formal suits!!!!

[Afro Boy]

I thought this site might help with the various different types of formal wear.

Go Formal

Personally, if I were to only buy one suit, go for a black or dark charcoal single breasted dinner suit. Make sure it's good quality and it will last you for a very long time.

Be wary of the cheap 2-4-1 deals. I've found them to be badly made and never last me very long after a few cleans.

Good luck!

[wayfarer]

Ye God!

There are people and there are people.

I own a few business suits for the rare occasions I need one for work and since about 18 I've own a dinner suit. I hired one for a school formal but had so many other engagements shortly after that it was good money to get one.

And the social engagements haven't stopped. I seem to wear the dinner suit about four times a year and none of them are unreasonable requests.

If you're not in the social circles where dinner suits are common then perhaps you are not really in a position to comment. Of course I agree with you if a person doesn't use it often enough then hire is the best option. But to slam everyone else is a bit, y'know, bad mannered.

[astrid]

Gosh,
your one of the right sort,
simply must add you to my inner circle.
However one must concede, that in these sadder times, one is somtimes obliged to cross the great devide and mix with, and heaven help us, even invite the GU to our little Do's.
One simply must be sensitive to those with HIP's.

Countess Von Astrid

[wayfarer]

[bigAl]

Gday Hilux,

I spottedf this link just before but there are plenty of options on the web now for buying a well made suit: http://www.onlinesuits.com/index.html

I haven't used them myself but a colleague just bought 3 from them and they did a good job. Fabric price is excellent and for the same fabrics you'd be paying double here.

Pusser, I always thought that white dinner jacket was either outside or shipboard?

Cheers,

Al.

[havenoideaatall]

I have 3 made to measure suits made 17 years ago still going strong.

1 charcoal. 1 charcoal herringbone. I light charcoal chalkstripe.

Rule 1 Black suits look terrible - the stuff of salesmen, funeral directors, football players and waiters/hospitality staff.

A charcoal/grey suit would be the go-everywhere option.

Rule 2 Always wool, never polyester.

Rule 3 Make sure it fits. Too baggy is definitely out.

cheers

[Poppa]

I wore suits every day for about 15 years up until I stopped doing the corporate thing. Always wore off-the-rack business suits that were well made and always wool or wool blend (but not expensive - brand names don't mean much to me). One secret, I always have the trousers lined front and back to the knee. Makes the trousers last at least twice as long without getting shiny, and feels a lot more comfortable. If the shop you are buying from doesn't have an alteration service that can do this for you, I'd find another shop to buy from!

When I married SWMBO I had a suit tailor made - a dinner suit, but with a frock coat instead of the normal length thing (frock coats hang down to knee level). This has served me very well indeed, I've worn it to quite a few events and it never fails to win me admiring comments. I've never found anyone who didn't like it. I had it made out of very good cloth, by a traditional tailor, and it still cost less than an off the rack Zegna.

If you're going to a one-off, rent one. I agree that if the invitation says "black tie" that means a dinner suit with the trimmings. I rented one a few times when I was in the UK and didn't have mine over there, and as long as you find a good rental place, you can get one that is comfortable and well made. I had to rent one for a mate's wedding recently (I was best man and had to wear the suit he wanted me to wear), and the shop that I rented it from were very accommodating. Another tip - if you are trim taut and terrific, single breasted is the go. If you are a few pounds over fighting weight, double-breasted works better (IMHO).

And funny, I usually find black-tie events quite good fun. The booze is usually good and free-flowing, and the tucker is usually OK as well..

[hilux]

BigAl which country are those http://www.onlinesuits.com/index.html suits shipped from?

[rrich]

Remember, without pictures it didn't happen!