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Rank em’. Suit Brands under $400

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Here’s how this works.  Look at the options, pick your order, then leave your rankings in the comments section.  Feel free to explain why you placed what where.  This time around it’s three suit brands that either retail for, or with sales applied, can cost under $400.  Rank them by order of preference, with write-ins if you wish.  Your favorite goes #1.
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1. Indochino – Essentials Collection
Prices are up, but their basics are back.

Indochino seems to be a divisive brand.  Some guys swear by them.  Some have had not-so-good experiences.  Forget about the custom aspect for a second.  Instead focus on the fact that they’re one of the few brands to make suits with higher armholes and minimal shoulder padding at this price.  Whether they nail your fit out of the box is almost irrelevant.  If it’s ball park, you should be able to get a perfect fit after your tailor’s tweaks, which Indochino will reimburse you for up to $75.  Lately their prices have gone up, and codes and groupons are all but gone, but their grey, navy, charcoal, and black “essentials” suits are all back in stock for $379.  Or, stand out quietly with their new, amazing looking Shadow Plaid for $399.  Per their quality, there’s this: “Every Indochino suit is made with a full canvas horse hair interlining… hand stitched shoulder seams… and more than 8 hours of needle time spent on your suit.”

 

2. Banana Republic – Tailored fit collection
Better fits and surprisingly nice fabrics

Banana Republic stumbled a few years back when they seemed to drift towards bulky sack style suits.  But after a few partnerships with AMC’s Mad Men, the fit of their suits as well as the quality of their fabrics has made them a go-to for guys on a budget.  They offer two styles of fit.  Stick with the more contoured “tailored” fit which comes with a great off the rack shape.  Some of their fabrics are sourced from Italy and they feel incredible in your hands.  It’s Banana Republic, so play your cards right and you could land one for 30 – 40% off… which should be around $350.

 

3. J. Crew – Ludlow wool suiting & their FACTORY option
Nice suit. Now hand over your arm, leg, & first born.

By far the most aggressive when it comes to styling and high prices.  Thin lapels, a lower button stance, and a higher price makes these unique.  Even during a rare 30% off sale, their Italian Wool suiting is in the mid $400s.  So you’d have to find one in the sale section, and probably during a limited time clearance.  Good thing their cheaper Factory option brings a lot of that Ludlow shape to the table, but sizes and color options are limited there.

Your turn.  Put your ranking of each in the comments below.  Explain why what went where too.  Feel free to write in any other suit brands for around $400 or under that you feel are worth a mention.  Are you a believer in Suit Supply?  Fine with Bonobos Suiting?  It all goes below.  Top photo credit: Tupps

UPDATE:  Guys, take a look at the variety of responses in the comments.  This is a good reminder that everyone has different experiences, different tastes, and different matters of preference when it comes to what you get for what level of investment.  Keep that in mind before making blanket statements about any product, suits or otherwise…

Comments

  1. I would definitely recommend Joseph Abboud or Ben Sherman.  You can pick those up at a Nordstrom Rack for about $300-$400 and they’re great suits.

  2. 1,3,2
    Indochino and JCrew both fit great however everytime I try on a Banana Republic suit jacket there are numerous things that would need tailoring.

  3. 1. J. Crew because I know I like their fit
    2. Indochino while I don’t own one a custom suit for that price is unheard of
    3. Banana Republic

  4. I ordered the BR Tailored Fit Black suit.  I tried on a suit jacket in store for sizing and it fit great.  Ordered the black like I said and while it fit, it just didnt sit right.  The shoulders were awkward and it just seemed cheap.  Although it was extremely comfortable.

    I own a JCrew charcoal suit in Ludlow.  Can’t sing its praise enough. Fit is great and quality is even better.  I really like the pants and the lining.  The coat fits great and was a great fit OTR.  Note, it appears men typically go one size down on the Ludlow.  I measure for a 40S, but wear a 38S in the Ludlow.

    I returned the BR Black suit and custom ordered an Indochino.  The pants are spot on but the jacket was way off.  It came too short (about 2″ shorter than my measurement entered) and I was surprised to see the armholes so off when everyone says how they are typically high.  The armholes are low and to the front.  They sort of melt into the chest and pull when I lift my arms.  I currently have a remake request in with them so I can’t speak for their customer service as of yet.  I am hoping we just need to tweak it a bit to dial it in. 

    I still think the J Crew Ludlow suit is supreme here.  They are really selling some great products as of late.

    1 J Crew – perhaps just because it really fit me great OTR.
    2 Indochino – Just because if the ability to customize just about every detail
    3 BR – Maybe this suit will fit another guy better than me.  Either way, the suit just felt cheaper than the others.  Perhaps it was just that black tailored fit suit I tried out.  Note: The suit jacket I tried on in store was a great looking herringbone.  If I were in the market for one, I would surely rank it higher.

  5. I have three JCrew suits and a few blazers by them and although I did spend more then I probably should have they fit excellent and the quality of the materials seems to be great!

  6. I’ve never tried on the JCrew suit and I’m not a fan on either the BR suit or Indochino.

    BR is alright. But I’m not a faux-retro fan.  Otherwise, the fit is not bad, and the fabric designs are nice.  Quality seems good.  

    Indochino.  Wow, that’s just a $400 headache.  Inexplicable construction and fitting issues aside, who wants to constantly worry if his jacket is going to come un-glued or if getting caught in the rain will dissolve it like toilet paper.

    I’ve recently picked up a slim fit suit from Macy’s, Ralph Lauren, for approx $180 (plus $42 alterations).  It’s a wool-cashmere winter suit.  Flat-front, double vents, and high armholes are my only requirements for suits, and this suit met the first two.   

    Joe, look into Italian made Sartoria Tosi.  Slim traditional Italian cuts, sometimes their suits are too gaudy/flashy, but they always release a few that are very professional and appropriate for any setting.  They are hard to find, but I’ve got a guy who sells them to me between $200-$300.  They are by far the best OTR I’ve ever come across.  Top quality.  Like I said though, hard to find.   

  7. None of the above: Indochino tailoring is terrible (lumpy shoulders, collar gaps, weird silhouette). Banana republic – ok tailoring, but bad construction. J Crew – ok construction and materials, silhouette and lapels way too extreme.
    I would put Arnold Brant as one goo possibiliey for a suit under $400, also Jos A Bank (their slimmer Joseph line). For just a $100 more you can find excellent no brand fully canvassed suits on par with the top brands.

  8. Eh.  The only salvageable item might be the JCrew outfit, but even that’s cutting it close.  For $400, you’re better off heading to ebay and checking for BB, Hickey Freeman, JPress or anything similar on the cheap.  Hell, you might even get lucky and find some higher-end Italian brands or Oxxfords for less.  But don’t blow $400 on something from Banana Republic.

  9. I like the Indochino suit I have, the Essential Gray.
    Fit was spot-on, haven’t had it tailored at all. Looking to grab a charcoal over the winter as I need another suit…

  10. J. Crew is mine (and everybody else’s) favorite for suiting. Just ordered the worsted wool suit. It should be at my house tomorrow.

    For cheaper suits, I tend to like the fit of Zara. Picked one up for a wedding a month back and It looked pretty great (not the highest quality mind you).

    Would totally love to give indochino a chance, but I’m flush with suits at the moment.

  11. indochino does not produce fully canvassed suits; there is fusing *throughout* the entire chest, except the lapels.  As per their own FB page comment:

    “We do not currently offer
    fully-canvassed suits. Instead, the jacket is constructed through our
    unique process by having the lining sewn to the interlining, then the
    interlining is fused to the interfacing.”

  12. I’m actually a fan of the Tommy Hilfiger Slim fit suits sold at Macy’s. I think the assortment of prints/fabrics and the overall quality and cut are great.

  13. I wear a suit to work daily but the jacket comes off ten minutes after I get to my office. So what really matters to me is the suit pant. I have nine pairs of indochino suit pants and three jackets that match those nine pants. With discounts I paid about $85 each for each custom pant and they blow my mind every day. Fully lined, they’re much more comfortable and, obviously, tailored than the Brooks Brothers and DKNY suits currently also in rotation.

    For those saying the essential Indochino doesn’t compare to higher end jackets – no $#!* sherlock. Compare apples to apples and get a higher end Indochino suite. I got the first Indochino Nash suite for weddings and partying and it’s a solid notch above the essentials – mainly in the felt and lining.

    I’d also argue that as a new company the offerings are changing so fast that it’s hard to know exactly what you’re getting – which isn’t necessarily good. It’s a lottery, which isn’t the case with other suits mentioned in either the comments or the post. On the other hand, every time I’ve thrown the dice I’ve been happy with what I rolled.

  14. Have you had good luck with J Bank? I purchased a couple during buy 1 get 2 as seemed an awesome deal, but really just haven’t been happy with quality or fit (even after tailoring)

  15. My go-to suit is a tailored fit from Banana Republic that I bought a year or so ago. It’s a mid-grey glen check, fits like a glove, and garners compliments every time I wear it (especially since everyone else’s suit is always black, charcoal, or navy blue). It’s hella expensive for the $500 retail price, but any smart shopper at one of the GAP stores knows to wait for those elusive 35-40% discounts before pulling the trigger on a big ticket item. It’s a bargain for the $300ish I paid for it.

    I can’t buy “standard” suits from conventional suit makers, not only because they are never fitted or slim enough (and as a 36R I cannot simply size down), but also because I can’t wear a suit that doesn’t come as separates. Even through the jackets are always too large, the included pants are inevitably too small for my tree trunk-like thighs. I need the freedom to either get custom-made, or to at least independently pick my jacket and pant sizes.

    I hate when people go on about how BR or J.Crew suits are “poor quality” and we should go to Brooks Brothers instead. Suits vs. suit separates issues aside – Sorry, but I wear a suit so I can look sharp and professional, not so I can revel in the construction of the suit. I don’t care how well-made it is, if it looks like a sad sack on me, it’s not worth the price of driving to the store to look at it. If I get something from Brooks Brothers or the like, it will be something I find thrifted and can AFFORD to have tailored. I’m not going to shell out $1000+ for a suit that doesn’t already fit me to perfection.

    I think whenever I buy a next suit it will be a J.Crew Ludlow. I’ve heard tons of good things about them. Though, to be honest, if J.Crew Factory ever puts out the Thompson in my size, I will be all over that one.

  16. Why no love for SuitSupply?  Free international shipping world-wide WITH a return UPS label.  No duties.  Amazing quality (indistinguishable from Armani, according to a Parsons professor).  Am I the only one in-the-know?

  17. totally agree!  i started buying some BR suits b/c they discount so heavily and just haven’t been as happy as the JCrew suiting given the price discount.  I don’ thave any personal experience with Indochino but hear it’s good stuff.

  19. Why no H&M?? Their suits are $250 and fit a slimmer guy like me very well off the rack. I’ve never actually tailored a suit from them and I’ve owned 3 or 4 over the years. I worked at Nordstrom in those things for years and never had an issue with quality or durability even though I was dry-cleaning them more than one typically would clean a suit. Great value!

  20. “Inexplicable construction and fitting issues aside, who wants to
    constantly worry if his jacket is going to come un-glued or if getting
    caught in the rain will dissolve it like toilet paper.” 

    I…uh… don’t worry about that.  Everything is ship shape for me so far.  And again, completely noted that there is a HUGE variety of responses / experiences when it comes to Indochino.

  21. I can say that without a doubt, J. Crew is not my favorite for suiting.  So, your “everybody else’s” comment seems to be inaccurate :)

  22. I as well.  Wish they’d reduce their shoulder padding by like 50% though (for at least my frame).  Price is tough to beat.

  23. #1 BR
    #2 Indochino
    #3 J. Crew

    I’ve also had good experience with Bonobos- excellent fit, fabric, and customer service.  My only gripe is they don’t have three-piece suits. Even so, I’d take Bonobos before J. Crew and their bazillion dollar fashion model suits.

  25. Alfani Red is a pretty good buy. You can get a suit for a little over 200 bucks when Macys has their 1 day sales. Need to be tailored a bit, but overall, not a bad buy.

  26. I’ve had so many terrible experiences with Jos A Bank.  I see one of their sales, hear about their slim fit line, so I pop in there occasionally and always have the same complaints.  Staff won’t listen to what I want (try and give me a long when I as for regular), act like I don’t know what I’m talking about, and do a poor job tailoring.  You’re better off going to Macy’s or something during a one day sale and picking up a suit on sale. 

    I found a great Tommy Hilfiger there for under $300 during a sale and it’s my favorite piece in my wardrobe now.

  30. Last tailored suit I bought was from Thick As Thieves…and it was fully canvassed. About the same price as Indochino, based in L.A. outsourced to Asia for suit construction. 

  31. As a diversion, may I humbly suggest eBay? 

    If you find out your fit in a regular store and then shop on eBay you can get a Zegna or Armani suit for the prices listed above.  And most of the listings show the actual chest, length and sleeve sizes in the descriptions anyway. 

    I’ve bought clothing from eBay and you really can get a bargain.  It goes without saying that you have to check the seller’s ratings to ensure you’re not getting a fake, but if it’s a power seller with say, over 1,000 sales, and a > 99% rating I think you’re on to a winner. 

    Example:  enter this text in the search window:
    (“Ermenegildo Zegna”, Armani, “Hugo Boss”) (suit,jacket,blazer) 48L

    The parentheses mean any of entries, so the search above will show all size 48L suits, jackets or blazers made by Ermenegildo Zegna, Armani or Hugo Boss.

    You can then refine the search by looking for new only, or buy it now only so you don’t have to bid.

    Do a bit of research into the various levels of quality with each designer (eg. Armani Jeans vs Georgio Armani vs Armani Collezioni) and you’re on your way.

    Anybody else have success with eBay?

  32. I think it’s ridiculous for the money that a nice suit costs that many companies won’t let you get the jacket and pants in the respective sizes you need. There shouldn’t even need to be a concept of ‘separates’….I don’t see any reason for a company to force you to buy pants that don’t fit to get a jacket that fits or vice versa when they could easily at no loss of profit simply let you substitute whatever size you need, assuming it is a size they carry of course.

    Maybe some companies do allow this, I’m not sure, but if they don’t I wouldn’t buy a suit from them.

  34. For me the JCrew is the only one worth buying.  Indochino is too much of a crap shoot.  I’ve purchased 4 suits from indochino and only one actually looks good.  Plus there is such a variation from suit to suit even with the same measurements.  As for the BR suits, I am not a fan at all.  Their suits are bulky and they feel terribly stiff.  All that being said if you are going to spend 400+ on the JCrew (The charcoal grey is one of my favorite suits I own), you might as well spend a few extra bucks and get a truly custom made suit from Astor & Black.  I have purchased a few suits from this company and I have nothing but positive things to say.  Their entire process is extremely thorough and convinient (they come to your location).  Its just like having your own personal suit maker.  I believe their low end suits (which does not imply low quality) are $500 to $600.  With that you pick from a pretty good selection of fabrics and patterns.  So for $600 you get a custom suit with tons of options to make your suit truly one of a kind (custom linings, working button holes, button colors, ticket pockets, high or low button stance, peak or notch lapels and many other options I cant think of right now).  I live in Las Vegas and the Astor & Black clothier’s name is Ronald Smith he is brilliant.  I will never buy another suit off the rack.  Check out their website at http://astorandblack.com/.  Just to be clear, I do not work for Astor & Black.  I just really appreciate a great quality suit that is fairly priced.  Take it for what its worth. 

  35. I don’t really like any of the suits pictured. The J. Crew factory suit that Joe reviewed looks interesting, but they never seem to have my size in stock (38R). Here’s a link to his review:

    http://dappered.com/2011/08/in-person-the-j-crew-factory-suit/

    The one suit that I own was handmade by a company in Chicago back when Marshall Field’s was still around on State St. I also own two American-made tuxedos that are at least ten years old.

    I wish Bonobos would design suits with a better silhouette, a lower button stance, and lapels that weren’t thinner than my thumb. Seriously. They’re really, really narrow.

  36. I don’t know anything about therm, but I went to their FB page and noticed they are having a $250 off sale thru today. Not for me at the moment, but maybe someone will find it useful. EDIT: I looked at the fine print and you have to spend $1500 to get that deal………

  37. I’m most comfortable doing some eBay thrifting because my tailor is nothing short of a magician.

    For MTM (made to measure) I always use Tailor4less.com and sauf some exception I’ve been pretty happy with their work.
    Paul Fredrick is my other go to.

    And of course there’s always Gilt…

  38. Does anyone have experience with Michael Kors suits? I’ve tried some one and the jacket fit was amazing; high arm holes, nice tapper of the rack, and everything just fell nicely. The pants kind of missed on the slim fit as they may have had a slight taper at the ankles? I could live with it I suppose, the price was right, but any words on quality? Can’t seem to find much info with a google search.

    Thanks

  39. I’ve tried a few on and I think the fabric quality is much better than say, an Alfani Red.  But usually they’re priced a bit higher if I remember correctly.  Not $400 on sale higher, but higher than an Alfani Red.  As far as construction goes, that’s tough to know unless you’re wearing it all the time…

  40. No love for Kenneth Cole! I have three KC suits and have never had problems with them. Nice tailored fit that fits and (imo) looks better than any other suit I’ve ever had- including Jcrew, Banana and the ever-problematic J Banks. You get a steal on them at Overstock.

  41. I got married in a Kenneth Cole.  I think the key there is to stick with Kenneth Cole New York.  REACTION is all poly.  Also, try not to dry clean those suckers much, because the fusing can really start to let go over time.  And great call on Overstock.  You can get those for a song there.

  42. I think you’d really like that FACTORY one.  I tried a 38 and returned it.  Now that they’re as rare as they are, I wish I would have kept it…

  43. It has to do with quality control. Higher-end suit makers want their suit jackets to match the pants exactly. The only way for them to ensure this is to make them from the same batch of fabric from the supplier. Fabrics are dyed in batches, so try as they might, suppliers cannot guarantee that one batch will perfectly match the next.

    Their way of guaranteeing pants from Batch A are sold with a jacket from Batch A is to “nest” them (sell them as a pair). The sizes are determined by “average” proportions. An “average” man’s chest is six inches larger than his waist which is why a six inch drop is common, although seven or even eight inch drops can be found in athletic cuts.

  44. I wear three Alfani Red suits at least once a week. I’ve had the oldest two for at least 3 yrs now. That’s pretty durable for a $250 three-piece suit. I have been very satisfied with Alfani Red suits. Although the armholes aren’t as high as I’d like, they nail everything else for me.

  45. I have the J Crew Factory Thompson Suit. I love the fit of it. It’s the best fitting off the rack suit I’ve ever tried on. My only issue with it is that the fabric is on the thin side making it feel a little flimsy. However, that’s me being picky. No one else is going to notice that, and I’ve gotten loads of compliments on it.

  47. Is that a knock against J Crew, or simply because there are obviously more expensive brands that are better? 😉

    I’m in the market for a new suit (in the under $300 range), and I’m looking at J Crew’s Factory Suit, Alfani Red, or Express. In terms of fit/quality, how do those all rank?

  48. Check out Tallia which is available at only certain Macy’s stores (like herald square).  Really slim cuts and decent prices.  Which more stores would carry them. 

  49. Their return policy says it must be shipped back within 14 days of their ship date.  They have no phone number. I put in a remake request and only received the automated email afterward.  Two inquiry messages on their website and still no reply.  I’m going to be pissed if Indochino doesn’t fix this.  I can deal with the armhole issues as that is sort of a moving target.  But when my jacket length is in their system at 28.5″ and they ship me a 27″ jacket that rides above my rear end there is no excuse. 

    I am supposed to wear this on New Years. 

  52. I was going to say the same thing – and indeed about Zegna in particular.   I can grab a killer suit for a couple hundred bucks, less than 300 with some small tailoring adjustments, that is of much higher quality than what I can buy for that price new.  Who cares if it’s used?  

  53. I own one and tried to own a second before giving up after three remakes.  The remake attempts were literally lopsided.  No tailor in the world can fix that.  The first one is on constant deathwatch.  The fabric on my first wears very thin.  I’m afraid the dry cleaner will kill it.  Afraid.

  55. I get along with the idea of Indochino quite well.  Angie is a sweetheart.  No denying that.

  57. Before I buy my next suit, I’m going to wait to hear what people think of Bonobos suiting.  With all of the half off deals, I bet I could get it well below $400 and, even though the fit of their jeans was a failure to me, I’d be willing to bet that they nail the fit of the suit pants.  The jacket is what I’m curious about.  Anyone?

  58. I’ve unfortunately got to give it up again to J Crew. Their fit suits my body type extremely well. I wear it untailored except for the sleeves, and the fit is very good. I have wanted to try indochino for some time, but I’ve been too chicken. I’ll pull the trigger one of these days.

  61. Yup.  I have a Super 150s ‘Suit Up’/Sienna.  Absolutely amazing.  By far the nicest suit I own, among my Indochino, Boss, Hickey, and Strellson.  Can’t believe it was only $639, including duties (which Suit Supply absorbed).

  62. I agree with Ad, Macy’s regularly has sales on Tommy Hilfiger suits which come in a tailored fit.  Especially for someone shorter and with a smaller build such as myself, Tommy Hilfiger does a great job and I’ve never paid over $300.

  63. Bought an Indochino suit. Worst investment of my life. Rather go to Banana Republic and get it altered… Or buy a real custom suit at double the price.. Indochino is a waste of time and money

  64. Indochino may look good from pictures but trust me….not a good investment…buttons fell of my suit first time I wore it….Emailed them, and apparently it was “worn,” so I couldn’t get a remake or a refund.. 

  65. Stay away from Indochino. Ordered a tie, and found out it was polyester…not even silk…the suit didn’t fit me, and the alterations cost me more than $75. Indochino ended up saying that the measurements were my fault ! And I had to pay the alterations myself !!!

  66. Really? My Indochino suit was terrible…. Def not worth the money I spent on it, and they wouldn’t offer me a refund…. 

  67. I’m surprised Alfani Red didn’t make the list!  All of my suits are Alfani Red…nice slim fit and only thing that I ever need to do is hem the trousers and that’s it…36S jacket is a perfect fit everytime.

  68. I haven’t seen any suits that aren’t half polyester at H&M. Great fit, but you get what you pay for in terms of materials.

  69. Shamefully, I don’t actually own a suit right now–the last time I bought a suit I was 22, and, well, it fit like shit. I gave it to a thrift store when I rediscovered it in my closet. But I DID just buy a J Crew 18-wale corduroy blazer for 25% off, and it fits like a friggin’ DREAM. Doesn’t need any tailoring at all, not even the sleeves. And that’s just a size “medium.” It was really, really hard not to buy the Ludlow fit English birds-eye tweed for 30% off, but I don’t actually need a suit, and therefore couldn’t justify spending $450 on one. Or even $413 for the plain’ ol Italian wool.

    But I really, really, really wanted to.

  70. I have had multiple wonderful experiences with Indochino. I got two suits and six shirts and Im a happy camper. Customer service was amazing. Had a few issues and they fixed them stat.

  72. It’s http://www.elitesuits.com for me. Take you pick from suit at $149 for the cheapie polyester blends up to over $2,000 for some of their semi-bespoke suits with top label fabric.Their $249 suits are the same as the Indochino suits selling for $379.

    I started with the $249, tweaked the measurements went up to a $499 now I’ve tweaked the measurements even further and ordered one at $1299.

    It’s a great way to get a fantastic suit and a very good price