Thread: Where's the best place to buy business and smart casual attire in the UK?

I am on my travels again and seeing as I am coming home I thought I would get something done which I have been putting off and putting off out here. Basically I need a new wardrobe for work as my other clothes are looking a bit old. I hate clothes shopping here, so thought I might as well get it done in the UK where it won't cause me as much stress. Basically I need another suit, some jackets, shirts, trousers and ties. Where is the best place to buy that kind of stuff in the UK? I am looking for the clothes that look good and are well made, but also don't break the wallet too much. I really have no desire for a gold suit or anything bling like that.

Any pointers would be most welcome and you have about 13 hours to get your replies in. Thanks in advance, my darlings.

If ya looking for a suit that's a good price but looks well, then pop into Next, River Island or even Burtons produce some decent stuff and the right price. Failing that and ya want really cheap stuff then go to the likes of Asda or Tesco

Originally Posted by Mattyhitman

If ya looking for a suit that's a good price but looks well, then pop into Next, River Island or even Burtons produce some decent stuff and the right price. Failing that and ya want really cheap stuff then go to the likes of Asda or Tesco

The same kinds of places that have always been around then. I've never heard of shopping for clothes in Tesco's, must be something that has developed since I've been gone.

Koreans know their clothes too well, so I need to strike the right balance between quality and cost. I don't want to go bankrupt, but I don't want to look like Jarvis Cocker either.

Originally Posted by miles

Originally Posted by Mattyhitman

If ya looking for a suit that's a good price but looks well, then pop into Next, River Island or even Burtons produce some decent stuff and the right price. Failing that and ya want really cheap stuff then go to the likes of Asda or Tesco

The same kinds of places that have always been around then. I've never heard of shopping for clothes in Tesco's, must be something that has developed since I've been gone.

Koreans know their clothes too well, so I need to strike the right balance between quality and cost. I don't want to go bankrupt, but I don't want to look like Jarvis Cocker either.

Tesco have taken over the retail sector in the UK and just keep getting bigger. The is a store in Hartlepool, where i used to work thats bloody huge ! Ya can buy anything and everything from there, food, electricals, clothes, gifts, jewellery etc. Tesco have their own clothes brand called Fred, whereas Asda has the brand George. I actually bought a couple of suits, just plain black ones from Asda when i was in the car game, only cost about £30 for trousers and jacket, couple of quid for the white shirts, i looked smart as a carrott for less than £40 !

Tesco will rule the world soon.

Next probably has the best smart clothes.

I was also looking at the Marks and Spencers website last night. I should really post this in the signs that you are getting older thread.

My favorite places to buy business attire are: Brooks Brothers, Jos. A. Banks, Banana Republic, and Nordstrom's.

Don't know if you have those in England or in Korea.

Salvation Army thrift store? 'kiddin

Yeah. Nordstrom and Macy's for me.

You may laugh ( I know my mates did) but my last suit was from Primark! I'd seen this show on TV where they bought suits from all the budget suit places; Asda, Tesco, Primark etc and got some bloke to go to all the top tailors on Savile Row in London. Every single tailor picked the Primark suit as the best quality and most likely to fool the fashion conscious. I bought my suit for just £38!! Honestly, every person always comments on how nice it is!

That said Miles if the Korean's know their suits then maybe Primarni isn't the best place for you. Apart from the usual places such as Burton and River Island try Topman. Their suits are priced around the £120 mark upwards and as the 'slim fit' seems to be in fashion now a lot of their suits are well fitted. You're a fairly slim guy like me and I feel nothing looks worse than a 'wide shoulder pad' look suit on a slim bloke! Makes me look all bones!

Primark ----- AKA Primarni

I've been looking at all the usual places (Next, Burtons, River Island etc), but to be honest I have been less than impressed. The variety of jackets for instance is extremely limited and it is tough finding anything that doesn't look baggy on me (obese seems to be the norm in this country). I will venture out to a bigger city such as York for the day in the hope of finding more choice, but so far it has been a tough sell in terms of new clothes.

In one piece of good but unrelated news though I managed to pick up a Bruce Springsteen box set covering 1973-1984 for the princely sum of £17-98. A lot of good stuff on those early albums.

I really miss having a computer, it's amazing how attached you become to your computer, but it's been fantastic being able to buy my newpapers everyday.

Originally Posted by miles

I've been looking at all the usual places (Next, Burtons, River Island etc), but to be honest I have been less than impressed. The variety of jackets for instance is extremely limited and it is tough finding anything that doesn't look baggy on me (obese seems to be the norm in this country). I will venture out to a bigger city such as York for the day in the hope of finding more choice, but so far it has been a tough sell in terms of new clothes.

In one piece of good but unrelated news though I managed to pick up a Bruce Springsteen box set covering 1973-1984 for the princely sum of £17-98. A lot of good stuff on those early albums.

I really miss having a computer, it's amazing how attached you become to your computer, but it's been fantastic being able to buy my newpapers everyday.

Buy a kindle Miles! You could get free subscriptions to all the top papers whilst over there then. You get free two week trials. Best save the cash spent on physical papers and put it towards the Kindle you know you deserve

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by miles

I've been looking at all the usual places (Next, Burtons, River Island etc), but to be honest I have been less than impressed. The variety of jackets for instance is extremely limited and it is tough finding anything that doesn't look baggy on me (obese seems to be the norm in this country). I will venture out to a bigger city such as York for the day in the hope of finding more choice, but so far it has been a tough sell in terms of new clothes.

In one piece of good but unrelated news though I managed to pick up a Bruce Springsteen box set covering 1973-1984 for the princely sum of £17-98. A lot of good stuff on those early albums.

I really miss having a computer, it's amazing how attached you become to your computer, but it's been fantastic being able to buy my newpapers everyday.

Buy a kindle Miles! You could get free subscriptions to all the top papers whilst over there then. You get free two week trials. Best save the cash spent on physical papers and put it towards the Kindle you know you deserve

Where's the best place to buy one? And most importantly, will it work in Korea? Does it just up and go wherever you use it?

Originally Posted by miles

Originally Posted by Bilbo

Originally Posted by miles

I've been looking at all the usual places (Next, Burtons, River Island etc), but to be honest I have been less than impressed. The variety of jackets for instance is extremely limited and it is tough finding anything that doesn't look baggy on me (obese seems to be the norm in this country). I will venture out to a bigger city such as York for the day in the hope of finding more choice, but so far it has been a tough sell in terms of new clothes.

In one piece of good but unrelated news though I managed to pick up a Bruce Springsteen box set covering 1973-1984 for the princely sum of £17-98. A lot of good stuff on those early albums.

I really miss having a computer, it's amazing how attached you become to your computer, but it's been fantastic being able to buy my newpapers everyday.

Buy a kindle Miles! You could get free subscriptions to all the top papers whilst over there then. You get free two week trials. Best save the cash spent on physical papers and put it towards the Kindle you know you deserve

Where's the best place to buy one? And most importantly, will it work in Korea? Does it just up and go wherever you use it?

I would order one on Amazon. They work everywhere! If you can connect via wifi you canuse them anywhere in the world. If you buy the one with 3G that you can browse the net for free in every country that has a vodafone network.

The basic wifi one is only £111 on Amazon now.It was easily my fave purchase of 2010.

Miles I just checked on Amazon. Not only do they ship to South Korea but they also give you free internet coverage there over 3G. North Korea get fuck all so that must be a truimph.

You should know however that they ship to Israel but say that unfortunately they cannot sell to the Palestinians. I'm not sure what kind of message that sends but I'm sure you won't approve much of that policy