New Suit - what say ye!

[BrowneIssue]

I remember walking into an M&S in Hong Kong, the staff were ironing the stock (shirts & trousers that were on display like), could you imagine such a sight in the UK?!

Being seen walking into an M&S. No way! <shudder>

[minestrone]

Armani suits are probably made in some Chinese sweat shop anyway.

You sound like someone who knows.

Armani suits are manufactured in Italy if that helps you.

[interested]

I've already decided to buy a bespoke suit, so you can ram your mass produced off the peg Armani rag..............

you get the picture

Tino - couple of recommendations for bespoke if you don't want to do Saville Row prices:

Graham Browne - they are in Well Court, off Bow Lane in the City. About £900 for fully bespoke - I've had 6 suits and a DJ made there; absolutely top notch

Stanley Ley; Chancery Lane somewhere; a friend swears by them

Don't ever bother with made to measure or off the peg 'designer suits'. Utter garbage.

Shoes: John Lobb ready to wear are pretty nice, they have some great styles and colours; about £800 a pair. The bespoke ones are about £2-6 grand depending on style/materials.

[BrowneIssue]

Another recommendation:

Bill King near Southampton recently did me a custom 3 piece for £800. I'm very happy with it.

And a recommendation to avoid:

A tailor in St Pauls Street in Leeds did me a custom 2 piece a couple of years ago. The price kept going up and it didn't get done in the material I wanted. And it took 3 months. That was about £550.

PM me if you want details of either.

[gingerjedi]

Being seen walking into an M&S. No way! <shudder>

This thread shows just how diverse the IT world is, I bought 3x polo shirts from marks & sparks a few months back... for work.

[Bagpuss]

Yeah M&S do good work clothes. A whanker in an expensive suit is still a whanker. However, I had a YSL suit that was really nice (this was before the brand got adopted by the chavs).

[scooterscot]

This thread shows just how diverse the IT world is, I bought 3x polo shirts from marks & sparks a few months back... for work.

Although I stopped buying me undies from M&S a long time ago. Only Ralph Lauren undiea can carry scooter's crown jewels the correct place.

[BrowneIssue]

Yeah M&S do good work clothes.

I take it they have significantly improved the quality this past few years then?

The last few visits were:

About ten years ago bought my wife an expensive coat; it started coming apart before the winter was out.

About eight years ago my wife got measured for a bra by their specialist bra measuring lady. My wife came home all happy to have been given such a different measurement from what she thought it was. She had bought 3 bras. They did not fit her. Their specialist bra measuring lady was either incompetent or a bulltulipter.

About six years ago I bought 5 or 6 white work shirts. By the third wash (I only wear a shirt for one day before washing it) they were showing wear on the collars and cuffs and buttons were falling off. They did not last five wearings each.

At the same time I had bought some underwear. Again, the stitching came out when they were washed.

So we eventually realised MS had turned to rat-tulip and were selling rubbish. As far as we are concerned M&S deserved to go bust and disappear.

(By the way, I got Mrs BI a replacement winter coat in TK-Maxx; she still has that one; it was far better quality.)

[Bagpuss]

The quality has improved a lot, however these days I tend to buy from independant local 'designer' shops. Helping local business and getting good clothes. Other than that the House of Frazer sale cannot be beaten, but then I'm a lot tighter than many of you Flash Harrys.

[gingerjedi]

Although I stopped buying me undies from M&S a long time ago. Only Ralph Lauren undiea can carry scooter's crown jewels the correct place.

May sir be tempted back by the M&S ‘Autograph’ Lycra trunks?

The comfiest pants I've ever worn.