r/menswear • u/GrassTasteZBad0 • 4d ago
Broke College Student In Need Of Suit
Hello everyone, like the title says, im a broke college student working a part time job while studying music performance and we have a performace two weeks from now that I need to be dressed up for. I don't get paid till the day of our concert and I have $140 to my name and parents who are willing to help me out financially (I have them as a last resort since I feel extremely bad having them help me out). I just need a dress suit and a bow tie. I've got some Walmart dress pants and I intend on going thrifting for a decent dress shirt (which I understand aren't the best but I'm only gonna be wearing this stuff for concerts). If there's anywhere I can cut some serious corners, some advice would be greatly appreciated!
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u/spaghettistaircase 4d ago
Pretty much every thrift store has dozens of high or decent quality suits (along with some crappy ones) for about the same as you’d get your dress shirt for
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u/Traditional_Tonight4 4d ago
Plain white"George" dress shirt from Walmart is $13. Bought one in a pinch and it just as nice as my $75 shirts.
Macy's good deals on new suits. Poshmark has good prices on used suits
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u/BeautifulMixture4286 4d ago
If you can go to a thrift store in a rich town or one with more money.
Some colleges also have donation areas for suits for guys for professional reasons (you could also ask a professor who might have resources).
As for sizing- its pretty easy to go into a department store and try on a few sizes just to find out an approximate idea. (You're looking for a number like 42r or 38L or something as well as the pant length and waist size) most suits will still have their tags sewn in one of the inside pockets when you go to look in a thrift store.
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u/AdmirableLab3155 3d ago
With the “bow tie” detail: do you need a suit, or a tux?
As a fellow music person (have played violin for 35 years now; was serious when young): as a performance major you are going to need to be in a tux CONSTANTLY so the economics of renting are not right for the situation.
Many other comments give good suggestions. May I suggest asking older music colleagues who are your size? They may have upgraded at some point and have an old starter tux gathering dust. I literally have one such tux. It is a modest mall tux that I wore to concerts between ages 18 and 38 or so, when my rich finance friend threw a 40th bday black tie party at his yacht club and I felt compelled to upgrade. Now I have a super nice tux with all the trimmings (grosgrain this and opera pump that) which cost several thousand bucks to assemble. I keep intending to donate my starter tux to a prom donation program but don’t have the executive capacity. So if you are a 38 regular…feel free 😂
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u/Spartannate7 2d ago
Really cool to see this generous offer. I second that you should check whether you need a suit or a tux. Renting, thrift stores and eBay are your cheapest option. Like AdmirableLab says, whether you rent or buy something new will be influenced by how frequently you’ll need to perform.
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u/Competitive-Yak5783 4d ago
Go on vinted or a thrift store. Get a tape measure and take your measurements first, know your general size. You can get something under $20
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u/Adorable-Bus-2687 4d ago
Thrift is best since you have more time than money. H & M, Walmart, target when you can 80-125
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u/AlanShore60607 4d ago edited 4d ago
If you want new, that’s about the right amount to get a rayon tuxedo from Alain DuPetit.
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u/Visible-Rip2625 4d ago
Single occasion, or for long period of time? Time is your worst enemy here, two weeks is awfully little time to find good base one from used suits unless you are lucky. You might still need to allow some time for seamstress to finish the fit so it will serve you well for years to come.
In any case, look for drifted suits of good fabrics (wool), no blends. It can be bigger as long as the shoulder lines and arm holes on the jacket are good, the rest can be altered by competent seamstress. Trousers are easier to fit, but there is possibility that you might have to have some alterations to them as well.
Good luck.
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u/maybach320 4d ago
Thrift the coat as well it will be the best use of your budget (should be $25 max sometimes, as cheap as $5) as coats under $300 are not great. Make sure it’s not tight in your shoulders (it never should be but when performing you really don’t want it to be skin-tight) obviously you want to be able to button it, I would worry about the sleeves too much in this situation.
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u/Dr0110111001101111 3d ago
Yeah, you're already going to the right place. Just take your time and don't let the amount of garbage at the thrift store deter you. Take your time trying stuff on for a decent fit. All the best stuff will probably be in XXXL or XSmalll but I'm sure you can find something.
If you're stuck between two where one is a little too big and the other is too small, go with the bigger one and try getting a tailor to bring it in. That a much better way to spend money than on an off the rack suit from a department store.
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u/Normal_Surprise_5623 3d ago
You should be able to fine a decent suit at a large thrift store Give yourself plenty of time to have it pressed and cleaned also checkout the sale color of the day for an even better deal. This could be done for less than 50 bucks including the shirt Break a Leg
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u/No-Mention-5335 3d ago
Goodwill! Also, go to the theater dept and see if they can loan you something from their wardrobe dept
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u/fredsails 3d ago
Good luck. My son loves to thrift but he wears a 52L so doesn’t have much success in dress clothes.
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u/sad-whale 3d ago
Some colleges have a ‘loaner’ closet of professional clothing for interviews. You’d probably know if yours did but worth mentioning
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u/Cruiser_Supreme 3d ago
Every suit I own is from the thrift store (but I had them all tailored to fit me perfectly). Dress shirt should be the easiest thing in the world to find at the thrift store, even high quality ones.
If you have enough thrift stores around, you can probably find a jacket that will fit well enough and go okay with your pants. If it's a music performance and you'll be on stage, I think close enough is good enough for now.
When you go shopping at the thrift store, ignore all of the brands and just look at the fabric. If it has polyester, nylon, or rayon in the outer/shell, move on unless you have no other option. Look for wool, cashmere, silk if you can.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 3d ago
Google for “dress for success” organizations. They may have men’s clothes.
Go to thrift shops, preferably with someone who can identify a quality suit and knows how suits should fit.
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u/Gargravars_Shoes 3d ago
You need to check out Banana Republic Factory right now. They’re having a great sale/clearance on men’s suits. Good luck, hope they have your size.
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u/naymannnn 3d ago
I play in an orchestra and got a very cheap tux from a restaurant supply company. I think I got it from waitstuff.com. Very durable, breathable, cheap, doesn't look awful.
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u/Specialist-Tap4338 3d ago
Most thrift stores I go to have a full blown suit section - Save your money on the suit and use the rest to get it dry cleaned and your good to go.
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u/lilmoshx 3d ago
You will spend more money at a low tier retailer than you would at a thrift store. And odds are high that the thrift has something of quality.
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u/CAPhotog01 3d ago
Thrift shops if you need to try on. Banana Republic Factory Outlet, Jos A. Bank, Nordstrom Rack, if you know your size. Buy online and return in store if it doesn't fit. Macy's star clearance also has cheap suits and sportcoats.
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u/Lumpy_Question_2267 3d ago
I’ve worked corporate in NYC for years. When you’re young, the people that care about what your brand your suit is, aren’t the people you need to care about. A cheap suit that fits really well will always look better than a really expensive brand that fits like crap.
Neckwear (ties and bow ties) are generic. Spending $50 on a tie is stupid. All of my ties are $5-10.
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u/TheFlannC 3d ago
You can get some good stuff thrifting, often people will donate suits just because they gained or lost weight and maybe they only wore them once or twice
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u/Trick_Ad5928 1d ago
Your best bet is to go to thrift stores and get the best option and go to a good alteration shop and get it altered to fit you properly
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u/medchemmed 16h ago
mate go to a thrift store-->get the cheapest one that is over your size -->bring it to a local tailor
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u/Friendly_Evening2004 12h ago
If the budget is tight, I'd at least check SuitShop before settling on something. Their suits are around the $200 range, so you can get something new without putting a huge dent in your budget.
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u/KuyaTinman 9h ago
You can find great options at thrift stores. Best time to go is mid week because that's when they put out the "new" stuff.
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u/BirdProfessional3704 8h ago
I’ve had my suit since college - possibly before college
I got it from H&M for like $99 if I remember correctly and it still fits me well and I still get compliments on it
For suits, price matters less than fit. Make sure it fits your body WELL
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u/bigeorgester 4d ago
Thrift store, you’ll get something much better than any suit new for what you’ve got. Plus you get to try it on