How to Make Suits Look More Expensive, The Cheap Way

Some simple style hacks to level up your suit.

This day and age, we are finding less and less offices that opt for the buttoned up, business attire dress code. They say “dress for the job you want, not the job you have” and this rings true especially for countless tech companies that are riding the Google bandwagon and want to have a “chill” work environment. The thing is, when you are dressed poorly, human nature will dictate that you won’t be taken seriously, and sometimes you’ll find yourself the butt of jokes. And sad but true, that may even cost you a promotion down the road.

Before we start it off you will need to know what to look for. Go for brands like Connor, yd., Tarocash, and the like and stay away from the Armanis or the shiny synthetic fibers. Look for sales as well. If you want to spend you can get a $1,200 suit for $500 and if you want it cheap, mass-market suppliers can go for way less, so check your malls and shop online. Find a good blend of quality and price, and make sure the suit fits as closely to you as possible and we can start working from there. Inevitably, dressing well makes you feel well but not all of us can break the bank and suit up so here’s a few tricks on how to make suits look more expensive.

The sleeves must be taken in

Usually people spend about $150 just to fine tune a suit that they just bought and that’s just fine. But for the average joe (and how the suit initially fits) all you need is to have your tailor take in the sleeves to allow you unrestricted range of motion, and that nice hug that won’t make you move awkwardly.

Get better buttons

Cheap suits come with cheap, flimsy plastic buttons that can easily be ripped off after a long hard day at work. While the tailor is taking in the sleeves, might as well ask him to replace the buttons with legitimate horn. This is one of the little “cheats” to make suits look more expensive.

Cuff it up

Cuffs might as well be the difference between a $1,200 and a $500 suit. Apart from your pants fitting well with a tapered leg, ask your tailor to add a 1.5 inch cuff at the ankle as this is the default “expensive” look. Weird as adding a cuff is super cheap.

Shoes are the cherry on top – bottom in this case

If you cheap out on everything it may compromise the entire look no matter what you do. Invest in decent shoes like Windsor Smith’s, or if you’re into that cool formal vibe, Achilles Lows. Brilliant if you get the ones on sale and the magic to make suits look more expensive will blow your boss, coworker, and your date’s mind away.