If you’re still renting formal wear from your favourite suit rental, perhaps it’s time to invest in a tux or suit of your own. As Colin Firth’s Kingsman character said, “The suit is the modern gentleman’s armour,” and in some situations or occasions, you may need to suit up so you can feel empowered and command respect. Most men shy away from buying suits since they can be costly. In fact, a good ready-to-wear suit can cost as much as £1,000, while a basic two-piece bespoke suit from a Savile Row tailoring house like Huntsman & Sons may be priced at around £4,500. Huntsman’s Head Cutter and Creative Director Campbell Carey says that the price is well worth it since you’re “guaranteed a suit that fits you perfectly and is made for you alone.”
Getting a custom-made suit may be a good idea since you’ll have a quality garment that could last a lifetime, especially if you take care and maintain it well. But if you’re on a budget, consider purchasing a ready-to-wear suit. Some ready-made jackets, coats, and trousers feature decent tailoring, classic cuts, and a classic yet modern look that’s right for many occasions. They also won’t cost as much as a bespoke suit, so you can live your James Bond dreams without going broke. Here are some of the best off-the-rack suits to look dapper on a budget.
Paul Smith
Most men want to balance comfort with formality when picking out clothes to wear to a party, a wedding, or any occasion that warrants a bit of dressing up. That’s why instead of throwing on a three-piece suit, they’ll opt for a smart casual look with a sports jacket and any type of trouser, or throw on a long-sleeved shirt and a tie. But if you want to look dashing for a special event or if you want to impress some very important people at a work function, then you’ll need to wear a suit. Having a suit takes the guesswork out of formal dressing, and it’s recommended to have a few in different fabrics and colours.
If you want to have just one suit that would look great for work and most formal events, look no further than Paul Smith. This British brand has a collection called ‘A Suit to Travel In,’ and it features jackets with a straight hem and tailoring through the waist for a natural silhouette, as well as trousers with a low-rise fit that’s slightly relaxed through the thigh and a narrow hem. The suits are crafted in Italy, and they have details such as a colour-flash lining, a rubber grip on the waistband of the trousers to keep shirting secure, and four-button kissing cuffs. The collection has five variants– Navy Wool, Brown Wool, Tailored-Fit Black Wool, Tailored-Fit Navy Wool, and Tailored-Fit Charcoal Grey, and each suit ranges from around £1,230 to £1,430.
Ted Baker
If you’re ever in a fashion emergency and need a nice suit for a wedding or a sudden work event, check out Ted Baker. This brand carries separate pieces that match well with other items in their collection. This means that you can get a grey wool-blend lightweight checkered jacket for less than £80, and find matching trousers for just a little over £40. If you’d like to have a navy suit but don’t want to spend much money for it, see if you’d like their Perthjr Regular Fit Twill Suit Jacket and Perthjr Regular Fit Trousers in navy, which add up to around £200 for both pieces.
ASOS- Topman
Need a trendy suit for less? Go online and head to the ASOS website, then click on their Topman line. This British retailer will give you lots of different options to put together a modern, trendy, and fun look for any formal occasion. They’ve got everything from skinny suit trousers for £48, a matching skinny suit jacket for £100, a boxy herringbone suit jacket for £105, and so much more. When buying online, see to it that you know your measurements before choosing a jacket or trousers. If you’re unsure, it may be better to buy one size bigger and just have it taken in at a tailoring shop.
Look dashing in a suit without breaking the bank. Consider these British fashion houses and retailers for affordable formal wear options, and look amazing at your next event or work function.
