Doing something I'd hoped to avoid my entire life.

[Sindawe]

That being buying a ...suit... <<<shudder>>>  The only one I've ever owned was a hand-me-down from my Uncle 30+ years ago.  However, employment circumstances look to be forcing the issue, since I'll most likely be seeking gainful employment again and will need to make good visual impressions while talking up my skills and avoiding launching into wild eyed rants about tyrannical government, illegal aliens and the general bliss-ninny attitude of the American populace.

I suspect I should stick with more traditional patterns (type of suit) and darker colors.  Those who wear these garments routinely, any suggests on what to steer for and what to avoid?  /now I wish I'd bought that power tie I saw years ago, that featured fighting elephant seals highlighted with red silk flecks to mimc flying blood...*sigh*

[Monkeyleg]

I started a suit thread a week or so ago.

Go for a suit that will look timeless: gray, with medium-width lapels. Go for a single-breasted rather than double-breasted suit. I love double-breasted suits, but they come and go in terms of style.

Three-piece suits likewise come and go, although they're never completely out of style.

Don't buy a suit at a department store. You'll pay twice as much as what the suit is worth.

Check out second-hand clothing stores. You just may find a suit that almost fits you, and for a very reasonable price. For a few dollars more, a tailor can make the suit look like a million bucks.

And, now, I'll leave to responses from people who dress better than I do.

[Harold Tuttle]

http://clothing.listings.ebay.com:80/Mens-Clothing_Suits_W0QQfclZ3QQfromZR11QQsacatZ3001QQsocmdZListingItemList

[roo_ster]

Two words: Men's Wearhouse

Sindawe, you sound like their perfect customer: a guy who hates to shop for clothes, especially formal wear.

They know and cater to your type.  If you follow thier advice, you'll end up looking very sharp. 

Not the cheapest, but then, the cheapest stores are staffed by knuckleheads & you'll look like a burlap sack with a footstool stuffed in it in their ensamble.

[Ben]

+1 to jfruser. I'm also one of the guys Men's Wearhouse caters to. The first time I went there a girlfriend dragged me in for a "clothing makeover" (I'm a jeans and t-shirt guy -- dressing up is swapping out my Converse high tops for boots). I dreaded it, but the salesperson (clothing consultant?) took care of me and set me up with a nice combo of stuff running from the T-shirt / jacket / nice jeans look to conservative business attire, and made a bunch of the stuff swappable for a bunch of different combos from six or so items.

Otherwise if you want to wow a future employer:

[doczinn]

I dreaded it, but the salesperson (clothing consultant?) took care of me and set me up with a nice combo of stuff running from the T-shirt / jacket / nice jeans look to conservative business attire, and made a bunch of the stuff swappable for a bunch of different combos from six or so items.

The Marine Corps sends its newly-minted embassy guards there for that very reason.

Actually, you can spend the clothing allowance anywhere you want, but the local Mens Wearhouse makes it an event, closes for the day, and sets everyone up with everything they need, stays within the allowance, and teaches you to mix and match without looking like "Miami Pete" there.

[roo_ster]

SIndawe:

BTW, I thought the "thing" you were finally doing was have a kiddo.  A little Mini-Sin to run around and look at flora & fauna with you.

[El Tejon]

Don't own a suit?  As the kids would say, what's up with that, gee?

1.  Have the salesgirl tell you what color looks best on you.  Stick with Civil War colors, gray or blue.  Stay away for the goofy trendy colors.

2.  It's all about the tailoring.  Even if you get a more inexpensive suit take it to someone who knows what they are doing and get it tailored.  Worth the time and money.

3.  Clean white shirt, shoes like mirrors, brush, floss, trim your eyebrows, ear and nose hair plucked and you are set.

[Sindawe]

BTW, I thought the "thing" you were finally doing was have a kiddo.  A little Mini-Sin to run around and look at flora & fauna with you.

Thats my sister's job.  While my nephew does not look like me (he looks like my Maternal Grandfather at 5), he has the same interests and personality quirks that run in my Paternal line. 

Appreciate the feedback folks.  Men's Wearhouse immediately came to mind when I thought of this, since I see their adds all the time on the glass-teat.  With two independent positive review, and the fact that Marine Corp. uses them, I'll be checking them out this weekend after I send out some more resumes.

Don't own a suit?  As the kids would say, what's up with that, gee?

I don't like suits, never have.  I'm a jeans & tee-shirt guy.  Dressy for me is a fresh polish on the biker boots, black jeans and bright color polo shirts. 

[The Rabbi]

You want to make a real impression so they'll remember you.  Anything in a plaid is good. Scotch plaid even better.  Make sure to wear a matching yellow tie.  And white shoes to go with it.

[Sindawe]

Oh, I have no problems making a memorable impression on others Rabbi.  I can just not trim the beard, put on the coke bottle bottom glasses, show up for an interview dressed in bug splattered riding leathers over my Viking World Tour or JPFO Hilter tee-shirt and babble about reptile aliens per David Icke and they WILL remember me.

The point here is to make a GOOD impression.  I'll save the other stuff for AFTER I have the job. <Big Evil Grin>

[Monkeyleg]

Rabbi, for a time, plaid suits and white shoes were the fashion in Milwaukee.

[The Rabbi]

Yes, I recall the "full Cleveland" which involved suspenders, a white belt and white shoes.
But I wouldn't recommend anyone showing up for a job interview like that.  Unless he was trying for a position as clown.

[Boomhauer]

My one suit that I have (I don't have to wear it often) is a dark blue pinstripe. I have a pair of black cowboy boots and a black hat to wear with it. I usually like to wear a light to medium grey shirt and a red patterned (with blue and black checker-like patterns- hard to describe) with it. It serves me well. I also advocate either Men's Warehouse if you need advice, although I got mine from Burlington Coat Factory...

Oh, and belt and watch. Doesn't have to be an expensive watch, but a nice "silver" analog watch to go along with it and blend in, not stand out. Also, go minimal on the pocket contents. When wearing a suit, I just have keys, wallet, and a Case pocketknife.

bunch of the stuff swappable for a bunch of different combos from six or so items.

That is also a great thing to do.

[Waitone]

Second Men's Wearhouse.

Walk in dressed in your usual garb.  Tell the consultant your story and pain.  The consultant will help you with the suit and all the trimmings.  They do an especially nice job in coordinating suits, ties and shirts.

BTW, looking sharp in bidness attire is a function of paying attention to details.  A really nice charcoal suit is a waste of money if you are wearing a pair of scuffed brown gum soled shoes.  A nice tie is a waste of money if your belt is in appropriate.  A tie is a waste of time and money if it is tied too short.  Make sure your shirt has a sufficiently long tail.  Nothing worse than a nice shirt coming out of the pants because the clerk wanted the commission as opposed to having you dressed properly.  See Men's Wearhouse for corrective actions.

In short watch the details or you can spend a sack full-o-money and still look like boob; an expensively dressed boob, but a boob nonetheless.

[CAnnoneer]

Yep, Men's Warehouse is my place as well. Just a word of caution: not all their suggestions are necessarily best for you specifically - choose among them only the colors and patterns you really like yourself. Also, don't skip the tailor services they offer - a small correction can make a huge difference in look.

[RevDisk]

I suspect I should stick with more traditional patterns (type of suit) and darker colors.  Those who wear these garments routinely, any suggests on what to steer for and what to avoid?  /now I wish I'd bought that power tie I saw years ago, that featured fighting elephant seals highlighted with red silk flecks to mimc flying blood...*sigh*

Suit, only black, dark grey or dark blue.

Shirts, you can vary.  With a black suit, you can wear almost any color shirt and get away with it.  Try a blue shirt to go with a black suit. 

Ties, do not buy a $5 tie.  Don't.  Don't give me that look either.  Buy at least two decent ties, preferably silk.  Solid colours aren't bad, stripes are ok. 

Shoes, any dress shoes will do.  Anything except patent leather.  Keep in good repair, shine then every one in a while.

My suggestion?  Buy one suit jacket, two sets of pants, four or five good shirts, two ties, and a decent set of shoes.  A couple pairs of khakis or other "business casual" pants would also be a good idea.  Over time, buy extras.  Doesn't cost as much as you'd think.  Visit a tailor.  It's not that expensive unless you have a weird body, and the clothing will look much better afterwards.

[thorn]

ha ha. my parents brought me a silk tie form Milan, but i don't have or need a suit to go with it.

 George Zimmer rocks- most recently seen at a party/benefit featuring Tommy Chong

[DrAmazon]

Yes, I recall the "full Cleveland" which involved suspenders, a white belt and white shoes.
But I wouldn't recommend anyone showing up for a job interview like that.  Unless he was trying for a position as clown.

I have a co-worker who dons the full Cleveland every spring.  We treat it like groundhog day.

[Ben]

"I didn't know turkeys can't fly..."

[anotherKevin]

I bought my business suits when they were on sale at Mervyns. I got a plain black, and a grey pinstripe for just over $100 each, and I am very happy with them. If you aren't used to ties, I would go for a simple, dark colored one. One thing I have found is that it's OK for the collar to be looser than your neck measurement. I thought being able to fit my finger in the gap meant I looked like a kid wearing dads work shirt, but in reality no one notices, and it's much, much, more comfortable.

On a firearms note, the slippery material of the pockets doesn't work with my pocket holster, so I would assume IWB, tuckable, is probably the best option.

[RevDisk]

On a firearms note, the slippery material of the pockets doesn't work with my pocket holster, so I would assume IWB, tuckable, is probably the best option.

If you want to ever wear a shoulder holster with a suit and not make it blindly obvious, buy a jacket size or two larger than you need.  Have the tailor cut it down to fit you, and leave extra room around the shoulders.  Usually I just tell the tailor exactly what I want ("I need to carry a firearm in a shoulder holster occassionally, here are the measurements."), and he makes it look a bit more natural.  Told one I carried cash in bad neighborhoods occassionally, and he did his measuring thing with me wearing the holster.  Did a beautiful job.  It's a more expensive tailoring job, but it's worth it if you ever need to carry.

And you can get the pockets replaced with a different material.  Heck, I usually do that myself with a sewing machine within a couple minutes.  Go to a fabric store, buy two small sheets of whatever material works for you, sew a U to whatever measurements suits your needs, cut it out.  Flip inside out.  Gently pull the pocket material so it's sticking out of your suit, cut it BELOW the visable level (so it looks like it should) and double stitch your new pocket into place.  Very easy, and if you make the correct measurements, your sewing job can look as ugly as sin and everything is still good. 

If you go in the IWB, make sure you take it into account when buying the pants.  Also, try to go with a slightly longer jacket, so you can lean forward without exposing if you carry in the small of your back.  If you need to carry and don't have the cash for an excellent tailor, buy a size up on the pants, and carry IWB on the side.  The jacket shouldn't ever ride up enough to expose, and if you keep one button buttoned, it won't open enough to be exposed.