Top Tips For Buying Second Hand Suits
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Whether you’re buying a suit for a job interview, a special event or even a wedding, it’s definitely not the cheapest item of clothing to buy. I’ve previously explored the best ways to save money on wedding dresses, so this post is going to look at buying second-hand suits as a much thriftier alternative to purchasing new.
To be quite honest, I do love a man in a suit. Wearing a suit for a lot of men makes them feel confident and smart and I’m willing to bet most have a least one lurking at the back of their wardrobe. However, buying suits can be an expensive business – in particular, if they are needed every day for work or if you’re a groom looking for something a bit special for your wedding day.
Why Buy Second Hand Suits?
There are lots of benefits to buying second hand. The first and most obvious is the money-saving side of things – second-hand suits are often significantly cheaper, even designer ones. Add to that the fact they’ve often only been worn once or twice, especially if it’s a wedding suit or one that’s been kept for special occasions.
Buying a second-hand suit is also much better for the environment. It helps prevent unused clothes from going into landfill and if you buy from a charity shop you’ll be supporting a good cause too. You could also consider buying a vintage or antique engagement or wedding ring which would help the planet as well as saving money. If you choose to invest in vintage or antique jewellery the value could significantly rise in the future.
Where To Find Second-Hand Suits
There are loads of places to find second-hand suits, including the various apps and websites listed below. It’s worth remembering that somewhere like eBay gives much more buyer protection than Facebook marketplace, where there is no comeback if something goes wrong with your transaction. If paying with Paypal always use the proper buyer/seller option, even though there is a fee, as this gives way more protection than using the free ‘friends and family’ option
8. Places to find Second Hand Suits
As well as these you could try looking at Jumble Sales, Car Boot Sales and local tabletop sales. It’s often really surprising what you can find after a good rummage.
Second-Hand Doesn’t Have To Mean Worn
Buying a second-hand suit doesn’t necessarily mean the suit will have been worn – it could well be brand new with tags (BNWT), bought for a wedding or event that never happened.
If you’d prefer a brand new suit at a discounted price this a great way to go – try filtering by new only on eBay or take a look at Oxfam.com where they have a great range of brand new with tags suits for sale.
If the suit isn’t quite the right size then taking it up or taking it in is pretty easy. You could ask a family member to do it for you or lrn to sew yourself with the help of online tutorials.
Wedding Suits
While a lot of guys could probably get away with wearing a suit they already own for their wedding, many will also choose to buy a new one.
Wedding suits are often a bit fancier than an everyday work type suit and for this reason, many only get worn once and then eventually get given away.
Lots of charity shops will have a good range of second-hand suits, with the added bonus of being able to try them on. Many second-hand shops do allow returns too, so it’s worth asking if you’d rather try a suit on at home.
Buying Second-Hand Suits Online
If you don’t fancy traipsing around lots of charity shops looking for the perfect suit and aren’t keen on eBay either, buying online from a charity shop may be the answer. A mentioned above, Oxfam have loads of second-hand suits in their online shop. While delivery is £3.95 they do offer free returns if you aren’t happy with your purchase.
Check The Label
Once you’ve bought a second-hand suit, you may well want to give a wash. Make sure you check the label to ensure it isn’t dry clean only – there’s nothing worse than finding a great bargain then accidentally shrinking it in the wash!
Designer Finds
If you want something a bit more upmarket, there are still plenty of places to look. While you’re unlikely to find a designer suit at a car boot sale, heading to a more affluent area and taking a look around the charity shops there could be a good shout. Living in Somerset, for me, this tends to mean heading over to look at the charity shops in Bath or the Charity shops in Wells. Designer Suit Brands to look out for include Prada and Armani.
Don’t forget the accessories
Finally, as well as the suit itself there are plenty of things you might need to go with a suit such as shoes, a tie or bowtie and even braces. The majority of these items could be sourced second-hand. Personally, however, I would always recommend going with a crisp, new shirt, especially if it’s for a wedding. Plus a shirt is much more likely to get worn or reused as it can easily be dressed up or down.
