What is the difference? Is it the look of the suit, the fabric or ‘where you buy it’ that makes one suit low end and another high end? As best I can tell more expensive suits seem to be silkier and not as thick while cheaper suits seem like they are made of thick polyester, but can anyone really tell the difference other than the wearer? I can’t really tell any difference just by looking at a suit whether it cost $100 or $700. Maybe its because I don’t do it alot.
Sure, there’s a difference. There can be a difference in a lot of areas: fabric, for example - not all wool is created equal, not all silk is created equal. Construction - you’ve probably noticed that very cheap suits are not fully lined, but you may not notice other construction details, like stitching, interior structural layers, etc. These all make a difference in how the suit looks on you. The biggest thing is fit, though - a suit that’s been well altered to fit you will always look better than a more expensive suit that dosen’t fit. You should look at a suit as an investment piece and shop accordingly. Luckily, the people who work in nicer men’s clothing stores are often extremely knowledgeable about this.
However. As in most clothing, there is a point of diminishing returns - you will absolutely be able to tell the difference between a $500 and a $100 suit. You will probably not be able to tell the difference between a $1000 and a $1500 suit. Where the point of diminishing returns is depends on a lot of things, but largely it’s up to you - at which point does the smaller increase of quality make it not worth the larger increase of cash?
For a quick education in this, it’s fun to observe executives and lowly paper-clip jockeys at the same company. There’s absolutely a quality difference, notable especially in men’s suits by how not-fat the suit can make you look. 
There is a big difference between a well made suit and a poorly made suit. The differnce is noticable in the shop, but becomes much more evident with use. A well made suit will use good quality materials that will not sag, bulge, or look scruffy anywhere near as quicly as a badly made suit. Also a good suit will be well lined with several different materials that help it keep its shape. The quality of stiching will also help determine how long a suit lasts and how well it looks after a few months wear even though thise differnece won’t be easily observable in the shop. Unfortunately a well mad suit will almost always cost more than a non-designer label poorly made suit, but some poorly made suits with designer labels will cost huge amounts as well.
I don’t believe Polyester can ever be made into a reasonable suit (tho I believe improvements in making polyester materials mean the difference isn’t as terrible as it once was).
P.S. your difference between a $100 and $500 suit is equivalent to a difference between a $500 and $2500 suit if you pay five times the money you get (roughly IMHO) 3 times the quality and probably at least 2 times the lifespan of the suit.
So what should a person look for in a suit? I don’t need one right now but its an interesting subject I prefer to know about in case I ever do need one or 10.
I don’t want to be one of those people who buys a suit just because its got a designer label though. What matters mostly is comfort, how long it’ll last and appearance (no plaid). What are some good fabrics for a suit, what are some good suit making companies? Would a suit from a place like Nordstrom or Dilliards automatically quality as ‘good’ or do they carry a range from low quality to high quality? I have noticed on Ebay suits sell for about 10-40 cents on the dollar compared to how much they charge in stores, and I figure if I need a suit I can just find what color suits me best, get measured, find a good store or brand then buy one on ebay. I have no problem with a used suit but alot of the ebay ones seem new.
Have you got an expert you can bring along? A female friend, your sister, your rich mate who dresses well? That’d probably be the best plan…
One piece of stellar advice was given to me years ago by a manager who always looked nice: Don’t buy all of your suits at once.
Rotate your wear, don’t overclean them, and when styles change, it’s not as though you’re tossing half a closet rod of cloth to Goodwill.
When I was a suit, I tried to pick up two or three different shirts and ties for a suit, so variety was injected into the wardrobe. Don’t dismiss not suit attire, either. Navy blazers, paired with grey slacks and a white shirt is an enduring classic. The same goes for tweed blazers.
Look around your town. Every place I’ve lived has a nice old-fashioned store with well-seasoned salespeople who can make you look sharp without breaking your wallet. You have to expend effort to find these shops-they’re not in the mall, not on necessarily a main drag. Your look and bank account will thank you for the search, though.
Main Street is your best bet. (Here one goes to Lourie’s.) Buying a suit off the rack is generally only the first step - a good shop will alter it so it actually looks good on you. (You may think it fits off the rack - the difference after it’s been altered will shock you.) Find the little old man with the chalk - spend a little more, get a lifetime garment Ebay is only your friend if you know what you’re getting and then have a good alteration shop experienced in men’s jackets.
Take a tip from a lower middle class kid…get a nice black suit, a few white shirts and about 10 ties when you change the tie it’s like changing the suit.
I also have a grey suit and a blue one but I feel like I have 15 different suits.
Th number one tip when buying a suit is to buy several pairs of trousers with it - the trousers wear out far faster than the jacket.
My boyfriend recently had to buy a suit for an award ceremony, and in anticipation of having to go to job interviews next year. His parents gave him a rough budget of $2000 and we looked at everything from no-name suits to Armani Collezioni. I knew absolutely zero about suits (I didn’t even know that dinner suits differed from business suits - “what’s this weird racing stripe down the pants?”), but I found roughly the same thing as the OP did; that the materials were lighter and silkier. My boyfriend wasn’t able to tell much of a difference between the $800 suits and the $1900 Hugo Boss ones while he was wearing them, and I couldn’t tell them apart just by looking at him. If someone had pointed out the differences I probably could have seen them, but not with just a cursory glance. I suspect the reason is partially because he has a swimmer’s body, and most clothes look good on him.
My brother actually got a list from work on what to look for in a suit. This is what I can remember.
In no particular order:
- The sleeves of the jacket should show 1 in of cuff of the shirt
- The trousers should crease only once (horizontally) and should cover up to the first lacing on the shoes.
- The jacket should not crease at the shoulders when standing at ease and only once with your arms stretched out.
Wesley Clark, a few basic points:
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the differences between a poorly made cheap suit and a well made pricier suit are huge. Fabric, basic design, construction, fit, etc…all factor in. Bottom line is that you simply look and feel better in a well made suit.
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some inexpensive suits are well made; some expensive suits are poorly made.
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Judging simply by the label is not enough - too many suit makers have many lines of suits (e.g., Giorgio Armani has white label, Armani, Mani and a few others; Ralph Lauren has about 10 different labels, targeting different looks and price points) and quality can vary from line to line. Also, different makers use different factories from year to year.
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What you need to do is a few things:
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Try on some very expensive suits - just to get a feel for fine fabrics, good design and construction. Ask a clerk up front to point out a suit that you have no intention of buying, but represent the best suit in the store. If they don’t let you do this, you don’t want to buy from them anyway…
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Try on a bunch of suits over a period of time - it is like learning about anything; it takes practice. You have to try good wines and bad wines over a bit of time before you start to know what is good and bad. Same with suits. Until you can tell what is good fabric, design and construction for you, they will all seem the same.
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Get a good book. Back in my day, a basic primer was Dress for Success. It is probably still worth checking out…
Good luck.
These points are mainly an issue of taste. Some people like to show more or less cuff on the sleeve and the break of the pants can differ according to style or taste.
There are significant differences in fabric, cut, quality of construction, and attention to detail. You also get the service you pay for.
A few rules that I follow (and I wear a suit every day of the work week):
- Don’t wear the same suit two days in a row (same goes for shoes).
- When you take the suit off, hang it up immediately, but not in your closet. Let it hand in the bathroom or on the door knob for a bit so air can circulate.
- Don’t overclean the suit. Dry cleaning is tough on fabrics. Clean it once or twice a season, and if you spill something on it (dab! don’t rub the stain!)
- Don’t buy a suit that is too fashionably cut. If the fashion changes, you’re not going to wear the suit. Stay with classic cuts (two button, or three button - double breasted if you’re not too thick in the middle).
- I like a vent in the jacket (single). European cuts sometimes dont have vents. A matter of personal choice.
- I like a little break right at the top of my shoes. Personal choice.
- Braces make the suit pants hang better. Spend the extra and get yourself a pair (make sure there are buttons in the pants for the braces).
- Buy a pocket square, shirt, and tie whenever you buy a suit. If you can, also spring for a new pair of shoes.
- Yes, you can wear brown shoes with a navy suit, but it takes a good eye to get the shades right.
- EVERY man should have at least one tailor-made suit. Save your pennies. They’re worth it.
Yes, there is definitely a difference between a cheap and an expensive suit. A quality suit will look better and last longer.
I have three moderately expensive (around $1200 apiece) suits - a dark gray one, a lighter gray one, and a dark blue one. Any tie I own goes with any suit I own, and I have a couple of pairs of black dress pants that go with any of the jackets. Choose from any of my collection of white dress shirts, pick a tie at random, and I am ready for work.
If you buy a decent suit, you can change the look by changing the shirt or the tie. Or just ask my daughter, the Fashion Maven (“No, daddy, you CANNOT wear a pink shirt with that tie. And your socks are inside out.”)
Regards,
Shodan
It’s what KMPG reckon a suit should look like.
KPMG even
You can wind up looking great in an inexpensive suit ($250-$500) if you are willing to PAY a GOOD tailor for extensive alterations.Also, the main difference in a cheap vs expensive suit will be that the jacket (in an expensive suit) will have the lining and padding sewn in. In a cheap suit, the innards will be glued together. Hence, if you dry clean a cheap suit more than 4-5 times, the lining will tend to bunch up and spoili the fit. So don’t constantly dry clean a cheap suit-just brush it off and hang it up (spot clean it only).
Forget those in-store tailors who do the alterations for free-they will just take the collars and pants in. You need to have a full alteration (sleeves removed and resewn, pants seams resewn. These cost about $120 and are worth every penny.
I gree, once you pass the $800 mark, the laW of diminshing returns comes in to play…a $5000 Brioni suit isn’t all that much better (but the Mafia guys insist on these). Heck, if you really like spending money, find a good tailor and have your suits custom made…you can send your measurements to a London tailor and have a suit made on Bond Street!
Also, avoid flashy brands like Armani…I have found these to be rather cheaply made. The thing I don’tunderstand: why people will pay up to $250 for a ready-made dress shirt? These are no better than a top=line departments store brand.
Well, there’s no accounting for taste. Ha! Get it? Accounting. KPMG.
All I know is that whatever suit Mr. Big on Sex and the City wears is the right kind of suit, and I’m certain that it’s not cheap. 
Haha, and I was going to post a link, but I couldn’t find any good ones. I did find some rather funny images on the “mr big” google search I did. Wow.