SuitSupply has become one my staple clothing companies and most recommended to anyone looking for a “good suit” since they opened their first store in NYC about a decade ago. They sell the full gamut of men’s clothing items, and have hit a great spot when you consider their price, design, and value.
History
SuitSupply was founded in 2000 in the Netherlands by Fokke de Jong while in law school and hasn’t stopped growing since. Expanding throughout the EU and US (first store in 2012) and into the Middle East, I don’t see much else stopping them. Their business model of having Direct-to-Consumer European-styled slimmer fit suits, made with Italian fabrics, and made in China has allowed them to create a suit that looks and feels 2x the price of anything else in their price range. No other company selling suits under $1,000 comes close, and can also compete with most, if not all, suits under $2,000.
Notes
As stated above, SuitSupply offers the best value suits in the under $1,000 range, don’t even bother spending time looking through Jos A Bank, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Ralph Lauren, etc. If you need a suit for a wedding, an interview, an internship, finance/law/consulting jobs, or just want one suit for special occasions, this is the company to buy from. SuitSupply’s best offerings come in the suits, sportcoats, trousers, and overcoat categories so we will focus on those specifically. All other items of clothing are solid, and you could probably buy an entire wardrobe from SuitSupply, but the aforementioned categories stand out especially well compared to other company’s offerings in the same price range.
What to Buy
This will focus on Suits, Sport Coats, and Overcoats as these are are SuitSupply’s best standout price to value products.
Suits
Fit overview – Napoli vs. Lazio vs. Havana (you will see these three names in each suit name to easily identify the fit)
Napoli
- Regular Fit
- Light shoulder padding (more formal “squarer” look)
Lazio
- Slimmer Fit
- Light shoulder padding (more formal “squarer” look)
Havana
- Slimmer Fit
- No shoulder padding (more casual look)
General Advise – If you want to be conservative or are a bit intimidated by dipping your toes into “fashion suits”, buy the Napoli fit. It’s not slim enough for anyone to notice “in a bad way” and the bit of shoulder padding will make you fit into any suit-wearing occasion dressed “well” compared to everyone else. If you want a slightly “sharper” look but still more business-centric, choose the Lazio fit. It’s a bit slimmer in all the right places compared to the Napoli, but will give you that extra “something” that normal people notice, but can’t really put their finger on, especially if you’re in-shape/lean. The Havana can still be worn in a conservative/business setting, just ensure you choose a conservative fabric/color, though it is also the best for a purely casual suit.
Sportcoats
We will focus on the Havana fit, as these days most sportcoats will be worn in a setting that is less casual than suits, so purchasing a slightly more casual jacket that can be worn with trousers, chinos, or jeans has a lot of value. Short of a black tie, or a black tie-optional wedding, a sportcoat will fit any other setting requiring some kind of dressy attire.
Pro Tip: As a general rule, if you want a more conservative look, stay with solid dark colors; the lighter the color or the larger/more visible the pattern, the more casual the sportcoat becomes. Also, stick with a single-breasted sportcoat, with notch lapels and two buttons to start.
More Conservative Less Conservative
