Hi,

I'm an undergrad that will be traveling with a business group next semester. I need to buy a new suit and feel a bit overwhelmed for 2 reasons:

1. How can I pack a full suit in a suitcase without wrinkling it.

2. Where can I find a suit that looks great, is great for traveling, and is reasonably priced?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

A couple of things to tell us that might help

1. What sex are you?
2. What's "reasonably priced" mean to you. (This board has a wide variety of "expereinces" There are folks for whom a budget hotel is 30 Euros and those for whom a budget hotel is 200 Euros... so you can see why we need guidance!)
3. Where do you live or where will you be shopping? That can help folks direct you to specfic stores.

Anyway, I travel for business a LOT. A couple of thoughts.

1. Get a blend fabric, wrinkles tend to drop out quicker
2. Dry cleaning bags. Seriously I put my suit on a hanger put a dry cleaning bag over it. I then fold the thing in half stick it on the top of my other stuff in my packed 22" suitcase and take it out when I get the the hotel.
3. Dark colors. Dark hides wrinkles and spills better IMHO!

Are you sure you need a suit? If the business group you're traveling with dresses in suits, that's fine.

I've traveled to Europe on business for 20 or so years and never once worn a suit - it's not de rigueur in my business

You may find that dress pants and a jacket would also be just fine. That would greatly expand your wardrobe options & mix/match flexibility, not to mention comfort. A nice jacket and slacks looks better than a cheapo business suit IMO.

If you are uncertain, ask them.

Assuming you are a male, a blue blazer & black, gray, or tan dockers (or any store brand equivalent) fit nicely in to just about any business setting.

You don't say whether you are male or female. women's options are easier.
Either take a garment bag made for this purpose, or-
put the jacket in a thin plastic bag, (dry-cleaner bag or garbage bag). put your other clothes inside the jacket, so the clothes keep the jacket from smashing completely flat. If you have to fold it, use the same concept, use another item like socks or t-shirts to pad the folded area so it can't press flat in the suitcase.
For pants, grab them by the cuff, match the seamlines so the legs fall flat with the creases on the ends, and roll them around something soft (socks or t-shirt) being careful not to roll wrinkles into the pants.
Find a single-breasted black or navy wool suit that doesn't wrinkle. (avoid linen.) If you can grab the jacket sleeve and it leaves a mark, don't take it, or be prepared to iron it. Make sure it fits in the shoulders and have the sleeve length tailored if needed to make sure the jacket fits you well. If you can't wear wool, there's some good poly/rayon imitations that travel well. If you're a student on a tight budget, remember that older folks get fatter and outgrow their suits, and you can find a nice secondhand suit and have it tailored for a lot less than the price of a new suit.

"Assuming you are a male, a blue blazer & black, gray, or tan dockers (or any store brand equivalent) fit nicely in to just about any business setting."

Might get by with that but it very much depends on the setting and circumstances. I worked in Europe and with Europeans for many years, generally business suit meant business suit.

No matter what your gender, check out consignment stores and even places like Goodwill (there's a Goodwill in my area that has unbelievably snazzy designer stuff for incredibly cheap - I was there dropping stuff off and looking for flower pots today and picked up an incredibly gorgeous, apparently brand-new designer suede jacket for $4.98!).

I agree you should make sure a suit is mandatory. I've worked in plenty of European offices where it was, but also in some where it wasn't. If it's not, you've got a lot of options.

StCirq: I knew I like your style!
Ndr: lots of good advice here, by all means get a gently used suit and then wear it to get it to where you are going...if it is a good suit, it will be comfortable (and a side benefit may be slightly better treatment by airline personnel!)

I actually would not recommend wearing it to the destination. First the "slightly better" treatment isn't going to be that much better LOL! Plus my clothes look better AFTER being packed then I after I sleep in them LOL! Not to mention they smell better!

Thanks for all your help so far. I'll try to clarify a few things:

I am male, and "reasonably priced" means less than $500. My dad has bought stuff from Jos A Banks before, but I'm not sure that I really want to look like my father. I would like something that's pretty formal, but I can do a sportcoat or blazer... I just need to get black pants so I thought that a suit would be best. I live in NW Iowa, and the place I'm shopping is Sioux Falls South Dakota... they have several department stores, as well as men's wearhouse and Jos A Banks.

Let me know if you have other suggestions.

someone here ( thank you)
posted a link to the modern butler site
if you look carefully on the homepage
up the top you will se 'media store' click on videos and it will come out with 'how to pack a suitcase'
( along with tying a bow tie and polishing shoes)

watch the 40 min video
it is riveting lol!
but
i think for people who wear formal gear it is helpful
took me a while to find the it so im passing it on to you
keep it safe haahaa

This also depends on your field. If you are in tech, academics, architecture, medicine or engineering, you will probably be fine with a jacket or blazer and dark trousers (not khakis).

If you are in banking, finance, insurance, investing or anything involved with money, you will need a conservative dark suit, preferably navy, with black shoes.

If you were in fashion or retail, you wouldn't have to ask!

The drycleaner bag works well for me (male).

Hi ND,

>I would like something that's pretty formal, but I can do a sportcoat or blazer...<

Then do the sportcoat or blazer.

You can wear it with more than one pair of trousers.

PS,

I get mine from Lands End or LL Bean.

All I know about JOs A Banks is they have great sales as seen in their TV ads. Right now buy 1 suit get 2 free! That could really stretch your budget

If you give us a little more info it would be helpful.

Can't imagine anything you would have to have black pants for unless you're planning on being a headwaiter - and then you need a tux, not a suit.

Formality of attire depends very much on country and industry (although most countries and jobs are less casual than in the US)

I need black pants because prior to begining the business trip, I will be on a choir tour with my school and need black pants for the concerts. Can I put other color sport coats with black pants?

A dark blue sports coat will go with tan, khaki, blue, gray, or (maybe) black pants. I don't think dark blue over black looks that great myself. A gray sports coat would keep the black/white theme going, and match different pants too.

A blue or gray coat will also dress up any outfit with jeans - not for a business meeting, of course.

Stores like Macy's and Penney's also have men's departments - don't overlook them as an option, especially if they have a good sale going.

Whatever you do, don't wear white socks. I interviewed a guys recently who wore a nice black suit, black oxford shoes, and white socks. OK, he was an engineer, so it wasn't a huge surprise, but that's a bigger fashion faux pas than any suit vs sports coat controversy.

The black pants are a determining factor and I think J62 has excellent advice. If,however, you have the option of a black and white very fine-houndstooth check or a tweedy balck and white blazer, it will take you a long way...looks extremely sharp with jeans and a white button down collar shirt as well.