[bringsmewomen]

Since BMW owners are a bit more refined than most, I was just wondering where you get your sportcoats and blazers. I'm relatively new to this and I'm looking for advice. So far, I've been checking out Jos A Bank, Banana Republic, and John Varvatos suits. Anyone have any experience with these? What about the cheaper places like Zara, H and M, and Express? They seem to have decent jackets too.

What about outlet stores? Does it make a difference?

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by bringsmewomen

Since BMW owners are a bit more refined than most, I was just wondering where you get your sportcoats and blazers. I'm relatively new to this and I'm looking for advice. So far, I've been checking out Jos A Bank, Banana Republic, and John Varvatos suits. Anyone have any experience with these? What about the cheaper places like Zara, H and M, and Express? They seem to have decent jackets too.

What about outlet stores? Does it make a difference?

If you're just buying off the rack check out Brooks Brothers too.

[EmmettBrown]

Originally Posted by bringsmewomen

Since BMW owners are a bit more refined than most, I was just wondering where you get your sportcoats and blazers. I'm relatively new to this and I'm looking for advice. So far, I've been checking out Jos A Bank, Banana Republic, and John Varvatos suits. Anyone have any experience with these? What about the cheaper places like Zara, H and M, and Express? They seem to have decent jackets too.

What about outlet stores? Does it make a difference?

i didnt know wearing hella flush t-shirts or a picture of a naked girl covering her breasts on a t-shirt is a bit more refined

[LACSTER]

Originally Posted by EmmettBrown

i didnt know wearing hella flush t-shirts or a picture of a naked girl covering her breasts on a t-shirt is a bit more refined

[TK-421]

Originally Posted by EmmettBrown

i didnt know wearing hella flush t-shirts or a picture of a naked girl covering her breasts on a t-shirt is a bit more refined

LOL

But he has a point - most of the people you'll find around here (Bimmerpost OT) are assholes in their teens and 20's (i.e. me). If I had to generalize, the people you have in mind are the 5er and 7er crowd. With that out of the way, I like Banana Republic. For the price, the suit I picked up had a pretty modern fit and fit great once I had it tailored. Same goes for their sport coats (I picked up 2) and chinos.

EDIT: I get 50% off everything so that's part of the reason I get my stuff there

[bobloblaw]

Jos A. Banks? Oh lawd. I really like Brooks Brothers

[Vanity]

Do NOT go to Zara. Zara's business model (and places like Forever21 and H&M) are built around the fashion industry's lack of copyright laws protecting designer's works. This is why there is so much pattern, design, and print copying seen in the clothing industry. Places like Zara emulate high-end clothing (which is why it looks nice) but with cheaper materials.

I recently bought a $200 blazer from Zara and wore it for the first time today. The fabric is already falling apart, the one of the buttons is cracked, and when I put it back in my closet the jacket was visibly wrinkly along the back, arms, etc.

Then I have a YSL blazer that I paid much more for, and the thing has been worn for many years. It looks mint to this day, and I do not take care of it. Just goes to show you should spend more on quality than on quantity.

I'm not sure if Banana Republic's blazers are good, but John Varvatos has fairly good quality.

[Blake]

just go to neimans and say you need a few suits. can't go wrong.

[Masterplan]

I just got myself a blazer. Hugo Boss in the sale, no brainer!

What do you guys wear under it? Shirts or tshirts?

[E90SoFlo]

Originally Posted by Blake

just go to neimans and say you need a few suits. can't go wrong.

+1 don't be cheap

Originally Posted by Masterplan

I just got myself a blazer. Hugo Boss in the sale, no brainer!

What do you guys wear under it? Shirts or tshirts?

washboard ab's

[TMNT]

Originally Posted by Masterplan

I just got myself a blazer. Hugo Boss in the sale, no brainer!

What do you guys wear under it? Shirts or tshirts?

Men should never wear t-shirts with a blazer. That's the California douchebag look and I don't recommend it.

It's about as dumb as when people used to wear ballcaps and/or sneakers with suits.

That being said, Banana Republic actually makes pretty nice & quality suits. I'd avoid Express suits/sport coats...while they might look nice at first, they fall apart/damage easily.

Avoid Jos A Bank, they over charge for the same quality you could get at a Syms type clothing store. That's why they always have the crazy discounts on a weekly basis. It makes them seem like they are offering incredible suits for dirt cheap, when they are actually offering average suits for above average price.

I would visit brooks bros or Hugo Boss or check out Nordstroms. These places will cost you more, but you'll get a much nicer product at the end.

However the biggest thing to looking like you have a quality suit is the fit. Oversized and/or undersized suits no matter how expensive will look cheap.

And don't forget the shoes and belt. You'd be surprised how a nice pair of shoes makes your suit stand out. Wear some old worn out shoes with a suit then wear some nice new ones and you'll see what I mean.

*I used to work at a corporate office for a mens suit company, so I know my suits*

[jpsum]

Originally Posted by E90SoFlo

washboard ab's

Like this?

[lcrain]

FWIW, if you have a nordstrom near you they are having a sale right now until the 1st on new fall styles. I went in yesterday and bought some nice AG jeans that were on sale. They have select sports coats and suits on sale too. Other than that I would NOT cheap out on nice things like a sports coat. Joseph Banks has poor quality. Brooks brothers is nice, and has pretty good prices as well, but they have a limited selection on sports coats.

I personally use a professional clothier for most of my nicer clothing. You will pay a solid premium but IMO it is worth it. Most higher end clothiers use top of the line materials that are both durable, and maintain their looks for years. You can really tell the difference in comfort and I get complements often on the quality look and feel. If you cheap out you may be disappointed later down the line. That said I have a standard blue blazer from brooks brothers and it has been great.

[JayKay335i]

H&M makes some nice fitting cheap as dirt blazers that are great for blacking out in and waking up in and losing

[len56]

Originally Posted by JayKay335i

H&M makes some nice fitting cheap as dirt blazers that are great for blacking out in and waking up in and losing

that sounds... refined

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by len56

that sounds... refined

For the price they are great. Most are also cut very slim. Now that I'm past my meathead days and don't have time to hit the gym obsessively I've dropped about 20lbs of muscle in the past 2 and a half years. I still have broad shoulders and a pretty slim waist so I have trouble finding stuff that fits well. The stuff that does fit well is usually obscenely expensive. So a $60 blazer that I don't care about girls spilling their drinks or losing works for me.

[markham335i]

hugo boss has some nice stuff for sure

[JayKay335i]

Originally Posted by markham335i

hugo boss has some nice stuff for sure

But if a girl threw up on my hugo boss blazer I would have to skin her and wear her as a jacket and pants the next night.

[rollinstone157]

I've had very good luck at Macy's in the past for getting sport coats and blazers. Now mind you, I haven't shopped at a more dedicated store like Brooks Brothers yet, but they tend to have very nice products in a variety of sizes, and if you keep on the lookout for coupons, you can get killer deals. Example: I got a $400 black velvet blazer for $200.

[Titanium Silver]

Off the rack stuff at Nordstroms is good, but M2M stuff is usually better.

Go Savile Row bespoke if you are a true player...