the quest for a suit

[snugglekitty]

So, if you were looking for a well-made (I'm talking lined and finished, not Dolce & Gabbana) but relatively inexpensive women's suit in the Boston area, where would you go?

I need to attend an upcoming wedding that will be somewhat formal. I hate the kind of dress that I would have to wear for this, and I want to get a suit. I've been wanting one anyway, so it makes sense.

It's not until the end of next month ('cause, you know, people like those Memorial Day weekend weddings) and I've taken the month mostly off where my job is concerned. So, I have time to look around at different places.

I tried my local neighborhood Goodwill a few days ago, and the Garment District yesterday. The latter had a few things that were nearly right. I'll try again in a month. In the meantime, I am trying to make a list of other places to check. I can afford to buy one new as long as it's not ridiculous, but I want to check out all possible used and discount options first.

- Second Time Around in Harvard Square
- Boomerang in JP
- Filene's Basement
- Urban Renewals in Allston
- Planet Aid in Harvard Square

Any other suggestions?

Comments

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

Poor Little Rich Girl in Davis?

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I've never even been in there! Thanks for the suggestion.

[chillguru.livejournal.com]

you might try keezer's on river st. in cambridge. while they are a men's suit place, you may be able to find a suit that fits you attractively. if i'm not mistaken, that's where xtina went when she was doing this same thing.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

Keezer's is awesome. I got the best purple jacket in the world, there. I believe they even do some alterations.

[chillguru.livejournal.com]

they most certainly do! they're really nice guys as far as i can tell from my interactions with them.

and for the record, i absolutely love that purple jacket...especially on you!

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

I had never heard of them. I will try it for sure. :)

[chillguru.livejournal.com]

or rather the_xtina

[arachne8x.livejournal.com]

For a variety of sizes there is a place in the Twin Cities shopping plaza, near the Hollywood Express, I can't remember the name of the store but it specifically sells discounted priced suits for men and women.

[cutieperson]

oh, yeah! it's right next to Sewfisticated.

[jacflash.livejournal.com]

Definitely Keezer's, and keep checking the Basement and the Garment District.

[abilouise.livejournal.com]

FYI, Planet Aid no longer exists, which is terribly sad, IMHO. But talking to a former employee, apparently it was losing money like crazy with harvard square rental prices.

[nepenthedreams]

Barami (in the Pru mall or the other one connected to it) has great suits. My favorite suit is from there - it looks great, feels good, and I usually get several compliments. A less expensive choice is Banana Republic, which has nice styles, but it won't be, say, Italian silk.

[hanseth.livejournal.com]

Oona's, just outside of Harvard Square, might be an option. I found a beautiful formal gown there once, a total score. It's rare that I've been able to find anything like a suit at places like that, though, at least not one that a) isn't super-dowdy and also b) actually fits.

For new suits: I'll second the suggestion for Banana Republic, and add a suggestion for Ann Taylor. I got my first suit from AT, a gorgeous linen chocolate brown pantsuit, and the sales staff was exceptionally helpful at finding sizes and combinations that worked.

Also Jones New York. I think they carry that brand name in department stores like Macy's, but there's an outlet up here where Barb found herself a fabulous interview suit.

Out of curiosity, having never been to an actual formal wedding, what sort of dress would one need to wear to such an event?

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Oona's is a good suggestion too. I've never been in there. Wow, I've gotten so many great ideas! I've often seen things I like in the window of Ann Taylor, so that seems like a good possibility too.

For reasons of superstition, it is considered impolite to wear black to a wedding, especially if you are female. (This rules out most of my wardrobe.) Also, because this is a spring wedding, there is probably somewhat of an expectation that women wear dresses in "springy" colors and materials. In other words, there will be a lot of pastel chiffon happening. And pastel chiffon makes me want to vomit.

[hanseth.livejournal.com]

Ha ha. Pastel chiffon makes me want to puke too. But what time of day is the wedding? If it's a formal wedding, odds are good that it's in the evening, which means darker greens, blues, even pinks if that's your thing, are totally ok. There are a thousand perfectly nice dress options for those of us that hate pastel and chiffon, especially in concert. (ew.) And as you know, the only colors that are really out are black, white, and red. Just because it's spring doesn't mean you have to wear spring colors.

Also, while I am so there with you about the black, it does seem to be the "in" thing now. When my best friend from high school got married a few years ago in Baltimore, one of the moms in attendance (um... the mom of a family that's close to the groom's family, more or less) wore a stunning black dress, and she's someone I would have thought to have known better.

Hey, when you figure something out, do post it? I'd love to see how you solve this dilemma, as someone with similar tastes (minus all the black).

[artemis44.livejournal.com]

Yep, I wore a fairly simple but elegant black dress to a July wedding last summer, but found a great filmy scarf in a bright (not neon) green with long fringe on it to wrap about my shoulders - it was perfect and there were several other people there in black... most with colorful accessories as well.

Though, having seen you in a suit, I am most certainly NOT trying to talk you out of the suit option... ;) And I can definitely see you in a sharp Ann Taylor (or Ann Taylor Loft - less pricey, still great) suit - they're very well made and I'd bet they'd be very flattering on you...

Jones New York-for cheap

[trouble4hire.livejournal.com]

The Goodwill in Central Square tends to have a lot of Jones New York stuff. They aren't so great at keeping suits together, but they have a huge blazer section and you might be able to get a blazer and skirt that went together, even if they didn't match.
Also, there are two more Second Time Around stores on Newbury St, and they have good suit sections.
There's an outlet mall in Wrentham that I've been meaning to go to, and the websites says they have a Jones New York Suits store, as well as a Banana Republic and an Ann Taylor. That might be a back-up plan, because you could surely find something in so many stores, even if it might not be as inexpensive as Goodwill or Garment District and outlet malls are a bit soul sucking. But you could have company to keep the soul sucking at bay.