Teen Boy Suit Shopping in US

monster · 01-25-2015, 10:38 PM

Need a boy-sized off-the-peg suit (matching jacket and pants) that will last approximately 5 minutes because he's growing like a weed. In the UK 20 years ago I would have hit TopMan/Burton if that's any help

I hate the mall. He hates clothes shopping, so knowing in advance which stores to try would reduce pain greatly. I don't even know what Abercrombie, Banana Rep and all those sell because the stench they exude as one passes is so off-putting I've never crossed the threshold.

I made it into a few stores tie-shopping for homecoming in the fall, but didn't notice if they actually sold suits to go with.

Minimum $$ outlay appreciated -it's not for a smart event, just to look a little more dapper than average when "dressing up' for school because the team has a game that night.

TIA

orthodoc · 01-25-2015, 10:43 PM

Don't even bother with Abercrombie or Hollister, etc. They don't do suits. Try Macy's or JCPenney for something not too expensive, a one-off in a junior size.

monster · 01-25-2015, 10:51 PM

thanks. they're on the list with the other two dept stores in the mall, but is there anywhere a little more "current"? They feel more like places you would shop for a suit for grandpa to be buried in. Maybe I'm just suffering flashbacks from British dept stores of the 80s.....

orthodoc · 01-25-2015, 11:04 PM

It's hard to find places to suit/suit a boy who's growing like a weed ... you're pretty much guaranteed to not be overwhelmed unless you choose a custom tailor. Speaking as a mother of 3 boys who needed suits from childhood thru ... (breathes a sigh of relief) adulthood.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-25-2015, 11:15 PM

Current? We're talking male clothing, Right? Unless you want to go to Carnaby Street, Soho, the style of men's suits change with glacial speed.
If this isn't a "smart event", wouldn't be easier and maybe cheaper to do the sports coat and slacks route?

Clodfobble · 01-26-2015, 12:03 AM

Men's Wearhouse. They do a ton of wedding rental business, so they have teen sizes (groomsmen, ushers, and whatnot) and they're reasonably priced. And hell, if it's just for one event maybe you can rent it. They do nice dress shoes and ties too, anything you need.

Pamela · 01-26-2015, 12:21 AM

What Clod said, seconded. Back when I wore suits, that is where I bought mine.

glatt · 01-26-2015, 07:43 AM

We've mostly gotten ours from 2nd hand stores and hand me downs from friends.

But if I was shopping for new, I'd check out JC Penny and Men's Wearhouse. I agree that style doesn't matter much at all. Ties are the only thing that seem to change much.

monster · 01-26-2015, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

We've mostly gotten ours from 2nd hand stores and hand me downs from friends.

But if I was shopping for new, I'd check out JC Penny and Men's Wearhouse. I agree that style doesn't matter much at all. Ties are the only thing that seem to change much.

thanks, he's got the ties down, so we could make it work.... I'm surprised suit cuts don't change, (e.g single/double-breast, lots/fewer buttons/pant cut....) They changed pretty much every year when I used to sell them. I guess dress it just more casual overall so fashion doesn't bother with the more formal.

This needs to be new because it's special to him and he's not such a fan of second hand as the rest of the family are. Probably a middle child thing

Happy Monkey · 01-26-2015, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

thanks, he's got the ties down, so we could make it work.... I'm surprised suit cuts don't change, (e.g single/double-breast, lots/fewer buttons/pant cut....) They changed pretty much every year when I used to sell them.

But did your customers know that? If a man who wasn't in fashion or clothing sales started talking about suits at that level of detail, I'd be thinking of Patrick Bateman.

monster · 01-26-2015, 07:45 AM

Thanks, I did look at MW online and didn't see teen/boy so dismissed it. I'll go in and see what they actually have. No, it's not for an event. It's because he'd like one. And he's a good kid so I can be behind it if it doesn't cost me the earth. It's things like this that make me miss the UK of the 80s and 90s. I knew exactly where to go for such things

hell I worked in those stores for 5 years

BigV · 01-26-2015, 09:54 AM

definitely Men's Wearhouse.

SonofV loves second hand, especially the blazer of mine I gave him, it's twice as old as he is. Was I ever that slender?? Unlikely. Anyhow, MW is a good bet for you as is the local mall anchors, Macy's, JC Penney, etc.

xoxoxoBruce · 01-26-2015, 04:48 PM

One of the reasons the styles change slowly is we're a bunch of slobs who only dress up to get laid.

monster · 01-26-2015, 05:16 PM

I'm sure the ladies have nothing to do with his desire to look super-dapper..... thought probably never crossed his mind.....

BigV · 01-26-2015, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monster

I'm sure the ladies have nothing to do with his desire to look super-dapper..... thought probably never crossed his mind.....

Having been a teenage boy, albeit in a different century, I'd take that bet. . .

01-25-2015, 10:38 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Teen Boy Suit Shopping in US Need a boy-sized off-the-peg suit (matching jacket and pants) that will last approximately 5 minutes because he's growing like a weed. In the UK 20 years ago I would have hit TopMan/Burton if that's any help I hate the mall. He hates clothes shopping, so knowing in advance which stores to try would reduce pain greatly. I don't even know what Abercrombie, Banana Rep and all those sell because the stench they exude as one passes is so off-putting I've never crossed the threshold. I made it into a few stores tie-shopping for homecoming in the fall, but didn't notice if they actually sold suits to go with. Minimum $$ outlay appreciated -it's not for a smart event, just to look a little more dapper than average when "dressing up' for school because the team has a game that night. TIA __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-25-2015, 10:43 PM	#2
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	Don't even bother with Abercrombie or Hollister, etc. They don't do suits. Try Macy's or JCPenney for something not too expensive, a one-off in a junior size. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

01-25-2015, 10:51 PM	#3
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	thanks. they're on the list with the other two dept stores in the mall, but is there anywhere a little more "current"? They feel more like places you would shop for a suit for grandpa to be buried in. Maybe I'm just suffering flashbacks from British dept stores of the 80s..... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-25-2015, 11:04 PM	#4
orthodoc Not Suspicious, Merely Canadian Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 3,774	It's hard to find places to suit/suit a boy who's growing like a weed ... you're pretty much guaranteed to not be overwhelmed unless you choose a custom tailor. Speaking as a mother of 3 boys who needed suits from childhood thru ... (breathes a sigh of relief) adulthood. __________________ The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. - Ghandi

01-25-2015, 11:15 PM	#5
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Current? We're talking male clothing, Right? Unless you want to go to Carnaby Street, Soho, the style of men's suits change with glacial speed. If this isn't a "smart event", wouldn't be easier and maybe cheaper to do the sports coat and slacks route? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-26-2015, 12:03 AM	#6
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Men's Wearhouse. They do a ton of wedding rental business, so they have teen sizes (groomsmen, ushers, and whatnot) and they're reasonably priced. And hell, if it's just for one event maybe you can rent it. They do nice dress shoes and ties too, anything you need. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

01-26-2015, 12:21 AM	#7
Pamela Deplorable Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 767	What Clod said, seconded. Back when I wore suits, that is where I bought mine.

01-26-2015, 07:43 AM	#8
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	We've mostly gotten ours from 2nd hand stores and hand me downs from friends. But if I was shopping for new, I'd check out JC Penny and Men's Wearhouse. I agree that style doesn't matter much at all. Ties are the only thing that seem to change much.

01-26-2015, 07:45 AM	#11
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Thanks, I did look at MW online and didn't see teen/boy so dismissed it. I'll go in and see what they actually have. No, it's not for an event. It's because he'd like one. And he's a good kid so I can be behind it if it doesn't cost me the earth. It's things like this that make me miss the UK of the 80s and 90s. I knew exactly where to go for such things hell I worked in those stores for 5 years __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

01-26-2015, 09:54 AM	#12
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	definitely Men's Wearhouse. SonofV loves second hand, especially the blazer of mine I gave him, it's twice as old as he is. Was I ever that slender?? Unlikely. Anyhow, MW is a good bet for you as is the local mall anchors, Macy's, JC Penney, etc. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

01-26-2015, 04:48 PM	#13
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	One of the reasons the styles change slowly is we're a bunch of slobs who only dress up to get laid. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

01-26-2015, 05:16 PM	#14
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	I'm sure the ladies have nothing to do with his desire to look super-dapper..... thought probably never crossed his mind..... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

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