Jos A Banks

[forsbergacct2000]

I went to our local store in Lansing for the first time last night.

It was nice stuff, very nice in comparison to my favorite men's store, Holden Reid, but very over-priced, at least to me.

The manager said that our company is one of the companies that would get 20% off.

Some of the Clearance stuff was in my range. A lot of it seemed trad, at least to my uneducated understanding of the style. I like trad, but I like a lot of "non-trad" stuff, too.

The $800 suits were on sale for $275. If I had needed a suit (because I'm losing weight and have one suit, which is all my life requires), I might have bitten. For that price, the suits were pretty nice.

I don't know about shopping there, except when things are on sale, though. Very nice, but to my small city background, quite expensive.

(I dream of the day when I can afford a $3,000 bespoke suit, but I don't know where I could ever wear it or admit to someone in my real life that I spent that much on a suit. My hat is off to those who can afford and use that kind of gear.)

[Cruiser]

I dream of the day when I can afford a $3,000 bespoke suit, but I don't know where I could ever wear it or admit to someone in my real life that I spent that much on a suit.

That reminds me of the very expensive bottle of single malt Scotch that I bought once. I found that I was having trouble drinking it because it was so expensive and if I drank it, it would be gone. I think that if I spent $3000 on a suit I would be afraid to wear it for fear of damaging it in some way. I guess I could go to the closet and look at it every now and then.

Cruiser

[J. L. Case]

Me being a person that has purchased from Jos A Banks before would strictly advise against doing so unless you really can't afford anything else. The clothes look great and drape well but they just don't hold up compared to my Brooks Brothers apparel. One of my suit jacket pockets ripped, one of my button up spread collar shirts has a hole in the bottom of the pocket, my cashmere vest is all knotted up and no longer looks good, and their ties always fray at the end. This is all in normal business wear and I didn't notice the damage 'till the end of the day. The stuff just doesn't hold up at least for me so they can forgot about getting any of my money from here on out. I might have to pay $800 for a suit at Brooks Brothers but at least I know I'll be getting quality clothing.

[gng8]

Everyone qualifies for their discounts and they always have sales. In my view if you buy goods at the sales price, you are about getting what you pay for. JAB is far better than Men's Wearhouse.

[dfloyd]

You can't compare JAB quality to Zegna or some Brooks Bros lines, but they are not that bad. When I went through a period where I had to economize because I was goling through a divorce, I purchased several JAB suits and sport coats. Now, after 10 years of usage, they are all still in excellent condition. Also, I have recently purchased a few of their Joseph line with working button holes. These are working well for me also because they are more of an English slim cut, and this line, while right for me, does not fit into the mainstream of JAB customers who want a full cut business suit.

JAB will discount 20% if you give them your name and corporate name, then you will receive their numerous mailings. Also, once per month (usually), they have a corporate day where they sell suits at 50% off.

The Executive line is composed of super 100s, the Signature line is made up of super 110s, the Joseph is comprised of super 100s with several niceities: pick stiching, corozo buttons, high quality rayon lining, higher arm holes for a slimming design, side vents, plain front or one pleat trousers, 2 button stance.

I would recommend JAB to anyone just starting out. Like any suit, including Brioni, You have to treat the suit with care and attention. This means no more wear than once a week, brushing after each wear, steaming after each wear, dry clean only when soiled. If you do not treat any suit with the proper care or use a good dry cleaner when it is necessary, it wont last. A super 150 Italian suit priced at $2000 or above wont last as long as a JAB suit without the proper care, and in fact you have to be more carefull. The same is true of shirts. A $300 shirt will not last if you don't take the appropriate measures. If you have had a bad experience with JAB, I suggest you would have had the same experience with a more expensive suit, and probably faster. BB suits are like JAB, you have to take care of them and they are not worth the nearly $1000 price unless you purchase them on sale.

[obiwan]

Unless you are going bespoke or MTM where you can order a second pair of pants, the coat will outlast pants 2:1 so, the $2000 suit probably won't last longer than the $450 JAB.

I have a few of their signature gold suits which were purchased at more than 50% off which in my eyes, makes them a deal.

I recently purchased 2 BB GF, Thom Brown seems to have had an influence in the GF as well, since my last GF purchase the arm holes no longer fit, the vest with the 3 pc was far too short for a 48L.

[Thurston]

I own a number of things from JAB. As far as I'm concerned, it's all about the price and ready availability. I don't believe that anyone actually pays their so-called retail prices. You'd be seriously overpaying if you did. At an average price of half off, you are getting your money's worth.

I know the big argument is that you can get better quality for equal or less on ebay, etc. But that takes time, interest and know how. Most people aren't going to do that - even many people here. JAB gives you a brick and mortar store where you can try items on, easily get them on sale and have them complete the alterations for you. I believe that most arguments for thrifting, ebaying, buying off the forums... fail to recognize the actual and 'shoe leather' costs of shipping, finding alterations tailors, etc.

If you have a job in a typical business or bus. casual dress environment, JAB has a full line of traditionally styled business and casual wear that has very little to do with fashion and will serve you well. Just don't overpay. If you need or want to look like you are wearing very expensive clothes, you should shop elsewhere.

[Martinis at 8]

I like their Traveler series of shirts. That's about all I buy there. They do not sell floating canvas suits.

M8

[Sir Walter]

I like their Traveler series of shirts. That's about all I buy there. They do not sell floating canvas suits.

M8

It was my understanding that the Signature Gold line is a half canvas garment that does have a floating chest piece.

[vwguy]

Some of the Clearance stuff was in my range. A lot of it seemed trad, at least to my uneducated understanding of the style. I like trad, but I like a lot of "non-trad" stuff, too.

A lot of it is close, but not quite. The two main offenses of their coats are the big shoulder pads and of course the darts.

I picked up a navy suit when it was on sale for $300, nothing in that price range comes close their quality. If it's not on sale in the store, it's probably on sale on their website which they will honor in the store. At some point I hope they stop playing that game, I think they'd get more business if they dropped the "regular" price to the normal "sale" price.

Brian

[TMMKC]

I shop at JAB on occasion and find their quality comparable to the SALE price (as others have noted). Can you get better quality? Ceraitnly. Is their quality, fit and style adequate if price is an issue? Of course. You could do a lot worse than JAB, IMO. They do have several nice items, so I would never totally dismiss them.

P.S. My current seersucker suit is JAB and I love it.

[Martinis at 8]

It was my understanding that the Signature Gold line is a half canvas garment that does have a floating chest piece.

They told me no, but I did not bother to do a pinch test.

M8

[NewYorkBuck]

I know that once in a while JAB will have an incredible sale on their suits up through Sig Gold. Seems hard to go wrong on what they ask during that sale.

[eagle2250]

With a bit of surgically precise discount shopping, just about anyone can afford to shop at Brooks Brothers. Just in the past couple of years, I have been able to buy $129 shirts for less than $15, $119 wool trousers and $79 chinos for just under $18 a pop, a $498 blazer for $179 and the list goes on and on. The key is in watching for the sales and stacking discounts. My wifes savings at BB have been even greater than mine...but of course, she has that genetic advantage, when it comes to shopping! (winks)

PS: in keeping with the subject of the OP, I do have Jos A Bank's Blackwatch dinner jacket, which I picked up for $49! Very nice jacket for that price.

[wvuguy]

If you have a job in a typical business or bus. casual dress environment, JAB has a full line of traditionally styled business and casual wear that has very little to do with fashion and will serve you well. Just don't overpay. If you need or want to look like you are wearing very expensive clothes, you should shop elsewhere.

IMHO, that's pretty much a bullseye assessment of JAB; a retailer that clearly works for some and equally clearly not for others. If you bring a comparatively healthy skepticism for what the MSRP represents with you to the store.....or better yet, their website.....JAB can be a perfectly good source for perfectly acceptable clothing at perfectly fine pricing.

[Custos]

Hi all, longtime viewer; finally posting. I have a suit from JAB suit that hasn't held up especially well over time. I do like some of their odd jackets, but Brooks looks classier and more expensive IMHO.

I do, however, have a dinner jacket that I picked up from JAB, do in no small part to the numerous AAAC member comments on economic JAB evening wear, and have been quite pleased. The issue in dealing with them on the dinner jacket was that I had to persuade the salesperson a bit on sizing, sleeve-length, etc. But I pretty much routinely expect that that will happen--I almost always have to politely say that I prefer my jacket sleeves a bit higher so that I actually (and can you believe this part) show a bit of cuff, and then I have to explain that I don't like my cuff to reach all the way down to my thumbnail. It can be a chore. But in spite of their bumbling, the salespeople are usually pleasant.

[JRR]

Me being a person that has purchased from Jos A Banks before would strictly advise against doing so unless you really can't afford anything else. The clothes look great and drape well but they just don't hold up compared to my Brooks Brothers apparel. One of my suit jacket pockets ripped, one of my button up spread collar shirts has a hole in the bottom of the pocket, my cashmere vest is all knotted up and no longer looks good, and their ties always fray at the end. This is all in normal business wear and I didn't notice the damage 'till the end of the day. The stuff just doesn't hold up at least for me so they can forgot about getting any of my money from here on out. I might have to pay $800 for a suit at Brooks Brothers but at least I know I'll be getting quality clothing.

Apples and oranges

[JRR]

I went to our local store in Lansing for the first time last night.

It was nice stuff, very nice in comparison to my favorite men's store, Holden Reid, but very over-priced, at least to me.

The manager said that our company is one of the companies that would get 20% off.

Some of the Clearance stuff was in my range. A lot of it seemed trad, at least to my uneducated understanding of the style. I like trad, but I like a lot of "non-trad" stuff, too.

The $800 suits were on sale for $275. If I had needed a suit (because I'm losing weight and have one suit, which is all my life requires), I might have bitten. For that price, the suits were pretty nice.

I don't know about shopping there, except when things are on sale, though. Very nice, but to my small city background, quite expensive.

(I dream of the day when I can afford a $3,000 bespoke suit, but I don't know where I could ever wear it or admit to someone in my real life that I spent that much on a suit. My hat is off to those who can afford and use that kind of gear.)

JAB is what it is. Is it high fashion? No. Is it business appropriate stuff that will last for a few years if taken care of properly? You betcha.

Most of my work wardrobe is from JAB. It is much better than the mall stuff such as JCP, Macys etc.

The pricing for the suits is fairly consistent if you factor in the perpetual sale idea they use.

The $800 line of suits you saw is probably the Signature line. These are decent suits for work. Super 110s, conservative style, will last several years if not dry cleaned to all hell.

These Sig/$800 suits never should be purchased for full price. Usually there is a perpetual sale around 50%. So the "regular" price is about $400. Sig line at $275 is a good deal.

Also, the perpetual sale price isn't marked on the individaul suit. When a suit is marked for clearance it is, but not with the perpetual sale price. There is a sign on the wall that lists the corresponding discount for the item. For suits it usually around 50%.

And to all who complain about the perpetual sale: All of the mall stores here in Middle America do it too!

[Swabbie]

With a bit of surgically precise discount shopping, just about anyone can afford to shop at Brooks Brothers. Just in the past couple of years, I have been able to buy .............. a $498 blazer for $179 ........

I was wondering if you could give me an example of a discount stack scenario that ends up with a BB $498 blazer for $179.

I've been paying more attention to the BB website since I started lurking here a few weeks ago (this is my first post). I know they have a 25% off promotion going now as well. I'm wondering what combo could get something like that up to 60% off.

[2.mark]

With a bit of surgically precise discount shopping, just about anyone can afford to shop at Brooks Brothers. Just in the past couple of years, I have been able to buy $129 shirts for less than $15, $119 wool trousers and $79 chinos for just under $18 a pop, a $498 blazer for $179 and the list goes on and on. The key is in watching for the sales and stacking discounts. My wifes savings at BB have been even greater than mine...but of course, she has that genetic advantage, when it comes to shopping! (winks)

PS: in keeping with the subject of the OP, I do have Jos A Bank's Blackwatch dinner jacket, which I picked up for $49! Very nice jacket for that price.

Eagle, how do you achieve those discounts? Online? Particular outlet locations? Wait for annual sales cycles?

[edhillpr]

My wife & I walked into Jos A Banks last night looking for dress shirts, which I didn't find.

But I did find a nice heavy merino wool topcoat. I tried both the tan and black. I bought the black. The shoulders appear a wee bit padded, which I thought odd, but it fits well in 38R. This is priced at $ 400 but reduced to about $140 for the Fri, Sat, Sun. sale. They were putting out the topcoats so they honored the sale price.

The coat is not trimmed for the slim body shape, as some of the similar Brooks Brothers top coats appear to be, but this JABanks coat appears well put together. I have no information yet on how durable it is. But at $ 140, I'll try it and see what happens. The wool is thick, and feels good, which could be useful in a winter coat.

If you're reading this on the weekend of Nov. 16,17,18 you can take advantage of another of their constant sales.

http://www.josbank.com/Images/Catalo...ages/8604e.jpg

[Ace_Face]

I wore a lot of JAB when I was first starting out. For the sale price, it is a good deal. But once I started to buy BB, etc., it is hard to go back. I've talked myself into more than one JAB sale item only to regret it later when the inferiorities in fit and finish become more apparent.

[Sir Walter]

I wore a lot of JAB when I was first starting out. For the sale price, it is a good deal. But once I started to buy BB, etc., it is hard to go back. I've talked myself into more than one JAB sale item only to regret it later when the inferiorities in fit and finish become more apparent.

Did you find any inferiorities with the Sig Gold line suits? For a long time I just could not wrap my mind around buying the goods from JAB. Recently I began looking at the Sig Gold suits and I must admit I have been both surprised and impressed with the garments. I think at $250 - $300 the Sig Gold suits are great deals. I wouldn't pay more than $400 and the full retail price is absurd.

By the same token I would not pay the full retail price for the BB 1818 suits or their sport coats. The 1818 suits (which are half canvassed) sell for $498 on sale, but if you compare this with the Canali, HF and Zegna which can be purchased at the discount outlet stores for $450 - $480 with the 20% to 30 % discount specials that are frequently offered, the BB 1818 suits are nothing special. I also have inspected the sport coats at BB and I do not believe they are canvassed, especially not in the lapels.

[Ace_Face]

I have tried on the Sig Gold suits, but again, I thought they were only OK. Like the HSM Gold Trumpeter, they are a bargain for the price, but I would rather spend a few hundred dollars extra to get something like the 1818 that feels right on me. I have not ventured into Canali or Zegna, but I may look into an Italian suit for my next purchase.

[philm]

You can't compare JAB quality to Zegna or some Brooks Bros lines, but they are not that bad. When I went through a period where I had to economize because I was goling through a divorce, I purchased several JAB suits and sport coats. Now, after 10 years of usage, they are all still in excellent condition. Also, I have recently purchased a few of their Joseph line with working button holes. These are working well for me also because they are more of an English slim cut, and this line, while right for me, does not fit into the mainstream of JAB customers who want a full cut business suit.

JAB will discount 20% if you give them your name and corporate name, then you will receive their numerous mailings. Also, once per month (usually), they have a corporate day where they sell suits at 50% off.

The Executive line is composed of super 100s, the Signature line is made up of super 110s, the Joseph is comprised of super 100s with several niceities: pick stiching, corozo buttons, high quality rayon lining, higher arm holes for a slimming design, side vents, plain front or one pleat trousers, 2 button stance.

I would recommend JAB to anyone just starting out. Like any suit, including Brioni, You have to treat the suit with care and attention. This means no more wear than once a week, brushing after each wear, steaming after each wear, dry clean only when soiled. If you do not treat any suit with the proper care or use a good dry cleaner when it is necessary, it wont last. A super 150 Italian suit priced at $2000 or above wont last as long as a JAB suit without the proper care, and in fact you have to be more carefull. The same is true of shirts. A $300 shirt will not last if you don't take the appropriate measures. If you have had a bad experience with JAB, I suggest you would have had the same experience with a more expensive suit, and probably faster. BB suits are like JAB, you have to take care of them and they are not worth the nearly $1000 price unless you purchase them on sale.

I basically agree. I've worn the same JAB Glen Plaid suit at least once every two weeks for the past three years. I usually have it dry cleaned after three wears. There has been no damage. I got in in one the constant Clearances. In the upper South I can wear it year around for the most part. I do the same with a navy pinpoint suit and a houndstooth suit. They feel very good on; and where I work they are more than adequate in terms of style. If this thread comes up again, I'll explain how these suits are holding up then. JAB is critical for me because my better half is a CPA without a sartorial heart (but don't tell her that).