How to tell an expensive suit from a cheap one | Sartoria Lab (2024)

FAQs

How to tell an expensive suit from a cheap one | Sartoria Lab? ›

The construction

Flimsy plastic buttons and button-holes or pockets that don't work are common on lower-end suits. Cheaper suits often have polyester linings that don't breathe and feel less comfortable against the skin. They also won't have special cuts and hand-sewn pick-stitching.

Often what distinguishes a well-made suit from all the others is simply a matter of details. Generally speaking, the more handwork that goes into a suit, the better the quality and, naturally, the higher the price.

A high-end suit will usually have a fair amount of handwork in it, that means, the lining is sewn by hand. You can check it on the sleeves, you can check the armhole which should be set in by hand, and you can look at the little details and see whether it's a hand stitch or a machine stitch.

Craftsmanship and Attention to Detail

These suits are often handmade or undergo extensive hand-finishing processes. Expert tailors pay close attention to every element of the suit, including hand-stitched linings, functional buttonholes, and carefully finished seams.

Typically it's given away by things like the patterning, the fit, the stitches, the buttons, some peculiarities about the collar and lapels. The pockets. It is very easy if you know anything about suits. Then again, there are people who wear them every day and pay half a months salary and still look cheap.

The Basic Suit ranges from $300 to $599, though it is easy to spend more. It's considered to be a solid price point for the first suit.

The standard suit: $501–$1,000

Most men will be comfortable in this price category as the value for money seems to offer a good balance.

Expect to spend $400 to $799 on a basic suit.

Suits in this price range are great to have on-hand at any age, and they're also the perfect suit to splurge on if you've never purchased one before. While most basic suits start at $400, you can often find them on sale for as little as $300.

Who makes the best suits in the world? ›

Just be aware that high-quality suits can be made of wool, cotton, linen, silk, cashmere, mohair, and various blends of these materials. Lower-quality suits tend to be made with synthetic cloth, such as microfiber. Only wear these if you have allergic reactions to the aforementioned cloths, or if you're a vegan.

$500 vs. $5,000

The intimate details like hand-sewn sleeves and multiple fittings allow the tailor to understand your unique body movements and style. A $500 custom suit will fit you well standing still. A $5,000 bespoke suit and shirt will fit you no matter what you do!

High card by suit and low card by suit refer to assigning relative values to playing cards of equal rank based on their suit. When suit ranking is applied, the most common conventions from lowest to highest are: ♣♦♥♠ English alphabetical order. clubs, followed by diamonds, hearts, and spades.

The Stuart Hughes Diamond sports suit is priced at $892,500. The World Record Academy records that the Stuart Hughes suit is the world's most expensive.

Another great way to spot a cheap suit is by identifying if it's a polyester lining or not. Quality suits have linings made out of sometimes viscose which is less expensive. A higher-end option would be silk, sometimes you also see cotton, but very cheap suits have polyester lining or blends with polyester.

How much should you spend on a decent suit? Experts recommend spending around $500 for a quality suit. The $500 range will give you everything you need in a basic suit: quality stitching, nice fabric, and neutral, versatile colors.

If you spot the lapel shimmer, you're probably eyeballing a tux. Likewise, the buttons on the jacket can tell you a lot. Tuxedo buttons are often covered in silk, while suits feature normal buttons made of horn. Tux with silk satin lapels, buttons, and pocket accents.