The Best Men’s Suits for Under $1,000

Whatwe’relookingfor

Fit:Slim |Fabric:Vitale Barberis Canonico Super 110’s |Canvas:Half |Jacket:Two-button, flap pockets, natural shoulder, double vent |Pants:Mid-rise, flat front, belt loops |Size range:32–50 jacket, 26–44 pants |Sold as separates:Yes |Alterations:In-house, subsidized |Country of production:China

Whether you find yourself in need of a nice-looking suit at the very last minute or you’re ready to spec out the customized suit of your dreams, the local Suitsupply store can be the first and last stop for most guys (Zohran Mamdani famously wears the brand’s suits). The company’s knowledgeable staff, speedy in-store alterations, and expansive inventory make it easy to find the right suit for your body at a budgetandtimeline that fit your needs. You do have to go into the store to get the most out of the experience, but with 37 stores spread across every major U.S. city (and four in NYC alone), that’s easier to manage than you might think. During the hour I spent at the Soho location for my fitting, I observed a procession of guys ranging from T-shirt-wearing college kids to label obsessives — and all the polo- and button-down-wearing regular guys in between — come in for try-ons and post-alteration pickups. Each one looked good in their suit and left looking satisfied.

Unlike other high-volume suiting operations, Suitsupply’s suits are designed and made with real perspective. The Dutch brand’s house style is inspired by Neapolitan tailoring, which emphasizes comfort and fluidity. Accordingly, its suits are light on padding and structure, with wider pick-stitched lapels, functional cuff buttonholes (typically a $100-plus add-on at a tailor), and an unpadded, slightly pleated shoulder (a detail known as a spalla camicia shirtsleeve). It’s a stylish starting point for anyone who doesn’t already have strong opinions on the topic. And Suitsupply makes it easy to find a set that works for your unique proportions because the brand sells jackets (in sizes 32 to 50) separately from pants (26 to 40), reducing the amount of tailoring needed to find a flattering fit. Any remaining tweaks required to dial it in will be suggested and pinned by a sales associate, then executed by in-house sewists at asubsidized price. You should plan to spend about $58 to take in a jacket’s sides and sleeves and another $15 to $30 on the pants hem and waistband, both of which can typically be completed in one to three days. It’s faster and cheaper than a separate trip to a tailor, but a trained eye can spot the difference. Even before I explained who did what, McNeil rated the Suitsupply’s fit behind that of Sid Mashburn’s and Ralph Lauren’s, which are pricier but include the services of in-house master tailors.

Owing to the scale of its suiting operation, Suitsupply offers finer materials at lower prices than its competitors. The $798 Havana that was suggested to me feels smoother and drapes more elegantly than the $900J.Crew Ludlow suitI tried on and costs $300 less than a suit fromProper Clothmade from the same fabric. In fact, when I asked the salesperson what he might suggest as an upgrade for someone looking to get something nicer, he said he wouldn’t bother. For all its fabric and configuration options (three shoulder styles plus a separate relaxed-fit Roma line), Suitsupply’s most expensive off-the-rack options top out at $1,200 — less than the starting price of many high-end suit-makers. And these tend to be made from more exotic fabrics that aren’t ideal for a versatile suit meant for all occasions. (There’s also a slightly costlier made-to-measure option for people who can’t find a decent starting point off the rack.)

Suitsupply delivers excellent value in a midrange suit, but its most affordable options from the Perennial linestart at $599. This is much higher than the $400 or less you’d expect to spend on a cheap suit at a budget-oriented menswear shop, so the truly budget-constrained should look elsewhere. Likewise, people looking for a more relaxed fit style can consider Suitsupply’sRoma linebut may be better served by a brand that specializes in more relaxed cuts, such asTodd Snyder. Overall, however, no other store makes it easier and faster to get a nice-fitting suit at a reasonable price than Suitsupply.

Fit:Slim |Fabric:100 percent Australian merino wool, milled in China |Canvas:Half, fused |Jacket:Two-button, flap pockets, lightly padded shoulder, double vent |Pants:Mid-rise, flat front, belt loops |Size range:34–48 jacket, 28–48 pants |Sold as separates:Yes |Alterations:Not included |Country of production:China

At $278 for the jacket and pants, you can buy this suit for about as much as it costs torent one from Men’s Wearhouse. Rowe & Taylor is a new sub-brand of the well-regarded online suit sellerSpier & Mackay, which distilled its decades of tailoring expertise down to the bare necessities to create this sub-$300 suit. Despite their low prices, Rowe & Taylor suits are still made from 100 percent merino-wool fabric with half-canvas construction and a full inner lining. Unlike the other suits on this list, those materials are sourced in China — where the factory is located — rather than from Italy, Germany, or Japan. And you get a polyester-viscose-blend lining instead of a silkiercuproor more breathable all-viscose lining. These cost savings may reduce the garments’ longevity, but they still add up to a solid first impression for the price. Overall, it’s a great starter suit for young people who might still be growing or a good option for a wedding party requiring matching outfits.

Compared to the Suitsupply suit’s face fabric, Rowe & Taylor’s is not as lustrous and doesn’t drape as elegantly. McNeil immediately determined that this was a lower-end suit when he touched it. But the quality differences in the other materials and components aren’t as easily discernible to an untrained eye, unlike the fit of the clothes, which was surprisingly refined out of the box. “I think it fits you better than Spier & Mackay,” said McNeil. He noted a subtle ripple on the left breast, suggesting the canvas might have separated slightly from the face fabric during transit. But a dry cleaner could press that out. He also pointed out a few other areas where a tailor may be able to improve the fit but admitted that it’s hard to justify spending the cost of the jacket itself on alterations. Hemming the pants, however, is a must since they arrive unfinished by default. If you know your inseam measurement, Rowe & Taylor will do it for $10, but I always recommend getting this done in person since every pair of pants fits a bit differently.

Fit:Slim |Fabric:100-percent-wool Portuguese plain weave |Canvas:Full |Jacket:Two-button, flap pockets, natural shoulder, double vent, unfinished sleeves |Pants:Mid-rise, flat front, belt loops |Size range:36R–49L jacket, 30–43 pants |Sold as separates:No |Alterations:Included |Country of production:Portugal

Even though the Kincaid No. 2 is among the most expensive suits I tested, there’s a case to be made that it’s actually the best value of the bunch. While Suitsupply offers more impressive fabrics and a stylish fit for a lot less cash, the Kincaid No. 2 is the only sub-$1,000 suit I found that’s made using full-canvas construction. This means the structure-enhancing horsehair interlining extends from the top of the shoulder down to the hem and is sewn in by hand rather than being glued in or heat-fused from the waist on up (as with every other suit I tested). “You can buy [a Sid Mashburn suit] for a wedding and wear it for the rest of your life,” explained Nico Lazaro, a fashion consultant and the author of the menswear blogThe Bengal Stripe. “You can even go back and have them let out the waist if you end up growing a size later on.”

You’ll need a good tailor to take full advantage of what the suit has to offer. Thankfully, all Sid Mashburn stores have master tailors on staff whose services are included with purchase. Ferruccio Romanelli at the Upper East Side locationdid a terrific job. He was the only in-house tailor who measured my thumb knuckle to get a more precise sleeve-length measurement, and it made a noticeable difference, as evidenced by the perfect half-inch of white shirt sleeve peeking out from under the cuff. “This is the best fit so far,” said McNeil as I walked out of the dressing room, before he knew which one I was wearing (his store is a Sid Mashburn dealer). By the time I finished trying on all the suits for him, his conviction had only grown: “Sid was the leader for me, and it wasn’t particularly close. It had everything. I liked the fit, the texture. I liked that they recommended the cuffed hem on the pants. And the shoulder was spot-on.” It was still soft and naturally constructed in the Neapolitan style, but unlike the Suitsupply, there was no visible dimpling at the seam.

Of all the suits I tested, the Kincaid No. 2 is the least “off the rack,” as the jacket sleeves and pant hems are both unfinished — not even the cuff buttons come attached — but all this can be done for free if you live near one of Mashburn’seight locationsnationwide. Furthermore, the jacket can be purchased only with its corresponding pant size, which measures six inches less than the chest. The size-32 pants that came with my 38R jacket needed to be taken in to fit my 30-inch waist but fit perfectly after tailoring. After seeing the results of the shop’s work on this starter suit, made from basic plain-weave fabric, I wouldn’t hesitate to spend the additional $800 on its best-sellingKincaid No. 3.

Fit:Classic |Fabric:Italian gabardine-wool |Canvas:Half |Jacket:Three-roll-two, patch pockets, natural shoulder, double vent |Pants:Mid-rise, flat front, side tabs, pre-hemmed |Size range:36S–46L jacket, 28–38 pants |Sold as separates:Yes |Alterations:In-house, unsubsidized |Country of production:Portugal

If you’re looking for a more stylish suit — perhaps for yourownwedding — then Todd Snyder would be a great place to start. As a more fashion-forward brand that stages runway shows for its seasonal releases, its stores offer a tightly curated selection of materials and colors, with considered flourishes (like pick-stitched, extra-wide lapels) not present in most other brands’ off-the-rack offerings. From professorial wide-wale-corduroy setstoeffortlessly relaxed double-breasted jacketsand luxuriousItalian velvet tuxedos, Todd Snyder’s Portuguese-made suits feel original, even if they occasionally veer into trendy territory. And since the pants are sold pre-hemmed and many of the suits come in slim, classic, and relaxed fits, it’s actually possible to find a decent fit off the rack and wear it out of the store if you’re really in a bind and need something fast. Todd Snyder is another one of Lazaro’s favorite off-the-rack tailoring brands, especially for people looking for a more relaxed fit. However, its size range tops out at 46L in most jackets and 38 for pants, which is narrower than some other brands.

The company’s in-store experience is superb with spacious fitting rooms, flattering warm lighting, and friendly, tasteful staff who will help you find the right combination of jacket and pants for your body and style, which can even entail mixing cuts (or colors) between the pants and jacket. It’s the kind of place that encourages you to try a few things you may not otherwise have considered. I came in with the same brief here as everywhere else (“a solid, first and only suit, ideally charcoal or navy”) but was seduced by the slinkytaupe mohair-blend fabricpictured below. The in-house tailor came out to check the fit and determined it didn’t need any alterations, which would have been performed à la carte at market rate. That said, McNeil later pointed out during our try-on that the back of the arms had an untidy, flappy look that would’ve benefited from being tapered and shortened a touch.

Fit:Slim |Fabric:Italian wool-serge cloth |Canvas:Half |Jacket:Two-button, flap pockets, lightly padded shoulder, double vent |Pants:Mid-rise, flat front, side tabs |Size range:32S–52L jacket, 26–36 pants |Sold as separates:No |Alterations:Included |Country of production:Portugal

Of all the suits I tried, I was most pleasantly surprised by the Ralph Lauren Polo wool-serge suit. As was McNeil, who picked it as his second-favorite overall, citing its clean, modern fit. In addition to the close-cropped cut, the lightly padded shoulders add subtle structure to the silhouette, in contrast to the more natural look favored by most brands these days. Wearing it made me feel like Tuxedo Mask fromSailor Moon— in a good way. At a hair under $1,000, it’s among the more expensive suits I considered, but the sheen and texture of the Ralph Lauren–exclusive Italian-milled fabric justify the cost. It comes in a standard deep navy, but I’d recommend the subtly variegated charcoal for a more interesting texture that doesn’t look too business-y.

The Polo suit has more room than J.Crew’s Ludlow, which felt restrictively skinny by comparison. But the 38R suit I tested fit noticeably slimmer than the Suitsupply Havana, so it may not be as accommodating of larger bodies as some of the other recommendations on this list. It’s also sold only as a drop-six set, which means a size-38 jacket must be purchased with size-32 pants. However, in-house alterations are included in the purchase price, so the in-house tailors can make the necessary adjustments in either direction. I also learned that this policy applies to all full-priced items, including the brand’s excellentpoplin dress shirts(pictured here), even if purchased online.

If at all feasible, though, I recommend going into a Ralph Lauren store, especially if you’re within commuting distance of the Upper East Side men’s flagship on Madison Avenue. TheGilded Age mansionretains much of its original interior trim and feels like an interactive art museum where almost everything is available for purchase, including a large selection of vintage jewelry and objets d’art you won’t find anywhere else.

Fit:Classic |Fabric:Dino Filarte Super 110’s |Canvas:Half |Jacket:Two-button, flap pockets, lightly padded shoulder, double vent |Pants:Mid-rise, flat front, belt loops |Size range:36S–46L jacket, 30–40 pants |Sold as separates:No |Alterations:Not included |Country of production:China

On paper, the Canada-based online suit specialists at Spier & Mackay give you a comparable fabric and similar styling to Suitsupply for about $250 less. Having handled them side by side, I’m confident that the material and construction quality are indeed comparable. If you’ve bought suits before and know the type of fabric and fit you’re looking for, it’s a great way to save some cash up front to spend at your local tailor. But when I tried the Ellis — the company’s core Italian-inspired suit — the off-the-rack fit felt more old-fashioned than classic. The jacket had a boxier cut than every other jacket I tried, and it was the only size-38 jacket that felt and looked too wide in the shoulder. This was made all the more obvious by the presence of a light pad, which only accentuated the mismatched seam. “It’s almost like you’re wearing a suit from your dad’s closet. But for the price, the value and construction are there,” said McNeil of the Ellis. “It may require some tailoring, depending on your body type and personal preferences. But at that price, sometimes you just need a suit and don’t need it to fit perfectly.”

A tailor could fix the shoulder width, but it would be costly as the entire section would need to be deconstructed and reconstructed to get it right. The better move here would be to size down to a 36, but that could end up being too small, as it was with every other brand I tested. I suspect this unpaddedsuit from the brand’s Neo line, made of the same fabric as the Suitsupply Havana I tested, may be a better choice for my slender frame. This would have been easy to determine by trying a few options in a brick-and-mortar store but difficult to replicate with an online-only experience. Like Ralph Lauren and Sid Mashburn, Spier & Mackay sells jackets and pants only as a drop-six set, but unlike those larger brands, it doesn’t offer complimentary tailoring to make any necessary adjustments. And the biggest jacket size offered is a 46, which isn’t as accommodating as some other brands, including its own diffusion brand, Rowe & Taylor.

Fit:Customizable |Fabric:Dino Filarte Super 110’s |Canvas:Half |Jacket:Customizable |Pants:Customizable |Size range:36–52 jacket, 28–42 pants |Sold as separates:Yes |Alterations:Up to $125, reimbursed as store credit |Country of production:Thailand

At $800, the Allen Suit’s default configuration is a decent value. But the real beauty of Proper Cloth is that its made-to-order business model allows you to customize almost every detail, from the width of the shoulder to the number of buttons on the cuffs, often at no additional cost. (Note that because the factories are in Southeast Asia, you’ll wait at least three weeks to receive a suit — possibly longer if the fit is off by enough to warrant a remake, for which you’ll wait another two to four weeks.) However, if you don’t already have opinions on interior pocket layouts, the number of buttons that ought to be on a cuff, and whether pant pockets ought to be angled for easy access or on seam for a cleaner look, be prepared to come up with some on the spot as you spec it out. It’s an overwhelming number of choices to make if you’re not already well versed in suit design. On the other hand, I was thrilled to be able to add pleats to my pants, which McNeil immediately noticed and complimented during testing. “The product is really impressive,” said Lazaro when I asked him about Proper Cloth. “I got them to make me this double-breasted linen suit with every little detail just how I wanted it, including interior travel pockets that allow me to pack my notebook and phone charger if I need to.”

Proper Cloth has showrooms in New York, Chicago, and Washington, D.C., where you can try on samples and touch the various fabrics, but the virtual fittings can be just as effective, especially if you already have a jacket that fits the way you like it and can use its measurements as a starting point. Even when I went to the Soho location for an in-person fitting, my custom measurements were taken by adjusting the default pattern based on how smaller and larger samples fit my body, not by measuring my actual body parts. This was how I ended up being put in a size-36 jacket but with the shoulder let out to 38 inches. When it arrived from the factory, about three weeks later, I was initially put off by how tightly it fit out of the box, but it felt fine after it had a few days to relax on the hanger.

When I modeled my made-to-measure Allen Suit for McNeil, he ranked the fit behind the tailored suits and ahead of all the off-the-rack options, noting that the fit through the sides could be refined with a tailor’s touch. If I decided to get that done,Proper Cloth would reimburseme with up to $125 worth of store credit. If the fit seems irreparably off, you have 60 days to request a full refund or a complimentary remake in a different size.