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With black Friday coming and going, it’s now officially “Holiday Season” and it will be interesting to see how consumers handle the tight budgets they hopefully evoked in their family. I’m sure you all read the post on here about professional attire. If not, click here for men or here for women. For those of you on a tight budget, I have suggestions on where to find inexpensive, not cheap, suits.
Obviously there are tons of “early bird” sales at department stores and great deals all over the place. Waking up at 5 a.m. for a gorgeous suit from Dillards is a small price to pay when that suit gives you the confidence in an interview or presentation. One thing you need to know before shopping the online specials is exactly what size you are. Go to a Men’s Warehouse and get sized before going online. If you’re like me and are vertically challenged, then it may be hard to find your size. Likewise if you’re larger, wider or just a ‘tweener.’ Many times, the Internet is the only place to find a variety of suits in your size. Overstock.com is a great place to start online, and really easy to use for men and women. Many different sizes, manufacturers, and of course great prices. I got a great blue pinstripe Geoffrey Beene wool suit for $199. Men’s Warehouse, S&K, and others have great sites with clearance or outlet items.
Before you scour the Internet for deals, check out this article on soyouwanna to see what makes a nice fabric for what you need and what a good suit is. It’s easy to jump online and find $100 suits, but notice they’re not wool, itchy and terrible quality from someone you’ve never heard of. A suit that’s more expensive will last longer through interviews, day to day work, and the dry cleaner’s. “You get what you pay for,” is perfect for purchasing a suit. So do these for me:
- Read this article and know what you need. Take inventory: Do you have a black and a blue?
- Simon Crompton wrote this blog on how to take care of your suit
- Read this if you are a male, and this if you are a female
- Do you have shirts and ties that will match well?
- Take advantage of sales right now. Do you have proper shoes to go with it? Belt? Bowties? (Just kidding, seriously don’t)
- Spend within your means, but think of this more as an investment. For interviews, to look presentable at the job you have and just to have a nice suit for weddings, black tie affairs, etc.
- And if you have any spare 36s suits that don’t fit anymore, email me. Thanks!
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Ethan Oblonsky is a successful account executive for a Fortune 500 IT company and has been providing resume writing services and interview consulting for the past 3 years to a wide-range of clients.
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