Mens Warehouse

[Hondo]

I am wondering has anyone used Mens Warehouse to purchase a suit and how do you feel about it, good, fair or bad? If there was a post made on this, excuse me for missing the thread. I was just curious about Brooks Brothers suits, where to find them, one place mentioned Mens Warehouse, Thanks!

 

[RockBottom]

I am wonder has anyone used MensWarehouse to purchase a suit and how do you feel about it, good, fair or bad? If there was a post made on this, excuse me for missing the thread. I was just curious about Brooks Brothers suits, where to find them, one place mentioned Mens Warehouse, Thanks!

I don't think Brooks Brothers sells anywhere but their own stores and online. They have two different quality levels--what they sell at their main stores and what they sell at their outlet stores.

I own at least half a dozen Brooks Brothers suits and love them, but I'm a great fan of Joseph Banks (also online and many stores). You have to watch for their sales which often don't last long. My last two from them were marked from $1250 down to $295, and $895 down to $195. I recently got a camel hair and a Harris Tweed blazers, one on sale from $495 to $120 and one from $495 to $90.

 

[Tomasso]

They have two different quality levels--what they sell at their main stores and what they sell at their outlet stores.

True, and they have a couple different quality levels at their stores as well.

 

[slicedbread]

I wouldn't recommend Men's Warehouse...

 

[Babydoll]

Neither would I. The Mister had many, many problems with them for Our Big Day.

(PM me if you want details.)

 

[Dr Doran]

I went once. Seller was a bit pushy. I bought a $300 suit of fair quality. I still wear it but it isn't too exciting. I have never paid that much for a suit since, and most of my suits are much better than that one.

 

[scotrace]

Never bought anything there, but went into one once (North Canton, OH). The staff was all over me like, well... a cheap suit! Just didn't see anything that made my socks go up and down.

 

[Dr Doran]

Just didn't see anything that made my socks go up and down.

Yeah, I noticed that they don't carry spring-action sock garters too. I was disappointed.

 

[Patrick Murtha]

I own at least half a dozen Brooks Brothers suits and love them, but I'm a great fan of Joseph Banks (also online and many stores). You have to watch for their sales which often don't last long. My last two from them were marked from $1250 down to $295, and $895 down to $195. I recently got a camel hair and a Harris Tweed blazers, one on sale from $495 to $120 and one from $495 to $90.

I agree wholeheartedly about the Jos. A. Bank sales. Get on their email list, haunt your local store, check the website regularly. You'll get a lot of good buys on stuff of very decent quality. I recently picked up a $595.00 Signature sportcoat for $99.00.

Men's Wearhouse is what it is. I have purchased suits there and felt I did OK for what I paid (sorry if this offends anyone! People at Style Forum might take out hits on me if I admitted this there). One example was a Geoffrey Beene olive minicheck three piece suit; really not bad at all, I'm fond of it. But I'm a fairly sharp-eyed buyer and I take great pains to make sure the fit and alterations are just right, and to accessorize well. It's also true that I live in Northeast Wisconsin and don't have to wear Brioni to impress, as I've mentioned before. The salespeople at Men's Wearhouse are trained to be aggressive, but some of them will also bend over backwards for you (I had one do a nationwide search for a suit I was interested in, and he found it).

I remember a magazine piece (I think it might have been in New York) in which the same Geoffrey Beene as designed my suit was given a few hours at lower-end women's clothing outlets to come up with great outfits for under $100.00. He had terrific fun doing it and put together some very fetching ensembles. He expressed amazement at what you could find if you really knew how to dig. That said, there are probably many more promising places for guys to dig than Men's Wearhouse.

 

[Zemke Fan]

MW...

... avoid at all costs. Moderate (at best) quality. Maximum pressure. Minimal experience.

Much better bet: Nordstrom Rack.

 

[Feraud]

I walked past a Men's Warehouse yesterday and saw a nice single breasted peaked lapel suit in the window. I walk in to browse and the salesmen were all over me. First I get compliments on my outfit then they all want to playy guess my size. I break down and ask about the suit in the window display and they have no idea which suit I am talking about.
They show me a few sbpl but the material is too thin. One exceptionally bright salesman insisted on showing me double breasted suits no matter how many times I told him I have enough of those.
Dollars spent - $0.00!

 

[Patrick Murtha]

... avoid at all costs. Moderate (at best) quality. Maximum pressure. Minimal experience.

Much better bet: Nordstrom Rack.

If you've got one, that's the problem. It's amazing how quickly your local options thin out if you're not near a big city. I feel very lucky to have a Jos. A. Bank in Appleton, otherwise there would not be much here. Two of the three best independent clothiers in nearby Green Bay have gone out of business in the past three years (C.A. Gross and The Haberdasher); only Jason Louis remains. I would kill for a Nordstrom Rack.

 

[John in Covina]

Things change.

Men's Warehouse has changed quite a bit since the first time I went which was maybe 20 years ago. (Maybe a little less.) I got a DB peak lapel tux there and was very happy with the selection price and assistance back then. When they first came out here in Southern California, they were a warehouse type store more so than now. They had store in a strip malls, or on the edge of a bussiness park type location not the fancy indoor type mall. Now they are a fixture in many of the medium to high end malls. As such their rent is much higher and their prices don't ever seem to bee a true Warehouse type store bargin anymore.

I would rather look in the 3 Day Suit Broker for stuff and actually get a better deal on most things as the day to day pricing goes. 3DSB doesn't have the most extraordinary selection at any time but a few visits over say half a year many get you something a little bit more what you are looking for but they hardly have suits with the vintage inspired details we'd all like to see. I have bought dress shirts, Stacy Adams ties, dress socks and a camelhair sports type jacket in the past year. And a few years back a black Double Breasted Peak Lapel suit there. That I had taken in and worn to the QM event so if you look at some or those pix you might just see it.

At MW I did buy the wing collar tux shirt there for the QM Event but as a last resort and it was kinda pricey.

I did get my green DB suit at Roger Stuart clothes in LA and within that area there were numerous men's clothing stores, so should LA be in the plans, you might consider a stroll around that area.

If you have an ordinary physique in an ordinary size check Goodwill type thrift stores and the usual Ebay, you may find a fine vintage suit for a good price. There are a number of threads that cover what to look for in this section.

 

[Orgetorix]

If you need a suit for no more than $150-200, and you need it immediately, and there's no Jos. A Banks near you, and you don't much care about the quality of the fabric or the make, and you aren't planning to wear it often, then Men's Wearhouse might work for you.

If any of the above don't apply, you can get better quality merchandise elsewhere.

I have one suit from MW purchased a few years ago, and it has not held up well at all. I wouldn't recommend them unless someone is looking for a weddings-and-funerals suit and doesn't have much to spend. And even then I probably still wouldn't recommend them.

 

[CharlestonBows]

In suitings, you generally get what you pay for. I shop a lot where I work, naturally, but I shop a lot on the local high street, as well. You really have to know what it is you're after, though. Brooks Bros. makes a nice suit, but it's a very distinct style of make. That being said:

I would first recommend any local specialty retailers ( - strictly unbiased, of course!), assuming they're reputable. Alternative to that, the venerable Brooks Bros. will usually never really lead you astray.

Joseph Banks, eh. Think of it as not quite Brooks Bros. Not bad, but not great either.

The MW -- see above posts.

This is all speaking from the standpoint of garment construction alone, mind you. There is, however, a great premium to be paid for quality, individual service -- this is what really separates the average and good from the very best.

 

[Patrick Murtha]

In suitings, you generally get what you pay for...I would first recommend any local specialty retailers ( - strictly unbiased, of course!), assuming they're reputable...This is all speaking from the standpoint of garment construction alone, mind you. There is, however, a great premium to be paid for quality, individual service -- this is what really separates the average and good from the very best.

Cogent observations, to be sure. However, I think we may take it as likely that a poster who inquires about Men's Wearhouse is apt to have some price sensitivity. And therein lies the rub, because as fervently as I wish local specialty retailers, including the great ones on this board, to stay in business and do well, the brute fact is that they do not have any economies of scale, and are at a distinct disadvantage in competing for the business of those who have price sensitivities. It's like Wal-Mart vs. mom-and-pops -- I hate Wal-Mart, and I love mom-and-pops (at least in theory), but, you know, when push comes to shove...

 

[CharlestonBows]

No doubt, that's a fact. We can only do so much, and hang so many garments. But like I said before, it's all about what it is that you, personally, are looking for.

"Local specialty" doesn't always mean "inordinately expensive," either. I can't speak for others in the trade, but I know that I try to meet a budget if a client gives me one; sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but I always try to help, even if it's just advice. I'm just saying, don't rule local guys out. Depending on the time of year (like now, or after summer) you can often snatch up a bargain.

And I gotta put a good word in for us fellas, too! lol

 

[johnnyphi]

Consignment Stores are Perfect for this Price Range

When I started buying suits, roughly 7 years ago, I started at a Brooks Brothers outlet, and I found a decent "stretch" fabric suit that has worn well over the years, but my best finds were at a Men's consignment store in Dallas. I found 2 Burberry suits in my size (probably from the same original owner), each for $200. I also found a great topcoat for $200. I have worn all of them for 6+ years in DC. I still get compliments.

I'm not talking about thrift stores... I'm talking about legitimate consignment stores. Check them out. I haven't found a good consignment store in DC, but if you can find one in your home town, they can be incredible.

 

[Matt Deckard]

I've been to Mens warehouse several times in the past though never bought anything. Problem I had was the employees not knowing anything about suits or dress clothing. They cary the lower end lines of some brands and if you have he right body shape and can find a good fit you're fine, though if you are looking for a better suit buying experience try Brooks Brothers as suggested above, or even Burlington Coat Factory.

 

[RockBottom]

Joseph Banks, eh. Think of it as not quite Brooks Bros. Not bad, but not great either.

Owning a bunch of both, I think you're generally right but, of course, the high end ones from Banks are better than the mid level ones from BB.

Until the past few years, the lower end Banks ones were imported and the upper end ones were made in the US. Now the top end ones are also from Mexico. Sign of the times I guess.

Banks also carries a somewhat wider range of styles.

I'm a Myrtle Beach native (USC alumnus, father in law Charleston native, etc). I often go to Charleston on photography excursions when I'm down visiting my parents. I'll have to drop in on you.