Should I invest in a taylor made suit?

I currently have a jacket, and trousers, shows, etc but I don't have a taylor made suit, as I will be going to interview soons is this a wise investment?

I don't have much money but I have computer stuff to sell to pay for it.

Would it make any difference in an interview? If not I will just buy one once I have got the job.

 

No. Don't go to a taylor. Go to a tailor instead.

And put shoes on your feet.

Please please tell me you spell checked your CV before you sent it out!

Anyway, forget tailoring... an off-the-shelf suit from Marks and Sparks should do the job nicely and nobody will mark you down as long as it fits OK.

 

ok thanks, sorry about the spelling mistake, I shall get it right next time, : sir

I need to get somthing sorted out, the one I have at the moment does look a bit scruffy.

 

you definately need a suit mate, and black polished shoes... and a business tie and co-ordinated shirt.

That lot shouldnt cost you more than £150 from somewhere like M&S or moss bros

 

My suit is an off-the-peg item and it's seen me to success through three job interviews. No realistic employer (and certainly not one in the field you're going into) will expect you to own a tailored suit and in the world of software there's a very good chance they won't care about it at all.

If you want to stand out a little in terms of dress with taste and subtlety then wear a cotton shirt (oxford weave and linen are nice) which is properly ironed rather than a plastic non-iron or easy-iron shirt. Match to a pure silk tie and you should be there. Avoid shades of blue for the shirt because that's by FAR the most common colour, along with various pastel shades.

 

it may be worth having the suit altered to fit better if you are a 'non standard' shape. certainly all the suits i've owned in the past have had to be 'fitted' even though they were off the peg but then i was / am an odd shape .
it may be worthwhile buying your suit from somewhere that can do this included in the price. it will cost a bit more say 200 ish all in rather than 150 but a good fitting suit is a must in my opinion (not that i wear them that often).
all that said, given the choice of a good suit and average shoes and an average suit and good shoes - i'd take the good shoes every time.
cheers


julian.

 

I will probably avoid getting a tailor made one then, I've noticed there are a lot of scruffy people in the software industry so thats to my advantage

I guess if I get the job becuase of its a very good investment.

Edit Julian - I shall have to try some on but I in terms of build I am very average so it shouldn't be a problem.

I do need to invest in some better shoes as well, mine are looking scruffy.

 

Tailored suit is a waste of wedge, interviewers wont know the difference. Buy a classic suit (never out of fasion) and but a really nice tie that says who you are (not a bart simpson one) I have a suit that cost £50 but with my £65 tie looks the dogs. Try these designer outlets, just make sure you buy classics. I have an armani suit £800 and the £50er is just as smart although I do feel better in the expensive one. Look for at least a wool blend, but lambswool is best.

 

AT

You certainly need something to boost your chances at an interview and a decent suit will help a lot.

First rule is do not be over fashionable and for goodness sake do not wear brown shoes.

My suits are all Gieves and Hawks, they cost around a grand but they go for half price in January. A darkish pinstrip is most recommended.

Wear a striped shirt with double cuffs. Single cuffs make you look a pauper. Also wear chain linked cufflinks and never those T bar swivel things. Make sure you wear a polka dot tie.

Black socks are essential as are black brogues.

Carrying a battered good leather brief case (traditional top opener) with a brolley is also good.

I once lived in Rochdale in the 70's and used a tailor call Abe Sachs from Manchester. He was very good.

If he is still there give him a call.

Regards

Mick

 

AT go to slaters, good suits at realistic prices, and I belive you have one in Manchester, when I was a printer, we watched the young lads coming in for apprenticeships, because of the nature of the job most turned up in their "best" trainers and jacket with jeans (all clean of course) some even turned up in shirt tie, trousers and a leather jacket (which was fine as most employers understand school/college leavers ay not have a suit) anyway one lad turned up and had a suit that was obviously prior to him stretching (he was pretty tall) or borrowed, and the trousers were at half mast, the job was working in the packing dept, so no real brains needed, but he was the only one who made the effort top wear a suit, and was it a coincidence that he got the job.

basically, it's the effort you put in, not the price of your suit, clean tidy, well presented and on time, is what makes the difference.

 

Thanks, I don't have much money anyway so I can't afford anything fancy, I will have a good shop around next week on many weeks off I should be able to spend £150 so I should be able to get some smartish clothes

Of course a suit can never get you the job, but a bad one might stop you from getting the job.

 

Look for the sales... You can get a nice suit from savoy tailor's guild (the retail arm of moss bros) for under £100 at that time. I also got a wool and cashmere coat for £70 (rrp £270) and wool/silk blend DJ for £36!!!

 

Slaters are good - I've bought a few shirts etc. from there in the past year or so for decent prices. They also have a good range of sizes as well.

 

There is a shop near me I might look in as well, called Birts, it might be too expensive but it will be worth a look, its been there for at least 30 years.

I just want to get the smartest best quality one possible without paying for a name.

 

I watched the chap who runs M&S give an interview today to the business press and he informed all that would listen that he was clothed from head to socks in M&S kit for iirc ukp150 - might be a good place to start. Now as already mentioned shoes should be black, well polished and not in need of repair, don't have unsightly bulges in jacket or pants due to mobile phone, car keys or indeed a well use hanky - looks not too good.

When you get the job you might like to think about spending one months salary on a good suit and as much as you need to get a good pair of shoes, after all you can't go to work each day in trhe same suit and shoes can you - or can you?


If you win the Saturday night lotto then paying these two merchants a visit will be well worth it.

Kilgour Savile Row
Church's English Shoes

 

It's highly unlikely that AT would need a suit to wear to work. Shirt and tie maybe, but suit very unlikely. For shirt and tie just get a few pairs of smart trousers (£18 in the burton's sale), some nice shirts (these can be easy iron if you must.... £10-£25 ea (for £25 you will be getting a decent pure cotton shirt though)) and some silk ties (£10ea).

 

you should always be dressed at least as well as the guy who is interviewing you. first impressions can't be changed and the last thing you want as a first impression is a cheap suit. mick is on the right lines, but only go the whole hog if you are over 50 and a banker. however the double cuff shirts are essential, only pair a pin stripe with a solid coloured shirt. you don't want to look like a test pattern. agree about the cuff links and sock adn shoes too. always wear black polished lace up shoes for an interview! also wear plain black socks. ties should never have any cartoon characters or anything that says "i'm a twat" on it.... you get the point, smart confident and professional.

 

oh! and always wear a white shirt for a job interview! i only have one white shirt, and that's what it's for....

 

I don't agree with that.... I've never worn a white shirt to an interview, and have never failed to be offered the job. Same goes for cufflinks... if you're applying for a job at a city bank fair enough, but in the software/engineering world no one will pay attention to it.

AT- go out with a budget of £150 for suit, shirt, tie and maybe shoes as well. Anything more than that is unecessary for where you're at... you'll probably still be better dressed than most people.

 

Single-cuff shirts yuk yuk yuk, Shirts with 'links is the only way to go. Pop into the traff centre and have a butchers round. Ive got plenty of shirts, trousers and jackets and I always seem to end up at next. Socks, pringle is the only way for me, Ive lost count how many pairs I have. And FFS make sure your shoes are clean, you can tell alot from a mans shoes. The worst thing you can do when you get suited n booted is go OTT, a la 2nd division footballer, light-coloured three piece suite with brown shoes, not nice.