MSU Red Cedar Message Board

Well we need to know what your price range is.
If you bring a place like EXPRESS into the conversation, I'm guessing you are aiming to spend less thank $500.

If I'm right, I suggest that you avoid EXPRESS.
Step 1: You are better off searching the aisles at one or more of the following:
-Nordstrom Rack (Nordstrom)
-Off 5th (Saks Fifth Avenue)
-J. Crew Factory Store

Step 2: Get the jacket and pants tailored (expect to spend an extra 75-150). Bring a Men's style magazine to show your tailor that you want an athletic, fitted look (e.g., GQ, Esquire). Your suit will look like you spent $1000+.

Step 3: Thank me later

Anyone have a Hart Schaffner Marx suit? I like the idea of an American made suit.

I second Brooks Brothers...will always be in style, especially in the workplace. Charcoal gray with a fine pinstripe or dark blue with a light pinstripe. Your boss will approve, as will his wife and daughter.

I hate to do this but you guys are like friends.... Harrysuits.com

Brooks Brothers. Can't go wrong. Suits in style and they will last forever making them very affordable in the long wrong.

I do my best to stand out and be a "style" junkie in the office. Typically an attention to detail, high value for oneself, and maintaining a high level of profession appearance is respected.

I agree. I have a brooks and it's still kicking like 15 years later. Classic charcoal and in great shape. At the time it felt like a ton to spend but it's worth it.

really any canvassed suit is going to hold up very well but brooks brothers tend to be more timeless and worth every penny. Blue or Black label Ralph Lauren would fall in that category as well

J. Crew produces quality products for men's wear. It IS on the $$$ side, but the material used usually gets a from my tailor.

Prior to my junior year at State (2007), I just wore suits off the rack with a hem job on the pants. Fast forward to the present date - I make sure to budget for all of my formal wear to have some tailoring (shirts, pants, khakis, jackets, peacoat).

If you are okay with their generalized style, I would rank the upper-middle crust retailers as follows:
J. Crew>Brooks Brothers>Banana Republic>Express

Europeans are generally built slimmer than us men. Especially through the hips and butt. Nothing more ridiculous looking than a 50 something year old trying to dress like a 20 year old.

Looking at Ryan Secrest on nbc doing the Olympics and his suit is ill fitting. Talked to a suit salesman at a high end store the other day and he told me that sellers aren't fond of the "tight fitting suits" because men over 40 generally aren't buying them.

Do you wear it once a week, or just for various occasions? (serious question)

Every sport and suit coat I own is cut that way and has been ever since I started buing my own clothes.

I wear 2 button center vent coats that are tailored in that fashion. However, every dual side vent coat is always cut that way.

I wear a traditional slim cut suit, but not the silly looking type that the fashion industry calls stylish today and looks like it's two sizes too small.