Is a black suit ever worth buying?
I get a job that requires me to wear a crap black suit. Should I spend my money on this type of weird thing or just buy it as cheap as possible?
14 Replies
If you wear suits regularly (I'm assuming you don't) then it can have a use. It also can be used a business suit, and isn't the cardinal sin that this server sometimes implies. A Black suit can be used in interesting ways when you aren't using it for a dress code. The anti-black suit thought process is mostly cause its bad to be you're only suit, as it isn't correct for the most common suit uses in the western world right now (Weddings). Outside of weddings its "fine", black suits would likely fly in business even if its not "correct" (eg: Asian business suits are often black anyway, so thats also a western centric view).
If you don't wear a suit regularly though and don't really plan to wear it outside of the job I wouldn't spend money on it though.
For most men, I don’t think the first three suits purchased should include black, if any, particularly if you have a light skin color — a tuxedo notwithstanding. If you’re a classical musician performing in concert or have a need due to a religious affiliation or want to buy one to wear at a funeral, that’s different. At the last funeral I attended, I wore a dark navy suit with an even darker blue tie that probably looked black indoors.
If you’re not comfortable wearing the crap black at work and for that reason you want a better suit to wear while working, I get that. But otherwise I’d advise to spend your hard-earned money elsewhere.
It sounds like you’re forced to buy something black for work, but I’d not spend anymore than you need to. If you do spend just a little extra to get it properly tailored, you’ll have a suit that fits well even if the material and construction aren’t the greatest. With a really good fit, you may feel better about what you’re wearing — and stand out a bit from among your co-workers.
Black suits can be very cool but I'd imagine this won't fly for work.
If I needed a boring black suit for work I would probably not spend too much on it.
There worth it for important events like weddings, funerals, formal events like that and probably work I think there a good look but a bit much for day to day
You don't wear a black suit to a wedding bc that looks too much like funeral attire. If you wear black its either morning dress or a Stresemann, which is a bit different from just a solid black suit bc. the trousers and the vest have different colors
I thought the stroller suit, which the Stresemann can be one particular flavour of, can also be charcoal
True
i think your job requiring it makes it "worth" wearing a black suit, to say nothing of potential funerals you may be attending later.
if the question is "should i spend a thousand dollars on it", if you aren't wearing it that often then no. conversely, i wouldn't cheap out on it and risk it getting worn out quickly or damaged through working, leading to you having to buy it again.
if you know your suit size and measurements i'd say get it off ebay https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_sop=10&_fsrp=1&_nkw=(Canali%2C+Zegna+Milano%2C+Cifonelli%2C+Partenopea%2C+Isaia%2C+Kiton%2C+Attolini%2C+Rubinacci%2C+Cucinelli%2C+Luciano+Barbera%2C+Ralph+Lauren+Purple+Label%2C+Ring+Jacket%2C+Sartoria+Formosa%2C+Brioni%2C+Southwick%2C+Sid+Mashburn%2C+Orazio+Luciano%2C+Caruso%2C+J.+Press%2C+J+Press))&_oaa=1
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filter it to black, your size and set the price to how much you're willing to pay
(i do also think black suits aren't as hard to wear in other settings as menswear at large suggests, it just takes more intention and acknowledgement that some might raise an eyebrow)
I need a black suit for work fairly regularly and I've gotten away (or at least not been called out) with an extremely cheap bad one, in these situations as long as I don't stick out and check off the boxes of "black suit" its fine but personally I would not upgrade for other occasions and instead wear something else
black suits are awesome
pinging @KissGo-Goat
thanks