As a college student, searching for a suit that is both stylish and affordable might be the last thing on your list of priorities. However, when it comes time to give a presentation, attend a formal event, or even start interviewing for jobs, lacking a clean, sharp suit can ultimately come back to bite you.
Seriously, nobody wants to be the guy who has to borrow his roommate’s tuxedo from their high school prom.
Therefore, it’s important to have at least one suit sitting in your closet.
But seeing how you likely have loads of studying to do–alongside plenty of homework deadlines–I’ve put together a list of 7 of the best places to buy a suit for college students.
Let’s jump in!
1. Nordstrom
As a widely-known and sophisticated department store, Nordstrom is an exceptional option for buying suits on a budget. Nordstrom has a broad selection, and it’s easy to find a modern suit off the rack with their available options. And, it’s easy to locate a Nordstrom in nearly any city.
Plus, the company provides a useful tool to help better understand suits, including a breakdown of various characteristics like the silhouette, lapel, trouser pleats, and even jacket cuffs, on their website. What’s even more helpful is that Nordstrom provides a plethora of how-to tips on essential additional needs.
Depending on the brand, you can find suit jackets for as low as 80 dollars and a full, two-piece suit for around 300 dollars.
To get the most bang for your buck, Nordstrom also has fantastic deals at least once a year, when you can find quality suits from high-end brands for only a fraction of their original retail price.
On top of that, Nordstrom also has in-house tailors that are well-trained and ready to make your suit fit even better.
For some more affordable options, check out Nordstrom Rack. The off-price division is where you can often find Nordstrom’s featured brands for up to 70 percent off retail price.
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2. SuitSupply
Suitsupply is a worldwide suit retailer that features extremely well-made and modern suits perfect for those business course networking events.
With more than 100 stores across the world, SuitSupply retails everything from full suits to vests and even waistcoats and tuxedos.
Their website even allows you to shop by occasion, which we find incredibly helpful.
Cotton suits retail for around $450, while other fabrics like wool can fall as low as $350.
If you’re on the hunt for a quality suit that will last far past graduation day—and you have the money to spare—Suitsupply also offers wool silk and linen blends ranging from $700 to $999. Regardless, their suits don’t typically land above $1,000.
SuitSupply proudly employs tailoring experts that will make alterations to your ready-to-wear suit—bought through them—starting as low as only $10 a change.
They also offer custom suits starting at $459, allowing you to create a completely unique piece from scratch from a selection of over 1,000 Italian and British fabrics.
Overall, a suit from SuitSupply might just help you land you an “A” on that presentation–or maybe even the job of your dreams.
3. Bonobos
Bonobos is a trendy retailer that offers plenty of suit and blazer options that will work great for a college student.
They have all styles, from tuxedos and black-tie attire to a variety of suit options, including Italian performance and Italian wool suits. On top of it all, Bonobos also has an entire selection of suits designed for extended sizes.
If you catch a sale or clearance item, you can easily find a quality suit on Bonobos for as low as $350. Otherwise, they sell various suit options that average between $500 and $1,000.
If you’re trying to save some cash and you happen to have some nice slacks in the back of your closet, go on the hunt for a quality suit jacket. Bonobos also offers a plethora of blazers in all styles. And, you can find some as low as $198.
They also offer free shipping and returns on all online orders.
4. Men’s Warehouse
Men’s Warehouse is the staple retailer for suits. Not to mention, they’re located absolutely everywhere, making it an easy store to reach—even in a college town.
If you’re hoping for a nearly endless suit selection, Men’s Warehouse is your go-to. They offer an insane number of options, including suit separates, 3-piece suits, mix and match, and vests. You can even shop by the fit on their website, where they retail modern, classic, extreme slim, and executive fits.
Men’s Warehouse also features multiple high-end brands like Calvin Klein and Joseph Abboud.
Above all, Men’s Warehouse typically has fantastic deals.
They have made themselves known to offer steals on suits, even up to 80 percent off.
In addition, their clearance section is home to plenty of full suits—some of which I’ve seen retail for as low as $49.
So, if you’re on a tight budget in preparation for next semester’s room and board, don’t forget to check Men’s Warehouse. You may find not just one, but even two quality suits for only a sliver of the competitions’ prices.
5. Banana Republic
Another beloved, classic brand is Banana Republic. Although their selection is not as wide as others, Banana Republic’s suits are of great quality and typically made from wool, which is a highly sought-after material for suits and is appropriate for year-round use.
While they sell suit pieces separately, their sale prices are on the lower end of the spectrum.
You can easily find a pair of suit pants for as low as $129 and suit jackets for only $289 during a promotion.
That said, if you’re short on cash after buying books this semester and still need a tailor, Banana Republic might not be your best bet. However, if you’re able to find a well-fitted suit off the rack from one of their stores, the price is hard to beat.
6. Indochino
Indochino is a contemporary, chic company that specializes in custom-made suits.
At Indochino, you can avoid having your suit tailored altogether, as they make all of their clothing to your precise measurements.
Grab your roommate and let them measure your shoulders, then plug the numbers into their online system, and voila! Instead of going through the extra steps of finding a well-fitted suit for your upcoming internship interview, you can focus your attention on the more important things—like studying for finals.
You can buy separate suit pieces or full suits for an average price of around $500. However, when they go on sale, they really go on sale. Seriously, you can often find clearance suits for as low as $299. Oh, and the best part is, you can get $25 off your first order if you sign up for their promotional emails.
7. Amazon
Have you ever thought of anything that wasn’t on Amazon? I doubt it.
Alongside everything else on the platform, you can also purchase suits.
Believe it or not, Amazon features various top-notch brands, including Tommy Hilfiger, Kenneth Cole, and Calvin Klein. And, on top of it all, their prices are surprisingly low.
In fact, you can easily find a quality suit for $200 or less.
So, ordering a suit from Amazon and getting it altered elsewhere could potentially come out to be less than the average department store retail price for an off-the-rack suit.
What’s more, you don’t even need to leave the comfort of your own couch. So you can dedicate more time studying and less time searching for an appropriate suit. Ultimately, Amazon has your back.
Bottom Line
Life as a college student can be stressful as it is. So adding the hunt for a suit to your plate can easily make everything topple over.
That said, you’re likely to run into formal occasions, even as a college student. So, having a suit on deck for the surprise presentations or crucial interviews that follow graduation—heck, even for graduation—can take a lot of the pressure off of you.
So, where are you going to buy a suit?
