New DB Suit, for $70

[MrZootSuit]

I have been looking around all the stores in my area for a double breasted pinstripe suit with no luck at all, even in just plain patterns, so I tryed the internet. And I didn't find much that looked good in my price range untill I tried amazon and found this one. Now I haven't bought many suits to begin with so I was a little nevrous about buying it with out trying it on, but it was only $70 + $12 shipping (had to go from CA to NJ), so I decided what the heck and bought it. Five days later it arrived and I was shocked, the fit was perfect and looks and feels great! It's by Giorgio Cerruti, and is 65% Polyester and 35% Viscose, the jacket has four pockets on the inside which I love, (the more pockets the better right?) and the pants are unhemmed, something I had not had taken care of at the time I took the picture.

 

[Edward]

Interesting lining, though I don't expect you'll find many takers in these parts for a non-natural fibre suit. How high are the armholes?

 

[Forgotten Man]

The cut looks nice; I think you did a good job for $70. My self, I'm not a fan of Polyester (just ask anyone here lol) but, I think if you cuff'em up nicely (1 3/4" cuff would be perfect) and not have too much of a break at the cuff, then the pants would have a very fluid smooth line and would appear to be a very sharp appearance!

You'd want the pant hem to just touch the top of the shoe, and have them hemmed straight and not taper back to the heel of the shoe. This would allow for a modest break in the crease and that's what you'd want.

Enjoy it, it looks like it'll be a very powerful look! Also, as a side note, depending on your taste, I would suggest a more playful pocket square treatment then the late 50s "TV Square" style. A fluf fold would probably look pretty sharp with that power suit.

 

[Widebrim]

Ditto what others have said. The suit looks sharp enough in the top photo. As regards the pocket square, I would also choose a color other than white. If you're wearing that particular tie, then a reddish pocket square would compliment it well.

 

[Slim Portly]

Great look. As stated, cuff the pants and have fun with the pocket square. Personally I would sew in suspender buttons, or if you aren't comfortable sewing have a tailor or seamstress do it for you. Mine would charge six dollars, but that I can do myself (plus my grandmother would roll over in her grave were I to pay someone to sew on a button).

 

[MrZootSuit]

Yeah I'm not a big fan of polyester either but it was cheap, and it doesn't feel too much like most polyester suits I've seen. Also I'm on the move a lot (college student) and I wanted something that can take a beating and not look too bad, or be greif stricken if something should happen to it. The armholes are about 20-24 inches up from the bottom, can't say for sure don't have a tape measure handy. Still looking for a good tailor that doesn't charge an arm and leg to get the work done at. Not sure how I feel about suspenders, but that might be helped with my next paycheck. I was also thinking about a Humphrey Bogart/Sam Spade type hat, but alas no local places to find/try one on.

It's more of a "starter suit" for me, and as for the pocket square, I don't currently own one, but that will be changing soon, I hope. I just folded up a tissue so the pocket would show up a bit, my camera and lighting skills need a bit of work. Not sure if it's a power suit, although a few of my friends asked if I was going to start wacking wiseguys. lol

 

[Cigarband]

As Will Boehlke said in his blog “A Suitable Wardrobe”, it’s not acceptable to be insecure about when it’s OK to wear a pocket square. It’s always OK. If a man is wearing a jacket with an open breast pocket, the pocket should have a square in it.

A well dressed man should always have a pocket square, generally complimenting the colors of his outfit, but never repeating a pattern. A white linen or silk square (depending on the texture of the rest of our outfit) almost always looks stylish, and a good quality pocket square helps the wearer achieve that elegant look between flamboyant and plain.

A gentleman would not use a pocket square as a handkerchief and would never put it back in his pocket if he did. A second cotton handkerchief carried in an inside pocket can answer for any such functions.

To which I would add: A true Silk pocket square is only about half a big as a standard cotton handkerchief. This so that it doesn’t push out the breast pocket as originally worn.
Originally in this case being “as a complimentary accent and not as a formal addition to the ensemble. Thus: Place the pocket square fully opened upon a flat surface. With the first four fingers of the right hand, gather (pinch) the material in the center of the square, lift the square off the surface and allow to hang down. Now turn the hand palm up while continuing to allow the square to hang down. Now thrust the gathered end of the square into the breast pocket all the way to the bottom. Arrange the displayed ends of the square in a pleasing and nonchalant manner and voila!, your ensemble is complete."

Translated from “The Boulevardier” Henri Ruchard, Paris 1903

 

[Dan D]

The Pocket Handkerchief

I agree with CigarBand: and there is a plethora of articles about the wearing of them here that readers might find useful. I subscribe to the idea that most clothing should be functional: indeed, the longevity of many items of clothing now thought 'classic' owe their continued existence to this very idea, I think; hence I prefer a cotton handkerchief that can swiftly be called into service - did I mention I have two small children with pre-dispositions towards exciting and lavish mess-making activities at meal-times ?! But I can see the appeal of silk squares as well.

 

[Edward]

The armholes are about 20-24 inches up from the bottom, can't say for sure don't have a tape measure handy. Still looking for a good tailor that doesn't charge an arm and leg to get the work done at.

Stylistically, it's much more on the money than what I (and probably many) folks here started off with, so good call in that department!

As to the armholes, I could have been clearer.... Most round here prize armholes on suits which follow the vintage style of being quite high and tightish at the armpit while in wear. Though slightly harder to don than the common, modern jacket cut which has a much bigger armhole at the top end, they are much more comfortable in wear, and allow one to lift one's arms up without near enough the whole jacket riding up around one's shoulders. Personally, I find the optimum height to be in the region of 1" between the armpit and the underarm of the jacket, when worn.

If the only alteration you need done is the trousers taking up, that's not a specialist job - any decent dry cleaners should be able to sort that out for you, for a modest fee. Re hats.... check out the forum, you'll soon find some advice. Akubras are highly recommended as a starter hat. They even have a model known as the Bogart, though for my money, if looking for something along the lines of the Maltese Falcon hat, I'd opt for an Akubra Federation from Hatsdirect.com, in the moonstone grey colour. You'll have to shape it yourself, but really that's not as scary as it seems.

With some good, well-chosen accessories, this suit will serve you well as a starter. also, keep an eye on eBay for vintage examples. eBay and charity stores are great places for accumulating wardrobe staples!

 

[GBR]

You will have got what little you paid for but if you are happy with it that is all that matters.

The concept of a fused suit suit from man-made fibres will find little favour here or more generally. To discuss the finer points of fit is irrelevant and unfair to you.

On the opoint you make on more pockets, yes is general answer but only if you use them and don't get tempted to fill them for its own sake.

 

[Dr Doran]

It's a good (or great) starter and you'll move up from here! Bravo.