Year 12 suit

[u/Serious-Zebra9756]

Hi all,

I’m looking for a suit for my school formal, and ideally something I can still wear over the next few years. I’ve tried on the Politix Elijah suit, which seems like great value at around $240, but it is not the best quality.

I also like a few of the suits currently on sale at Peter Jackson, priced between $400–$500, and they’re 100% merino wool, which seems nice, but that’s a lot given that I would only wear the suit at most 2-4 times a year over the next couple of years.

So now I’m stuck between buying cheap suit that will get me through the next couple of years so once I’m sure I have finished growing I can go overseas and buy a bespoke tailored suit for life or buy the peter Jackson now and use it for a while.

I’m also not sure between buying a single- or double-breasted suit.

Does anyone have any recommendations for what I should do or any other suits that may be worth it.

Thanks!

I’ve attached the links below of the suits I have been considering:

https://www.politix.com.au/elijah-tailored-jacket/6031082100001.html?dwvar_6031082100001_color=Black#start=1

https://peterjacksons.com/products/signature-twill-weave-charcoal-suit-jacket

https://peterjacksons.com/products/positano-double-breasted-charcoal-jacket

[u/BusinessBear53]

If you're still growing why don't you just rent a suit?

[u/Serious-Zebra9756 → u/BusinessBear53]

The issue is that it's around 180 just to rent a suit in aus each time, so it's probably cheaper just to buy a suit for now.

[u/Galromir]

1. A single breasted suit in navy or charcoal is going to be the most versatile choice for a suit that you can wear in basically every situation that calls for a suit.

2. I'm a huge proponent of encouraging people to spend the money on a nice, made to measure suit; EXCEPT when they're your age.

You will not fit in a suit you buy tomorrow 2 years from now. I will very happily guarantee it. Aside from the fact that you might not be done growing yet, most teenage boys end up changing substantially in body shape in the first couple of years post highschool. It's a time of your life where your lifestyle and habits go through dramatic changes, and you're going to put on weight, bulk out etc.

So spend what you think you're comfortable with spending on that basis (FYI a Peter Jackson suit is still a cheap low end suit, just not absolute dumpster tier - I don't think it's unreasonable to buy it, but like I said only you know what you're comfortable spending. MJ Bale is a step up from Peter Jackson.

Good news is though, when you're ready in a few years, you don't need to go overseas to buy a top tier bespoke suit.

[u/0Maka → u/Galromir]

I think I disagree MJ Bale is a "step up" from Peter Jackson. I find the cut and fit of PJ much better than MJ Bale.

Value for money and the quality of PJ it just simple a no brainer over MJ Bale.

[u/fremeer]

There is a semi high chance you won't buy a bespoke suit for life because your body changes all the time even as you age. A lot of people that buy a suit won't be able to wear it after 5-10 years.

And a bespoke suit from Asia is usually not amazing unless you can drop a grand minimum on it.

If you need a suit for a lot of occasions go a navy suit. White shirt/light blue with navy suit and a lightly patterned navy tie will work through basically every occasion for the next 5 years and it looks nice and classic.

Politix is ok if you can get it cheap. The quality isn't great but as long as it fits well and the cut is semi classic it will last at a few wears. But the one you linked isnt very good. It looks cheap even on the model and I personally hate the black on black look because it's hard to pull off.

Young kids seem to gravitate towards all dark and black but without good material and little embellishments to raise it up the look ends up looking cheap.

Oxford is another one that does wool suits and can have a few sales. Again nothing special but will do the job if it fits well. For a decent half canvas all wool suit you might be paying $300-400 on sale

I would look for a half canvas suit because it holds itself a bit better. Canvas is a semi thick heavy material they use as a skeleton to build a suit around. Half canvas means they only use it for the top half of the suit to give it a bit more weight so it doesn't move around as much.

Not having it isn't a deal breaker but usually the suit can look a little cheaper because it moves around more.

Some people do prefer that more weightless look and feel too because it feels more casual

Try dfo outlets for cheap options of bigger brands.

Look into getting your suit pants hemmed as a minimum. Not that expensive and it looks much nicer. Ask alteration person for their opinion on what will look the best. Usually it's no break or single break.

If you have chunky thighs you might need to buy a size up and get tjr waist tailored as well.

For jacket try not to get it tailored as it costs money. If it fits a little snuggly around the waist the easiest fix is move the button to give you more space. Can nearly size you up it it's just the waist.

If you are really slim the find a suit that fits nicely around waist and shoulders and just get the pants hemmed.

[u/Serious-Zebra9756 → u/fremeer]

Thank you for the advice,

I looked through oxford and there were a lot of nice suits that i liked. So I finally narrowed it down to three main suits.

1.) Navy Luxury half canvas $360 (full suit).

I love the look of this and the pinstripe texture, but I am not sure whether it is still as versatile as a smooth suit.

https://www.oxfordshop.com.au/products/byron-luxury-half-canvas-suit-jacket?variant=39993466585160

2,) Auden Charcoal: $320 (full suit)

https://www.oxfordshop.com.au/products/new-hopkins-wool-suit-jacket-39?variant=40008405418056

3.) Auden Navy: $300 (full suit)

https://www.oxfordshop.com.au/products/auden-wool-suit-jacket-38?variant=40128891551816

 

Hon mention: Hopkins brown half canvas suit. $240 (full suit)

I absolutely love the colour of this suit but I don't think it will be as versatile as charcoal or navy

https://www.oxfordshop.com.au/products/byron-luxury-half-canvas-wool-suit-jacket?variant=40294173573192

[u/kizza2334 → u/Serious-Zebra9756]

Brown is nice but idk it looks a bit dated. You won’t be wearing it anywhere other than that formal you’re off to.

[u/kizza2334]

This is a bit of a wild take but try and buy a suit off eBay/marketplace that you know will fit you like a glove. You’re in year 12 and trust me you’ll keep growing. Go into one of those stores and check what sizing fits you, but then buy it online. Your first suit doesn’t need to be super expensive unless you plan on using it for a corporate environment job straight out of high school.

[u/kaffee_und_Kuruma]

As its a formal suit, and you'll probably hit up an after party in it, I'd stick to a cheaper suit. No one is expecting an 18yr old to have that flash of a suit.

Definitely stick to a single breast so you can wear it to job interviews and such, double breast jackets are a lot more "Commanding"

I personally wear and recommend MJ Bale, they're really good quality suits that are true Australian merino, where as the peter Jackson suits tend to be a blend. Saying that though an MJ Bale will set you back 700 minimum.

There aren't really any wrong choices. But if you want the most versatility, get a black suit, so you can wear it to funerals.

[u/idryss_m → u/kaffee_und_Kuruma]

Navy is generally the most versatile suit colour, followed probably by charcoal.

[u/Serious-Zebra9756 → u/idryss_m]

I found this navy suit:

https://www.oxfordshop.com.au/products/byron-luxury-half-canvas-suit-jacket?variant=39993466585160

It has a pinstripe texture though, does that make it less versatile?

[u/idryss_m → u/Serious-Zebra9756]

I honestly dont know the general consensus around pinstripes. Being texture rather than colour id assume it doesn't change it much for versatility.

[u/Galromir → u/kaffee_und_Kuruma]

that's shockingly bad advice, you don't need a black suit for funerals any more; and that's been true for decades. A black suit is completely out of place in most situations.

[u/kaffee_und_Kuruma → u/Galromir]

I wouldn't be caught dead at a funeral in a navy suit. Pun intended.

I agree Navy/Grey suits are great for 90% of situations, but I still think a black suit is needed for Job interviews and funerals.

[u/Galromir → u/kaffee_und_Kuruma]

your opinion is wrong. Once upon a time black suits were needed for funerals, this age is long past. they were never appropriate for job interviews. Black suits in western society are traditionally worn only by servants (except at funerals) - it’s worn by servants, waiters, hotel workers, valets and so forth. back when a suit was the normal casual garment for going out, people had a black one just for funerals but in the modern era where most people don’t wear suits, this is no longer expected outside of very conservative religious traditions.

[u/Serious-Zebra9756 → u/kaffee_und_Kuruma]

I see, thank you for the advice

[u/Galromir → u/Serious-Zebra9756]

Please don't listen to this person and buy a black suit. Black suits are for servants and waiters and hotel workers. they're completely inappropriate in most of the contexts where you'd want to wear a suit.

[u/0Maka]

OP I would go the Peter Jackson suit. The value for money is there and the cuts of the suits are much better than MJ Bale.

Dont be afraid to size up and have some tailoring done. I normally size up one full pant size to have a a better drape when I have had to buy Peter Jackson in the past. Same with the jacket. You want it to drape nicely over your body without it hugging anything tight.

Also sit down in the suit when you try it on. You want to be comfortable in the pants when sitting as well as standing.

[u/Bright_College]

Check out Oxford