<p>Title says all. </p>
<p>Why do you think you need a suit in college?</p>
<p>@romanigypsyeyes</p>
<p>Job interviews, formal events, etc? Shouldn’t I get one for graduation as well? lol</p>
<p>You wear a robe at graduation. The last thing you’re probably going to want to wear under it is a formal suit. </p>
<p>If you’re getting one for job interviews, I’d wait until later on in your college career. Your body can change a lot over the next few years and there’s no point in buying a suit you’d only wear once or twice. Once you’re closer to interviewing and such, your body will be changing less and you can get good use out of your suit. </p>
<p>If you really want one though, I’d get a cheap one now and a more expensive one later on. </p>
<p>What field are you going into? My S only needed dress slacks or khakis and a blazer or sweater for career fairs and interviews in engineering. He has H’s old suit from when H was in college. He is now 3.5 years out of college and hasn’t needed to buy anything more than the blazer, dress slacks and dress shirts. He did not interview in a suit. Don’t believe he wears the suit very often and has never seen a reason to buy one of his own in all these years. </p>
<p>The less you take with you to college, the better. IF you need a suit, it would be better to buy it when you are done growing. Many men get taller and some get wider and/or broader in college. Some grants may require a suit for formal functions, perhaps. Perhaps some campuses may be more formal than others, but plenty of time to learn about that from the U you will be attending. </p>
<p>As a parent, I would not want to buy a suit for young man who is still growing. If you want to check out thrift shops, that might be an option. </p>
<p>@HImom </p>
<p>I am going into engineering/business field.</p>
<p>At my school there are a number of events where wearing a suit is not only helpful, it’s expected. I’m in a field somewhat similar to engineering and needed formal attire twice this semester. I don’t understand why someone wouldn’t want to bring at least one professional looking outfit to college. </p>
<p>Because the majority of college students don’t wear a suit once or twice a semester?</p>
<p>You can have a professional outfit without being a suit. </p>
<p>Agree with navy blue blazer and nice slacks, oxford shirt (neatly pressed) and a good looking tie (really.) Good, even in NYC. Versatile, won’t be under- or over-dressed. Then you can worry about a suit later. Blazers can be relatively inexpensive, but get a nice one.</p>
<p>I don’t understand the aversion to having a suit. Sure, you can do without it, doesn’t mean that it’s not useful. Getting a blazer and dress pants is hardly any cheaper. While it’s true that it’s not always necessary for engineering job interviews, you definately ought to be wearing one for business job interviews, and it certainly doesn’t hurt to have one for engineering either. </p>
<p>At 145 lbs I wore a size 40. At 180, I wear a size 42. It takes a lot of weight gain to change a suit size. There often some material left in the suit (both jacket and pants) such that it can be expanded out, but this is generally only worth considering if it’s a very expensive suit as an alteration like this is expensive. </p>
<p>Bought a suit for my high school graduation (British school). Have used it several times for other formal events and work interviews (took 2 gap years). Comes in very handy although it is a tight fit now and I won’t be taking it to college in the coming Fall. I used it for a good 4 years (coz we had our graduation in grd 11, weird i know) though so I guess that it served its purpose well 
It cost around 150$ so it wasn’t that expensive.
I say take a decent one to college, it can only help!</p>
<p>In many business environments, a navy suit is the standard. If those are the environments you think you’ll be in, then that’s what you should have. That said, I don’t recall one being needed until job interviews in those environments.</p>
<p>That aside, in most other environments, that suit will likely appear over-dressed. Hard to go wrong with navy blazer & dark gray trousers.</p>
<p>It depends on where you are going to school, what you are majoring in, and what activities you will be involved in.</p>
<p>For example, business classes that involve making presentations often expect students to wear business dress when making the presentations.</p>
<p>Likewise for job fairs-- tho it may depend on what sector you are seeking employment in.</p>
<p>Campus Greek events might also require certain clothes.</p>
<p>What about looking for a suit at a thrift shop and having it altered if necessary? </p>
<p>Speaking from personal experience each of my sons did bring a suit to college, and did use it. But they all had suits in their wardrobes already from years of going to bar mitzvah a, weddings, etc.</p>
<p>Looks like plenty of people have given advice on whether or not you should buy one, but no one has given advice on where (besides a thrift store) if you decide to buy one. Yes, thrift stores are an option. So are department stores, which are abundant in New York. You might also want to check online–Lands End may have affordable ones. </p>
<p>S1 wanted a suit for debate events in HS. We had good luck at Penney’s, and he has worn it many times over the last couple of years. It wasn’t overly expensive. Figured we could do something more high end when he is closer to being out of college. If you need a slim fit, they had a nice line of those.</p>
<p>You will probably not need a suit until you start to interview for jobs. And you might need a larger size by then. Yes, the sport coat (not necessarily navy) and slacks combination is a better option for your college years. Of course, if you have the money, you can also buy a suit just in case you go to a wedding or something. But you definitely will find more uses for a sport coat.</p>
<p>I do not know of any college in America where suits are common. Not even Sewanee-The University of The South which might be the most formal college in the country (some students and faculty wear robes to class - seriously!)</p>
<p>When S graduated HS, all men were required to wear navy blazer and grey slacks to the ceremony. He used that much more than his suit over the years. He didn’t attend Greek formal events. </p>
<p>Men’s Wearhouse has some reasonably priced suits and dressy attire. They don’t fit S well, so he isn’t interested in them. Have heard of young men growing quite a few inches in height in college so would try not to spend too much on formal clothing, especially slacks. </p>
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<p>It depends on where the gain/loss is. Most suits are sized with a 6" drop (i.e. chest - waist = 6", so a size 42 (chest) jacket comes with a size 36 trousers, and a size 40 jacket comes a size 34 trousers). Gain or loss of body fat at the waist tends to be pretty obvious when you put on the trousers. Gain or loss of chest or back muscle that can affect jacket size may be less obvious, although that can make the jacket (and dress shirt) fit less-than-optimally.</p>
<p>Suit separates may be available if your drop is something other than 6". “Athletic fit” suits and dress shirts with 8" drop exist, but are hard to find, although many college-age men will find them better fitting than regular fit suits with 6" drop.</p>
<p>As far as where to shop, Macy’s has a wide range of suits in all price ranges–and alterations generally are free. Watch for one of the sales and use one of the coupons that are often in the paper.</p>
<p>Another thing I forgot to include in my previous post is that where you go to school can determine whether or not you need a suit. My son who was a poli sci major in Denver did not need a suit; my son who was a business major in DC wore suits constantly–class presentations, class field trips to the Fed, the World Bank, etc. He and his friends also 'dressed up" on occasion to do things like go to the nice restaurant or theater with the girlfriend, go to a reception at an embassy, go to a networking event.</p>
<p>J Crew Ludlow suits for slim fit.
Their dress shoes are reasonable.
Zara for Men has suits that are very affordable.
European cut.</p>