Jos Bank Suit, suitable for interview or not?

[Guttersnipe]

Good lord. This is starting to sound like American Psycho. (which, by the by, has some interesting sartorial commentary, should one be so inclined...)

If you think about, any organization is like that in it's own way. Financials tend to have organizational culture that favor very expensive clothes of a certain ilk. My cousin is a marketing exec a really prominent LA firm and ther the opposite. It's all about ironic hipster street style suits (you know, loud bow ties, high water slacks, and beards for days). Another friend of mine is at a firm that likes trendy jeans and the euro look. Both places are just as persnickety, in there own ways.

 

[1961MJS]

Yep, organizations tend to have a culture (or a specific lack thereof). The aerospace place where I work used to have a dictate stating that our management had to wear a sport coat, shirt, and NO tie. My comment that "you look like you've just left Happy Hour and it's nine in the morning." was NOT appreciated. Don't know why????

Later

 

[Edward]

Bet he was plenty glad to be gone from Merrill a couple years back! My first day out of seminary, I showed up at work in what I presumed to be a perfectly acceptable example of suiting, perhaps one of those JAB numbers though I can't remember anymore, only to have my boss laugh me out of his office. He immediately called one of the men on our vestry, informing him that his new associate was in need of "a proper suit of clothes." An appointment was made for me with that gentleman's tailor, and I got my first (and only) MTM suit purely gratis. I think it's a Greenfield. Talk about persnickety. The joys of the Episcopal Church.

Jinkies.... persnickety, yes, but I'd love somebody to take offence at my clothes if it meant being sent for a M2M suit! Ever tempted to turn up in a first century, Middle Eastern costume and then say "Well, if it was good enough for Jesus..." lol

Yep, organizations tend to have a culture (or a specific lack thereof). The aerospace place where I work used to have a dictate stating that our management had to wear a sport coat, shirt, and NO tie. My comment that "you look like you've just left Happy Hour and it's nine in the morning." was NOT appreciated. Don't know why????

Later

Interesting.... any reason given for lack of tie? Is it a health and safety thing (are you near machinery at work where a regular four i hand could be a hazard?), or simply a "we're such a cool company, we don't allow ties" affectation?

 

[overlord4215]

I have to put on a uniform at work so suits are not an issue . However i would like to know how you can tell a good vintage suit and new one without putting it on ?

 

[avedwards]

I have to put on a uniform at work so suits are not an issue . However i would like to know how you can tell a good vintage suit and new one without putting it on ?

There are plenty of threads about that, but mostly it's the stylistic elements and specific features. Most suits made between the 30s and 50s had wide legged, high waisted trousers with cuffs. Jackets often had more padded shoulders and until about 1953 had wider lapels than todays suits. American suits also have union labels which can help when dating them.

It really just takes experience with suits though. You know what you're looking for after you've handled enough suits.

 

[Guttersnipe]

I have to put on a uniform at work so suits are not an issue . However i would like to know how you can tell a good vintage suit and new one without putting it on ?

I would say that cloth is the biggest giveaway. Details like lapel width, the relative boxiness or trimness of jacket cut, and armhole height have fluctuated over the last 20 years. However, tightly knit 6-8oz superfines, meant for year round wear, have been a consistent since the 80s whereas, with older suits, 12-16oz. fabrics were used depending on season.

Most of the folks I work with can spot a 70s, 80s, or 90s suit pretty easily, which is why I shy away from even attempting vintage in the workplace.

 

[Doc Smith]

Ever tempted to turn up in a first century, Middle Eastern costume and then say "Well, if it was good enough for Jesus..."

Depending on the firm, this sounds like a good way to get crucified.

 

[1961MJS]

... Interesting.... any reason given for lack of tie? Is it a health and safety thing (are you near machinery at work where a regular four i hand could be a hazard?), or simply a "we're such a cool company, we don't allow ties" affectation?

Hi

In aerospace we're "professional" yet casual. "We don't have time to waste worrying about who's wearing what..." That sort of thing I guess. One our our company presidents always signed his memos Bob, not Robert A. Smith, not even Bob Smith, just Bob. The whole no ties deal was just for management, us peons could wear what we liked. Of course that did lead to some interesting conversations. We had a programmer who wore T-shirts, shorts, and flip-flops year round (in Wichita KS, where it gets well below freezing in Winter). The whole USAF group come to a meeting wearing Hawaiian shirts, shorts and flip-flops and said the were just dressing like us. Our management was not amused.... The T-shirt guy moved to Koch Industries, which is VERY stuffy, I've wondered how that worked out.

Later

 

[filfoster]

JAB do not offer custom tailored suits.

That was also my understanding. I am an 'off the rack' fit, with their jacket (43L) and trouser (32 w) separates so don't have to go that route.

 

[filfoster]

Depending on the firm, this sounds like a good way to get crucified.

The retirement plan was not what most of us want.