Budgety Suits/Formal Wear

[Uniquemel0dy]

Let me introduce myself. I am only 18 and about to start school at the University of Georgia. I am into the 1920's and the 1950's formalwear looks, and think that they would fit my style very well. Now here is my problem: money. Seeing that I make about half of what it costs for a designer suit every two weeks I do not see myself dropping the cash on it. That's where you guys come to the rescue. Is there any place that does second hand designer apparel, shoes, etc?

Here's what I am liking so far:

 

[imleftyoureright]

I think your biggest problem money wise will be getting shoes in budget. You will probably be able to get the rest second hand, just get them tailored to a fit you like, and you will save yourself lots of money. Check out somewhere online like the tie bar for well...a tie bar, and just get a few odds and ends to nail the details. Also if you want something classic your most basic need will probably be a navy blazer. You won't have to be in a full suit, and as long as it fits you well it can be made a little more casual. The biggest thing is making it your own, your young, like me, so possibly consider mixing some of the things you like into something that while still hailing back to those decades, will still look fresh and natural.

Good luck to you. And well fitted $200 suit will look much better than a $2000 suit that doesn't fit well

 

[MrMurphy]

At 18, what is the purpose of the formalwear?

Don't drop a ton of money on stuff, because what fits you at 18 will not necessarily fit you at 25 or 30. A good pair of shoes can last you 20 years.....a pair of Justin cowboy boots I bought as my 18th birthday present to myself I still wear at least once a month and that was 17 years ago.

I agree the shoes will be the killer. Start simple, a couple good dress shirts, a couple pairs of slacks, not necessarily new. Half a dozen ties.

If this is for work, stick with conservative colors. Realistically at 18, it's unlikely to be for work except for interviews. For interviews, navy blue or charcoal suits are generally fine. Secondhand is fine, if you get a good one and have it tailored if necessary.

If you're dressing up simply to dress up, wear what you wish, I could care less. But I can tell you if you showed up in a suit for an interview with the above shoes I'd laugh you out of the office. There is a time and a place for everything.

 

[Doc4]

Don't drop a ton of money on stuff, because what fits you at 18 will not necessarily fit you at 25 ...

True.

Get a few pieces ... look through second-hand shops as your new hobby ... and don't worry about getting a big collection. (And if, two years from now, you wonder "what the 'heck' was I thinking??" ... well, you didn't drop that much coin on this.)

 

[imleftyoureright]

Yeah I have to agree with the other guys. Both were decades were pretty wealthy and took place during good economies, now is a little different, have you checked out some of the more casual fashions of those times? It might be that you could still get some of the aspects of the times without having to spend money on formal wear that you won't get as much use out of.

 

[rushchairman]

I'm certain there must be any number of cool vintage shops in the Athens area. I think the advice mentioned above is sound - use discretion!

Good luck, have fun, and...

Goooo Dawgs!!

 

[wsteineker]

The gents above are onto something when they ask you to make sure that you're keeping things situationally appropriate. The sorts of semi-formal occasions to which you're likely to be invited at your age (weddings, cocktail parties, etc) can be a bit challenging from a style perspective, as they'll quickly teach you that there's a fine line between showing your own individual style and looking like you've come to a costume party. That's the whole trouble with period dress, really, and it's doubly tough when you're as young as you are. My advice is to find a way grab a few of the hallmarks of the styles/time periods that you love and incorporate them with more timeless pieces to develop a look that's all your own. Start with accessories and work from there. Play with fabrics and cuts that evoke those eras without actually being from those eras. Sometimes it's much better to evoke the past rather than to live squarely therein. Good luck to you, and for God's sake listen to MrMurphy. Keep the spectator shoes away from the office!

 

[rupertbear]

looking like you've come to a costume party. That's the whole trouble with period dress

I wear clothes that are comfortable and dressy, but to get that, I often look like I'd in 'period' dress. Learn ot live with it. Yep, you are 18, but what you are at 18 leads to what you are at 60 (speaking from experience). I went into a restaurant recently and the waitress said, "I like your costume." I knew that she was referring to my vest and string tie, so I responded, "I like yours, too." She was wearing normal early spring 2013 clothes. She realized her faux pas and that was the end of it. Only once have I been nasty enough to say something on the order of "I don't like yours; Bangladeshi cheap stuff does nothing for me."

If you are going to dress in any fashion outside the mainstream, you are stating that you are an individual and rarely, but once in a while, others will attempt to make you suffer for your difference. Don't let anybody force you into the herd mentality.

By the bye, regarding the shoes; any employer that you might want to work for will question them. The reply? "If you are looking for the run-of-the-mill employee that will deliver average results, go for him/her. If you want someone who might be a bit different but produces, I'm him."

My $0.02.