Suits

[2easy]

Any other recommendations besides tip top or the bay? Any brand reccomendations?

[itsme]

9 hours ago, 2easy said:

Any other recommendations besides tip top or the bay? Any brand reccomendations?

SuitSupply or Spier & MacKay are both common suggestions. Suitsupply's "Perennial" line will run you between $600 and $700 dollars, other lines with higher quality fabric or different cuts will go up in price. Suitsupply has modified a few of their styles recently and started cutting their pants and jacket a bit fuller. I think this is a welcome change. 

Spier has a lower entry point, price-wise, and IMO can often offer better value. If you're in the GTA, they also have (had?) a store by Pearson. Their "Red Line" suits start at below $400, but I'd suggest going with - at least - their "Core" offering (~$500). If you can, it is worth it to spend a little bit more and get something from their "Neo" or "Full Canvas" lines (~$700 - $900). One thing I like about Spier is that they do a good job of grabbing random bolts of cloth from higher-end / brand name mills like VBC, Drago, etc. and doing a few size runs of suits. The upside is that you get better cloth for a good price, the downside is they run out of stock in popular sizes quite quickly and there's no guarantee of a re-stock. 

There's really no need to pay a tonne of money for a suit from Rosen, Holt, etc. Most of the suits from the brand names you've heard of (Boss, Zegna, Canali, etc.) are not going to be all that better constructed that what you'd get from Spier or SuitSupply (especially if you're willing to pay ~>$750 at either of those). 

Wherever you end up purchasing from, stick to charcoal or navy for your first suit or two. Find a good tailor, and avoid (1) drycleaning your suit too much (i.e. maybe twice a year, unless you get a nasty stain on it), and (2) ironing or steaming it, as both have a tendency to destroy the fabric underneath the wool. 

[RuleAgainstPerpetuities]

Surprised this hasn't come up yet, but Tom's Place in Kensington Market is my (and all my law school friends') default choice for suits in Toronto. They have excellent suits starting at around $500 plus $50-100 for high quality in-house tailoring. It's a Toronto establishment and their service is excellent. 

[ZineZ]

Suit Supply was where I got my suit for OCIs and I loved it - it's a bit pricier depending on what you get, but IMHO it's worth the money.  I bought a couple more from there last year - and they're similarly great.

That being said, you risk the chance of another student showing up with the exact same suit and tie combo for OCIs. Speaking from experience.

[Vizslaw]

Seconding Tom's Place in Kensington. I got my first few suits there. They were especially helpful creating some outfits for me with different shirts/ties. They usually have sales too!

[BlockedQuebecois]

The issue with Tom's Place is that you're usually not getting a very good suit for the price you are paying. Instead, you're getting a designer suit with fused construction, lower-quality fabric, and a lack of attention to detail with things like sous bras and Milanese buttonholes. 

In contrast, for the same price you get a half-canvas, reasonably good quality suit from S&M. Or if you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a full-canvas suit made from fabric from a premium mill. 

Similarly, SuitSupply only sells half canvas jackets, and their fabrics generally come from reputable mills. 

[Ramesses]

On 2/18/2024 at 10:02 PM, enpassant said:

Thank you @Ramesses, thats really helpful. When can I expect those sales? In the summer?

Sales come and go so it's hard to say. But I think usually winter stuff is on clearance now to make room for spring and summer stuff. You might have to go a few times and see what sales they have. You can always ask the store too, just tell them you are a student looking for a suit on a limited budget. 

[INFJatlaw]

RW&Co shirt and suit are what I had for interviews last week, which were on sale (no more than $300 in total), and I got a 1L summer job offer. So I guess RW&Co is fine (for females at least).

Edited February 25, 2024 by stampedelaw

[ZineZ]

Where's everyone shopping for reasonably priced business casual clothing these days? Nice pant/shirt combos (regular fit preferred over slim).

I've historically gone for a lot of Uniqlo/Brooks Brothers (outlet)/Banana Republic. 

[Big Pecker]

49 minutes ago, ZineZ said:

Where's everyone shopping for reasonably priced business casual clothing these days? Nice pant/shirt combos (regular fit preferred over slim).

I've historically gone for a lot of Uniqlo/Brooks Brothers (outlet)/Banana Republic. 

I love Uniqlo's dress shirts. They're not overly fancy, but I have about 6 from there (3 white 3 light blue). They come out of the wash wrinkle-free and are super comfy. 

[ZineZ]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:52 AM, Big Pecker said:

I love Uniqlo's dress shirts. They're not overly fancy, but I have about 6 from there (3 white 3 light blue). They come out of the wash wrinkle-free and are super comfy. 

At this point, pretty much everything i have is Uniqlo. I'm just thinking of finally expanding but I have a hard time convincing myself to do so

[chaboywb]

Uniqlo diehard here. I haven't shopped anywhere else in a good year or so (work wear or otherwise). Hard for me to justify spending any more on dress clothes when their shirts/slacks blend in with anyone else on Bay Street at a fraction of the price. Hoping they expand to a few different patterns, though. 

[Naj]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:02 AM, ZineZ said:

business casual clothing

You can check Massimo Dutti. I typically avoid Banana Republic/Uniqlo. Their clothing just doesn't last, I'm usually doing away with pieces from them after a year from purchase. Also, the fit is always compromising in some way. 

What I've resorted to doing is every now and then I'll buy an expensive/designer piece of clothing (e.g. casual business pants from suit supply). Over time (and I mean a few years), you end up having a wardrobe of well-fitting, quality clothing that looks good and will last granted you don't throw it all indiscriminately in the washer and dryer. - But this is more of a long-term mission where you need to be on the lookout always for discount periods etc... 

 

[BlockedQuebecois]

For what it’s worth, I have recently started having all my shirts made by a tailor, and they’re infinitely more comfortable than anything I’ve bought off the rack. 

But if you’re going off the rack, I don’t think there’s a real difference between Uniqlo/S&M/etc. and the Etons of the world. If you’re buying off the rack, the top consideration should be fit. 

Edited April 9, 2024 by BlockedQuebecois

[VarsityBlues]

Moores. They usually have decent suits on clearance, and various sales throughout the year. 

[SNAILS]

There seem to be a variety of different suit customers in this thread: those fairly senior in an upscale firm, those just starting out, those that litigate frequently, etc.

Off the rack from Moore's is fine unless your firm and position within it is quite upscale and you have a big budget (or you just want to be the best dressed guy around). Most of the lawyers I practice with are not exactly "fashionistas." Most wear slightly worn suits over 10 years old and they've gained/lost weight since the suit was fitted. So a fairly new suit from any reputable retailer makes you more well dressed than average.

[BlockedQuebecois]

The problem with Moores has nothing to do with money or perceived class. The problem is that you’re going to spend the same amount of money (or frequently, more money) and end up with a worse fitting suit, made with significantly worse materials, than you would if you bought a suit from a place like Spier & Mackay. 

It’s absolutely true that most lawyers dress like shit. But I don’t know why that would make anyone recommend someone spend more money to look worse. 

[Naj]

On 4/8/2024 at 10:02 AM, ZineZ said:

Where's everyone shopping for reasonably priced business casual clothing these days? Nice pant/shirt combos (regular fit preferred over slim).

I've historically gone for a lot of Uniqlo/Brooks Brothers (outlet)/Banana Republic. 

I've been recently shopping at suit supply, not for suits though because their tailors are prone to fuck ups based on the many reviews I've read, but rather for more business/smart casual pieces. 

I heard Indochino is otherwise fine, but they're not any cheaper. 

Suit supply is nice for trousers because they have regular cut + High waist Wide leg tapered cut + High waist Wide leg straight cut. I also think they're one of the few stores that push a more modern wardrobe that mixes traditional trouserwear with more modern top options, t-shirts, linen shirts, etc... - I think they do this better than any other brand in the price range. 

Other brands that try and do this, do it with subpar offerings i.e. synthetic trousers with jogger cuts on the ankles or some other nonsense, kind of in the ballpark of what Lululemon sells as comfortable smart or whatever they may call it. OR they just won't have enough high waist/straight cut/wide cuts, everything tends to be catered towards the skinny or slim aesthetic nowadays. 

I've recently wanted to go bespoke with trousers but what I've found was $700 a pair and that's not viable for me rn.  

Edited March 23 by Naj

[TommyBratton]

Junior Crown and I'm going to plug Spier and Mackay. I have to wear a full suit and tie in court and all of my suits in current rotation come from them. They have a 10% off first-time signup link and if you keep an eye out, they regularly have sales where you can get a suit for 10-30% off. 

Imo they are the entry point for a "good" suit. I took a quick look at Moores and their suits are $350. S&M options come in at just under $500. Spend a little more money and get fewer items that will last longer and look better. 

Moores' (and most cheaper, mall-brand stores') suits are going to be wool-polyester blends that are fused (glued). This fabric mix will pill quickly and fused suits "bubble" as the fabric separates apart over time. S&M suits are 100% wool and have what is called a half-canvass construction. The fabric will look better for longer and the canvassing will drape better. The next time you see people wear suits, take a look at what people wear. The lapels on cheaper suits will not roll as well - they'll more sharply fold. 

For those starting out in the workplace, you can pretty easily get by with three suits. Charcoal or dark grey, navy, and a third option (a lighter grey or blue, perhaps with a pattern or texture - just don't get black). If you don't need to wear a suit to work, still have at least two suits, but you can probably opt for a blazer/sport coat and either dress trousers or chinos (I think the Lululemon ABC warpstream trousers look fine with most blazers). 

For shirts, I think there are more good options, but I'd definitely recommend getting something that is 100% or almost all cotton and specifically advertised as being non-iron. These will breathe well and being able to throw them in the dryer on the low setting to avoid having to iron is a big time saver. Personally, I'm not the biggest fan of S&M dress shirts for this reason - they need an iron. Most of my shirts are from a British brand called Charles Tyrwhitt - they often have bundle sales. Of course, if you are willing to send all your shirts to the cleaners, you can be less picky. But that's not something I'm willing to splash out on right now. 

For shoes, I'm hesitant to recommend American brands anymore, given our current geopolitical climate. Most of my shoes are from Allen Edmonds or Johnston & Murphy and they're fantastic, but they were purchased before our trade war. Shoes are worth the investment, imo. Look for something that is either Goodyear welted or Blake stitched (this means they are resole-able so you can replace the bottoms when they wear out) and full grain leather (better than genuine leather which should be avoided). I've heard good things about the Canadian brand, Hartt, but they are EXPENSIVE. Meermin or Becket Simonon are great, but duties might be tough. If you make a trip to Europe post-grad or before you start as an associate, definitely check out some of the euro options if you have room to bring a pair back. But for shoes, definitely buy less but buy BETTER. Two pairs, one black and one brown will do you well. Add a brown loafer if you want a third option. 

Hope my ramblings are helpful. I probably fall into the "fashionista" type but I firmly believe that one just has to spend a little bit more to dress significantly better - spending a fortune is definitely not required. 

[SNAILS]

On 3/23/2025 at 3:56 PM, TommyBratton said:

Hope my ramblings are helpful. I probably fall into the "fashionista" type but I firmly believe that one just has to spend a little bit more to dress significantly better - spending a fortune is definitely not required. 

You guys may be starting to win me over, but how much money are we talking about here exactly? (In particular, if I wanted tailed suits at Spier & Mackay).

Full disclosure, if all my suits, ties and shirts got destroyed in a fire, I could probably replace everything I've worn to work in the last 30 days for $2000. (2 suits Daniel Hechter Paris @$350 each, Calvin Klein Suit $400, 10 dress shirts (mostly Bellisimo) @ $30-$50 each, 10 ties (Bellisimo, Dever Hayes, some random silk ones) $20-$40 each or included with the shirt, 2 pairs of shoes at ~$100 each.

Edited March 28 by SNAILS

[canuckfanatic]

6 hours ago, SNAILS said:

Spier & Mackay

Anywhere from $500 - $900 depending on the suit. I see some half-canvas suits on there for $500.