Key Takeaways:
- Suitsupply is a popular brand for affordable, high-quality suits, with prices starting at $500.
- The brand’s suits are known for their modern, slim-cut design and high-quality fabrics sourced from Italian mills.
- Other affordable suit options include Spier & Mackay, Natalino, Grand Lè Mar, and Proper Cloth.
- When buying an affordable suit, consider factors such as fit, fabric, construction, and style.
- A well-fitting suit can make a big difference, regardless of the brand or price point.
Introduction to Suitsupply
You’re probably not going to see a Suitsupply suit on the Met Gala red carpet. However, you will likely see it on a fresh college graduate or a young professional shopping for their first suit. In fact, New York City’s 111th mayor, Zohran Mamdani, wore Suitsupply suits throughout his campaign, drawing commentary from style desks and earning him the title of "style icon" from Bloomberg. What’s remarkable is that Mamdani pulled off wearing $500 suits on a national stage, proving that high-quality suits are no longer exclusive to the wealthy.
The Evolution of Suits
Once upon a time, a nice suit was a marker of wealth and status, reserved for high-rolling business executives, fashionable culture vultures, and politicians. However, with the rise of e-commerce brands like Suitsupply and the internet democratizing menswear, today’s average buyer can easily find an attainable but well-made option for this signifier of prestige and polish. As menswear writer Derek Guy notes, "If you know how to shop for clothes, you can get a better suit at $300 than some guy who has no idea what he’s doing and is spending $10,000." The key is knowing what to look for, such as soft shoulders, small lapels, and a slim cut that has become popular among millennials.
Suitsupply’s Secret Sauce
Suitsupply has pioneered the concept of offering luxury suits at an affordable price point. The brand sources its fabrics from Italian mills, using high-quality textiles that are typically found in more expensive brands. However, it balances these high-quality fabrics with a half-canvas construction, which is manufactured in China. This construction method gives the suit shape and drape while keeping costs lower than a full-canvas suit. As creator Mitchell Moss notes, "Suitsupply kind of pioneered this idea of a lower quality construction, but with more luxury fabrics." This combination of decent quality and affordable price has made Suitsupply a darling among millennials and Gen Zers shopping for their first suit.
Other Affordable Suit Options
While Suitsupply has been a trailblazer in the affordable suit market, other brands have emerged to offer similar quality and style at a lower price point. Canadian brand Spier & Mackay is a notable example, offering half-canvas and full-canvas suits with a classic silhouette that fits a wide range of sizes. Other options include London-based Natalino, Nordic retailer Grand Lè Mar, and New York City-based Proper Cloth. As Moss notes, "Fifteen years ago, this cornucopia – this variety of good, well-designed, reasonably well-fitting, reasonably good quality tailoring companies did not exist." Today, buyers have a wide range of options to choose from, making it easier to find a high-quality suit that fits their budget.
What to Consider When Buying an Affordable Suit
When shopping for an affordable suit, there are several factors to consider. First and foremost, the suit needs to fit well. As Moss notes, "Then you’re going to be ahead of the game." Some tailoring may be required, but paying attention to how the suit feels and lays in the shoulder area is crucial. The collar of the jacket should hug your neck, and the waist shouldn’t pull when you button the jacket. Other details to look for include a balanced coat hem, a jacket that bisects halfway from your collar to the floor, and a half-canvas construction. As Guy notes, "I don’t think it matters where you get your suit from. It just matters if it fits. You can do that on a budget of $300; you can do that on a budget of $10,000." Ultimately, a well-fitting suit can make a big difference, regardless of the brand or price point.
