to want to get a nice, new suit

[CoolToned]

for my husband? He will attend a cocktail party. His workplace has gotten an award, and he was invited to join the group that will represent the workplace in the industry award ceremony. He said maybe we can look at charity shops.

Yep if he can afford it a new suit would be better than a charity shop one, purely because there won't be enough choice for fit (I love charity shops for other things). Could ebay be a compromise? He could even cheekily try suits on in a high st shop he likes then look for the same brand in his size on ebay.

Also vestaire collective is good, though it can take ages to ship.

He can afford a new suit, but he doesn't like buying clothes. He thinks they're a waste of money. I think he deserves a new suit!

Also, he wants to lose weight before buying a suit, but the event is three weeks away!

Well if he hates shopping then he won't enjoy trawling through charity shops! Much more stressful than going into a new clothes shop. I guess he should check if it's black tie as he might prefer to rent rather than but a dinner jacket.

What's the difference between a suit and a dinner jacket?

A suit is what some men wear to work, with a shirt and usually a long tie.

A dinner jacket is often black, sometimes white or cream, with black trousers* worn with a wing collar shirt and bow tie. Worn to posh events and dinners. Waiters and classical musicians often wear them.

*other colors are available

Accidental bold, sorry!

So if it's a cocktail party, it should probably be a dinner jacket then.

It is only a dinner jacket/bow tie if the invite says "Black tie", otherwise a normal suit should be OK.

M & S and Next have some nice suits for under £150 at the moment. If the cost is the issue like you say, may I suggest Primark. A friend was wearing a really mint suit & it looked quality in a brighter blue colour (not like Trigger from OFAH) I hasten to add and it was only £50

Burton does some really nice affordable suits- it's where I generally get my work gear from. Nicer cut than M&S, and generally more hard-wearing in my experience. (And they're cheaper!)

Definitely not a dinner jacket - he'll be overdressed unless the invitation says black tie.

Does he have any smart clothes at all, even if not a suit? Something like chinos with a smart jacket can look good

He doesn't have a dinner jacket. I have unearthed a black suit jacket though. I'll take a pic.

Is this ok?

Excuse the bra photobombing the pic. :D

Hmmmm. I don't think you're going to like my reply!

If a man posted saying that he felt his wife needed a new dress (or suit!) for an event they were going to and that she wasn't keen on getting a new one but had said maybe she would agree to look in a charity shop, but he wanted her to wear something different; I think there would be several replies saying her body her clothes her choice.

I can see you mean well and I think the offer to buy a new suit is lovely of you. But I also think you need to respect his decision. If - after you have offered to buy him a new one - he still doesn't want one or wants to get it from a charity shop then I think you need to respect that.