best source of reasonable quality/reasonably priced suits/work clothes?

[hatwoman]

I don' tneed a suit much - just every now and then. I bought one about 10 years ago from Jigsaw - quality was good and it was sufficiently classic to stand the test of time. (I'm not sure, but suspect that Jigsaw quality has gone down since then, and prices gone up )

anyway I need a new one. rather quickly and with not much chance to get to a shop. I ordered one on line from M&S - very disappointed with the quality. material feels cheap and tailoring is, well, a bit pants. but it was v good price (app. £25 for skirt, £50 for jacket) and teh syle as ok. ish. Any regular suit wearers got any other sources of suits you'd recommend? Or should I try a different M&S one? maybe I was unlucky with my particular choice?

evening bump. I found something that looked ok and was a good price on that Lewis thingy website (can't remember the full name) but they didn;t have it in my size. anyone got any suggestions?

Where do you live? I get lots of my work suits and clothes from The Galleria or Swindon Outlet when I'm visiting my family. Then I can go for brands like Hobbs, Phase8 and Alexon. I know there are similar places around the country.

I stick with jigsaw as they are the only ones that fit me properly, look smart and are comfortable. However I agree quality has gone down - the linings of the jackets usually start to fray within a year and I've just had to replace a skirt where the main fabric wore out. However as they tend to use the same fabrics every year it's quite easy to mix & match and the styles last well I find. They have an outlet in Bicester if you're anywhere near there and also have a clearance outlet on eBay.

I have also had a suit from reiss which I've been happy with but more expensive than jigsaw - think they also have an outlet at Bicester though.

I haven't had any luck with anywhere else for suits and always been disappointed.

thanks - I've got to order on-line. I need to be be-suited for a whole week (hence the panic-buy). my Jigsaw suit is ok - in fact it has 2 skirts which in theory gives me some variety but one is very long and perhaps a bit dated, the other is too big for me - I can get away with it with tops but not tucked in shirts and I think I need the latter. I might take it to my local tailor and see if he can do anything but I suspect not as it positively swims all over the place. am wondering whether to go for a dress to wear with the jacket - could be quite cost effective. this looks nice - but not having worn Warehouse since I was about 25 am sceptical about quality. I want to look at home in my clothes for this particular week not (as is, in fact the truth) like someone who doesn't normally do suits and who has bought something for the occasion, as it were, whilst not wanting to spend too much. (ie I want to look like a grown-up) ...

If I do get a new suit I'm keen not to get black - I find it a bit heavy and formal (for my usual use) I'd get more use out of dark grey

I think you're right Annie. I'm too focused on this coming week - much better, I'm beginning to think, to see it as a 10 year investment (like the last one) and spending a bit. the difficulty is finding one - mainly because I'd like a petite sizing and dark grey.

too late! just decided to bite the bullet and go the investment route. just ordered this. not totally convinced by the tie at the back - but will see when it turns up.

link didn't work - it's the chelsea one

Did you get the 50 quid off when you spend 200 quid discount from Hobbs?

Just wanted to say well done hatdefo worth investing in a classic suit... will be with you for years hopefully.