttons. 1 or none is the rule.

Provided you are not too tubby, you want the waist to come in a lot. Suit jackets that are straight down from shoulder to hips look awful.

Take time with the fitting. If you get a good tailor then a suit will be as easy to wear as jeans and t-shirt. If cost of materials isn't too high, get it silk lined. Feels lovely.

If you need more advice, let me know.
Also useful, cheers! I must admit to being tempted by a more unusual colour, however. Am checking out the various user-created options here to see which work and which don't... http://www.asuitthatfits.com/shop/index.php?option...

PhillT

Original Poster:

2,489 posts

255 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Greedydog said:
PhillT said:
digitise said:
www.asuitthatfits.com gives you a pretty comprehensive breakdown of the various material types and style elements available when you go through their design wizard thingy.

I know nothing about suits, but that site gave me a good idea of how much I don't know about them.
That's very useful indeed, thanks!
Useful site but I wouldn't buy anything from them ever again.
Pourquoi?

allgonepetetong

1,188 posts

249 months

Monday 25th January 2010
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TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

280 months

Monday 25th January 2010
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ASuitThatFits (and simlar sites) has been spoken about before actually, see here;

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... you. where to get a decent suit and what to look for?

allgonepetetong

1,188 posts

249 months

Monday 25th January 2010
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TonyHetherington

32,091 posts

280 months

Monday 25th January 2010
quotequote all
Ah, also a similar site;

http://www.dress2kill.com/