Buying a quality suit doesn’t need to be expensive, whether it’s for business or a formal occasion (or even both, to save more money). All men can still look fashionable and stylish in a suit for only a few hundred dollars or less. Here’s a comprehensive guide to how you can find and buy a good looking suit that won’t break the bank.

What to look for in a suit

Buy the right size

The first and foremost way to ensure you look great in a suit, no matter your budget, is to look for one that fits just right. Know your clothes measurements so you can buy the best sized suit for your figure. If you’re slim, buy a ‘trim fit’ or ‘athletic cut’ suit, which comes with a jacket that has pre-contoured sides and less shoulder padding. These offer a natural, masculine V-shape.

Make sure the shoulder pads fit your actual shoulders, so they don’t scrunch up if you were to lean your shoulder against a wall. If they do, your suit is too big. Also, if you curl your fingers up towards the hem of the jacket and it bunches up, it’s too long. Wrinkles, vertical creases or horizontal x-folds mean that the suit is too wide or too tight in certain areas.

As a rule of thumb, don’t buy a suit that’s one size too small or too big because altering it will cost you more and the end result may not be ideal. But, off-the-rack suits are designed with pre-set shapes and sizes, meaning that they offer little variation for your body type, so it you can’t find one that fits just right, buy a suit that’s a little big instead of too tight, so that removing excess fabric will be easy and the suit can be re-stitched together in a way that still enables you to fit in it.

Check the fabric

Suits made of cotton and wool are cheaper than those made of silk. They’re also more breathable than polyester and will allow you to move better. And, they’re good at regulating temperature and offer a stylish and professional look.

The measurement for wool fabrics is based on how many times the yarn was twisted, which ranges from 80 to 220. For an affordable suit, look for one within the 80s range, which you can wear almost all year round.

You can find suits made with 100% cotton or wool for just a few hundred dollars. Suits made with custom cotton or wool blend are even cheaper. This is when cotton and wool are blended with other types of material, such as rayon, polyester, spandex and lycra.

Which brand?

Different brands offer different measurements for their suits despite having the same size, so if there are two brands sold at the same store, you may not be the same size in both. For example, you may be a 40 regular in one brand’s suit and a 40 short in another. Always try the suit on to make sure.

Brands that are catered towards a young audience are more likely to have more affordable suits, so start with these.

Details

A cheap suit will sometimes be missing features, such as ticket pockets or surgeon’s cuffs. High-quality suits have handmade buttonholes, where the hole is cut first and then neatly sewn, as well as handsewn sleeve linings. However, companies like Zara have affordable men’s suits with these designer elements included.

What you need to buy

Here are some frugal options for each individual item of a suit, plus the accessories:

• Blazer – For versatility, an all-purpose blazer such as a Havana grey plain jacket is a great option and costs about $300.
• Pants – For office pants, consider buying a few pairs of chinos, which you can get for only $70.
• Shirt – A nice shirt can be bought for around $80, and if you buy one in dark blue, black or white you can wear them with multiple matching suits.
• Tie – Pick a plain tie so that you can wear it with multiple suits without people noticing. Or, to add a bit of character, go for a trendy navy blue knit tie, which you will be able to find for around $40.
• Socks – It’s best to wear muted colours for business or formal events, but for social or informal events and if you want to stand out, you can wear good-quality, brightly coloured or patterned socks for only $10 a pair.
• Shoes – Stylish and sturdy dress shoes are the perfect match for suits. Buying the right pair can mean not changing them for many years. You can find a pair of black leather shoes which will match almost any suit for under $100 on websites like The Iconic.
• Accessories – Attaching a $15 pocket square cotton handkerchief to your jacket adds style and class.

More tips to help you save

Buy the jacket and pants separately

This can sometimes save you more money than if you bought a complete suit. A lot of top brands sell separates, and you’ll still get the confident feeling of wearing a made-to-measure suit. This option is great for men who have an athletic build and require bigger jackets and smaller pants.

A benefit of buying jackets and pants separately is that you can also mix and match them for different looks. Basic colours such as black, grey and navy blue will make it easy to match separates. They can also make it easier to match shoes, ties and dress shirts. This way, you won’t need to spend additional money to complete your look.

Don’t be precious

The best way to bag a bargain is to buy a used suit or a new suit without tags or with minor defects. You can find these types of suits on eBay without totally compromising on quality. You can get a tailor to fix small defects or any minor problems with a used suit.

Look for a versatile suit

It’s a whole lot cheaper to buy a suit that you can use for different occasions rather than buying a different suit for each occasion. You can wear navy blue or light grey suits to job interviews and weddings, while a suit with two or three buttons can be worn to social and business events.

Where to buy a quality suit on a budget

Here are some of the best places to look for a suit when you’re on a budget:

• Topman – If you’re slim, Topman is the shop for you. They have a variety of men’s suits you can try on that cost around $300.
• Zara – Zara has trendy suits that you can buy for between $300 to $500, and they’re perfect for wearing to work every day.
• MJ Bale – MJ Bale offers two suits for $1,000, which is great for those looking for value and variety without compromising on quality.
• Vintage stores and flea markets – Vintage stores and flea markets in large cities are also great places to buy a quality suit at a huge discount.
• eBay – You can also find an affordable but quality suit on eBay. With eBay’s search tools, you can set your price range and look for suits from a specific brand, and of a certain condition, colour or style. To pay for an item at a fixed price, choose the ‘Buy It Now’ option instead of placing a bid. You can also use eBay’s search tools to find sellers and businesses that offer free shipping or those that are close by so you can pick up the suit for free.

Who said you can’t get a cheap suit and still look good? Follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to looking the part, without the hole in your wallet.