Purchasing blue blazer = where?

[einar]

A blue blazer is one of those man's garments that can be worn to just about any dress-up occasion. Dinner party, theatre, concert, house of worship, etc. Even in a pinch to a wedding or funeral.

I've had a nice one by Joseph Abboud for a decade and now it's gone threadbare, and I need to replace it. But I have shoppped for men's clothes in Toronto so rarely that I am clueless about quality and value in this town.

I dropped into Stollery's recently, corner of Yonge and Bloor. I know it's conservative and unfriendly and probably not great for price, but this is a blue blazer and you have to start somewhere.

Their selection of suits was impressive, I had a good salesman, and I did find a nice blue blazer. It was $895, and the fellow proudly told me that it was on special sale, at 30% off. Which means that after sales taxes it would still cost me over $700.

So, any suggestions where I could get a good blue blazer for less money? I know there is Moore's, but do they carry quality garments? And does anybody know a neighborhood-style, non-corporate men's store I could patronize? I don't like malls, and I don't like chains. I live downtown, but I am happy to drive to the suburbs if need be. I like patronizing small businesses, and if I found the right store, maybe I'd buy more clothes.

I assume Korry's on the Danforth would be just as expensive as Stollery's, even though I like the Saul Korman's radio ads. Should I try Tom's in Kensington market? I've never been there, and I don't want to buy 4 suits for the price of one, I just want a blue blazer.

Thanks for any advice!
Frugal Einar

P.S. Maybe I'll just have to pay more than I had hoped, or buy one in the US sometime.

P.P.S. Does anyone from Toronto actually patronize Stollery's? I never hear about it, and I figure they deal with a lot of tourists.

 

[Damondean]

Winners frequently has blue blazers. Can't beat the price. They are all brand names.

 

[papasmerf]

I found my red blazer on cragslist last October. So far not one problem with it and even put a Myers plow on it.

 

[moresex4me]

Korry's would be cheaper on their house brand, but designer stuff is more, obviously.

 

[Never Compromised]

Try Tom's Place or Harry Rosen clearance centre in the Heartland Centre.


Moores and Tip Top have stuff that will do "in a pinch" if your budget is really low. Don't expect their stuff to last years or to fit as well.

I've bought from Stollery's in the past. But you have to know what you are looking for and be there at the right time to grab something on sale.

 

[ig-88]

Value Village

 

[soiree]

Tilley's has a nice Navy Blue Travel Blazer for $300.00. It will last you a long time.

 

[einar]

Great suggestions, guys. Much appreciated. Keep 'em coming.

 

[nihilism]

If I need something quickly, I typically use Tom's place. If you have time, check out maxwellsclothiers.com, I have purcahsed three made to measure suits, and a blazer from them, great service and value.

 

[dandywriter]

blue blazer

I bought a nice Ralph Lauren single-breasted lightweight wool blue blazer for under $200 at Sears (don't laugh), on sale for 2/3 off... If you hit a sale, good clothes (not made to measure obviously) at great prices. I've had it a year, and it's wearing well.

 

[cute-bald]

All kidding aside !!!!

Go to the right areas, Richmond Hill.. if found. Got amazing suits.... 4 jackets, 6 pants , 6 dress shirts over 2 month period at Vallue Village & Goodwill. Went to tailor for alterations.

 

[Nickelodeon]

The Bay has higher end men's boutiques in their Queen and Bloor St. stores. They regularly have sales at 30% + off retail. This includes brand names such as Abboud, Samuelson, etc.

 

[phail]

just go to harry rosen and get a quality garment. costly, but will last a lifetime.
and they have great customer service (from my experience)

 

[spankingman]

We buy all our Regimental blazers and pants at MOORES. They seem to have them always in stock.

 

[Robinto]

If you're not in a big hurry, check out ebay. They'll have hundreds of Blazers, so search for your size, and name brands, and you might end up with a brand new Hugo Boss blazer, like I did a while back for well under a hundred bucks including shipping.

Online auction sites, and Craigslist and Kijiji can be great for clothes shopping thanks in part to the obesity epidemic. People are getting bigger and bigger every day, but clothes that they recently paid a lot of money, for aren't.

 

[einar]

The Bay has higher end men's boutiques in their Queen and Bloor St. stores. They regularly have sales at 30% + off retail. This includes brand names such as Abboud, Samuelson, etc.

I tend to take The Bay for granted and ignore shopping there, but I'm learning that view is wrong: I found a fine Jones blazer on sale at Bloor/Yonge in the high-end men's dept. Helpful, non-pushy sales fellow, and the final price with tailoring was under $300. I would certainly shop there again.

Many thanks,
Frugal E.

 

[Plan B]

The most important thing with buying a blazer or suit is not where and how much...but did you get the necessary alterations? You can buy a $1000 suit and have it look terrible...but if you buy a $300 suit with $60 of alterations, you will look like a million bucks

 

[FailsW0rth]

A blue blazer is one of those man's garments that can be worn to just about any dress-up occasion. Dinner party, theatre, concert, house of worship, etc. Even in a pinch to a wedding or funeral.

I've had a nice one by Joseph Abboud for a decade and now it's gone threadbare, and I need to replace it. But I have shoppped for men's clothes in Toronto so rarely that I am clueless about quality and value in this town.

I dropped into Stollery's recently, corner of Yonge and Bloor. I know it's conservative and unfriendly and probably not great for price, but this is a blue blazer and you have to start somewhere.

Their selection of suits was impressive, I had a good salesman, and I did find a nice blue blazer. It was $895, and the fellow proudly told me that it was on special sale, at 30% off. Which means that after sales taxes it would still cost me over $700.

So, any suggestions where I could get a good blue blazer for less money? I know there is Moore's, but do they carry quality garments? And does anybody know a neighborhood-style, non-corporate men's store I could patronize? I don't like malls, and I don't like chains. I live downtown, but I am happy to drive to the suburbs if need be. I like patronizing small businesses, and if I found the right store, maybe I'd buy more clothes.

I assume Korry's on the Danforth would be just as expensive as Stollery's, even though I like the Saul Korman's radio ads. Should I try Tom's in Kensington market? I've never been there, and I don't want to buy 4 suits for the price of one, I just want a blue blazer.

Thanks for any advice!
Frugal Einar

P.S. Maybe I'll just have to pay more than I had hoped, or buy one in the US sometime.

P.P.S. Does anyone from Toronto actually patronize Stollery's? I never hear about it, and I figure they deal with a lot of tourists.

Hugo Boss Blue Blazer - Harry Rosen - Should be about $600. Bought it three years ago - Still going very strong and still looking sharp. Honestly, theres a HUGE quality difference from Moores/Tiptop/International compared to Harry Rosen or Holts.

It really depends on how old you are and what your body type is.

 

[LKD]

honest eds

 

[CapitalGuy]

There is an enormous Designer Depot in Vaughn Mills mall that has, as you might have guessed, designer labels at discount prices. Sales staff don't bother you, you just flip through the racks of designer clothes. They're still pricy, but less so than at retail.

I think however that you are going to spend a fair amount of money on transportation costs trying to find just that right blazer from just that right shop, and will thus negate (or exceed) the savings you might make on the price of the suit. Not to mention the cost of the time you will spend hunting to a "better" blazer. Buying the $700 Stollery's blazer may be the most economically sensible thing to do.