Find me a great suit jacket, quick!

August 15, 2007 9:12 AM

I'm tall (6'4"), I'm skinny (195lbs), and I need a black suit jacket before the end of the day today (I have the pants, but I'll buy new ones if need be). Obviously the time constraint eliminates any kind of custom garment. Basically, I need to know what stores I should be looking at in New York City -- I like a closer, more European fit, and I don't want to break the bank. First stop is H&M, but I'm not optimistic about what I'll find there. Other suggestions?
posted by logovisual to clothing, beauty, & fashion (18 comments total)

Century 21 (downtown near WTC site) will have a bunch, at good prices, but it's hectic there and you have to sift through many racks. I like to do a little mental relaxation preparation or have certain brands in mind before I go.
posted by rmless at 9:21 AM on August 15, 2007

I know you want a jacket and not a tuxedo, but maybe some of these answers will give you ideas.
posted by hermitosis at 9:24 AM on August 15, 2007

Men's Wearhouse on 6th ave between 20th and 21st has always done me well. Much better selection and prices than I would have thought. They even had tall sizes that worked for me.
posted by jeffxl at 9:25 AM on August 15, 2007

in my experience (about 5 years ago), Nordstrom on 5th Ave can do same day alterations.
posted by uaudio at 9:32 AM on August 15, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Try Mexx - it's just a step above H&M and a little pricier, but still very European. We once bought my (tall and skinny) boyfriend pants there before a speaking engagement and he wore them out of the store.

Mexx
650 5th Avenue
10022 New York City
T 212.956.6506

Mexx SoHo
500 Broadway
10012 New York City
T 212.343.7954
posted by jrichards at 9:33 AM on August 15, 2007

Zara
posted by iviken at 9:35 AM on August 15, 2007

I'm a similar size and shape and I've had very good luck at Men's Wearhouse.
posted by bshort at 9:40 AM on August 15, 2007

Second Zara
posted by Brian James at 9:41 AM on August 15, 2007

Seconding Mexx and Zara and also tossing United Colors of Benetton into the ring.
posted by junesix at 9:47 AM on August 15, 2007

Is there a JC Penney nearby? Your dimensions are similar to my son's and we got him a pretty good suit off the rack at Penney's.
posted by Doohickie at 10:31 AM on August 15, 2007

4thing Zara. Everything there is for European skinny giants.
posted by Kololo at 10:38 AM on August 15, 2007

I'm female (though also tall and skinny) so I'm not sure that this suggestion will work out, but if you get a chance, stop by a Sisley. Might be a bit pricier than Zara (which I highly recommend), but they do tend to also have european styling and their women's stuff, at least, is cut thin and tall.
posted by you're a kitty! at 10:39 AM on August 15, 2007

banana republic usually has great styles en masse but it's hit and miss with sizes. you may have to hit a second store to get the right size.
posted by krautland at 11:18 AM on August 15, 2007

Another (5th) recommendation for Zara. Both Zara and H&M have inexpensive suits that are of decent quality that don't fit like a potato sack.

This might be common sense, but make sure that you bring your black pants when you go shopping for the jacket. If the color or fabric is off, even slightly, it will look weird.
posted by Gojira at 11:58 AM on August 15, 2007

Barneys is having a sale this week. Ad is in NYT today. Might be expensive but you never know.
posted by Xurando at 12:26 PM on August 15, 2007

I'm 6'4" and 190 lbs. Anything I buy at Express fits well. Sleeves are long enough, but not so big around the middle that I look like I stole it from my dad's closet. They have some nice cotton and wool suit jackets. Can't say for the price, or for the jacket quality, but all of the pants I've purchased there have held up well, and a pair of wool pants I bought several years ago remains one of my absolute favorites.
posted by caution live frogs at 2:14 PM on August 15, 2007

Nordstrom has done suit alterations in 4 hours for me before.
posted by BrotherCaine at 2:37 PM on August 15, 2007

Coming back to this one with the "answer": I found a size 42 (just regular, CM don't seem to do long/short) jacket that fit me more than acceptably at Club Monaco. It's very slightly too loose across the back and very slightly too short in the sleeves, but it's otherwise a vast improvement on what I had to work with before. Thanks for the suggestions, everybody, hope they'll help somebody else!
posted by logovisual at 3:14 PM on August 19, 2007