Best of Toronto
Best Place to Buy a Suit in Toronto
While I can't recall the first place I ever bought a suit; the first suit-shopping memory I do remember is shopping at Tom's Place in Kensington Market. My father used to take my brother and I there whenever it was time for him to stock up on shirts, ties, suits or whatever owner Tom Mihalik was promoting that week. Along the way we'd manage to pick up something for ourselves. There was always a wad of cash exchanged and lots of talk about cutting us a deal. Inevitably, a free tie, shirt or belt would find its way into our bag.
For many, the experience of shopping for menswear in Toronto wouldn't be complete without a stop at Tom's Place; but as the store celebrates its 50th year in business; it's now operating in a retail landscape that presents a lot more suit buying options (at all price points) than there were in years past.
Beyond the national, global and discount chains like Holt Renfrew, Harry Rosen, Moore's, Zara, Club Monoco, Banana Republic and The Bay are a host of boutique shops offering cutting edge styles, custom tailoring and a modern shopping experience. At the top of our list - and winner of our Best of Toronto survey - is relative newcomer Gotstyle. Located on the second floor of a building on King West that also houses MySpace Canada, Gotsyle distinguishes itself not only by the selection they carry but also by the space and service itself. From helpful (but not pushy) salespeople to a lounge area, magazines, chilled music and even a men's spa area (head shave = $39), they understand more than most what men want in a retail shopping experience.
On the racks are a host of stylish yet affordable Canadian and international brands. It's rare to find any suit here that crosses into four figures; and most are within the $400-$750 price range including offerings from designers like Tiger of Sweden, Ted Baker and Zegna as well as jacket and pant combos from the likes of Ben Sherman and Toronto's Haight & Ashbury. They're also currently showing one of the city's best selections of skinny ties and offer an assortment of made-to-measure shirts.
The top five:
Gotstyle
Got Style offers a huge selection of casual and formal men's clothing and accessories. Beyond suits, they have a great selection of affordable sport jackets, pants, dress shirts and ties. More »
Tom's Place
While Tom's Place may not carry the latest styles (most inventory is from last season) it's tough to beat the prices here - especially if you're willing to negotiate a bit. Bonus! Pick up some freshly killed chickens for dinner down the street. More »
Sydney's
This small boutique on Queen West has a nice selection of off the rack suits, shirts and ties; but specializes in creating the custom something that will fit you just right. More »
Boomer
Boomer must be doing something right to pay for that pricey real estate at Queen and John. Selection here tends to favour Boss, Cinque, Tiger of Sweden and J. Lindeberg. More »
Theodore 1922
This Annex spot offer bespoke made-to-measure tailoring as well as a selection of stylish shirts, pants and ties. More »
Discussion
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Not to say that there aren't some problems. Suits are a bit on the expensive side (Holt Renfrew and Harry Rosen price range) and the service staff are going through some growing pains.
Still Gotstyle, and even Delphic (which I also like) rely too much on stuff like awful awful J. Lindeberg lines. Poorly cut, ridiculously big logos on items like the belts and etc. You can see a J. Lindeberg guy a mile away! Good style is a little more subtle and timeless.
Anyway, I'm glad these stores are in Toronto, and they are good for the city, but could do without the spa-ish pretension (but like I say, maybe they can't exist without it).
Couple of questions: why do most Toronto men's stores sell almost exclusively middle brow Italian lines? It is virtually impossible to find quality American and English suiting in this city. Odd considering our WASPy heritage.
Also, why have have all the mid-range but quality US/UK chains never set up shop in Toronto? Stores like Brooks Brothers, Faconable, Polo, Hickey Freeman, Dunhill, Gant, JPress and Thomas Pink would be very welcome, and would work price-wise as well. Just wondering.
I like how you added in your suggestions of stores that should be added to the list. Toronto is not the worst place to get suits, considering that I know of many well dressed men who have fine tailors located in the city. And if anything, if you have the right connections, you can get special oversea materials brought to you.
And to constructively criticize the post, I'm not sure if these "top five" are in order, but I didn't expect Tom's Place to be in at number 2. But I agree with Boomer in the top five.
Not sure why I pissed you off so much.
My comment was on how difficult it is to find good quality, reasonably priced, off the rack suits in Toronto. Bespoke tailoring is another matter completely, and I would suggest that your references to "connections" and "overseas materiasl" reflect a far snottier attitude than mine.
Also, you apparantly misread my post. I did not suggest stores that should be added to the list. I simply added some shops that I would like to see in Toronto. Whether they would be considered Top 5 Suit stores is not for me to determine.
And Dave S - all excellent points. A good suit doesn't have to be over $1000 if it fits well.
The list was derived from our Best of Toronto poll. Did you take time to nominate and/or vote for your favourites? What's missing?
"And they have a really cute bass player with a really pretty neck and a really nice haircut. This always helps me get through a show. Watching men on stage, playing with their toys while I?m unable to hear myself think is always dull. But I like to look at a girl with a nice haircut and a graceful neck. So kill me. I?m human."
Thank you ryan -- you seem to be an astute consumer of culture. Tell us more of what is wrong with this list. Tell us more.
But -- right there-- that's two problems.
The first is that there really is no decent off the rack in Toronto. The story here is that Toronto's off the rack menswear is really bad. (I'm with Balmoral on this.)
A good suit comes down to fit. If someone understands this, they can pay no more than forty and get a good one. If they don't understand this, they can pay 5000 and get a bad one.
(And sorry Slim, for a fellow of your dimensions, you will likely have to spend the money and go bespoke.)
The second problem is that the list itself is not very good. Tom's Place gets a 4 out of 5 with one vote cast. The rest of them get progressively lower stars with each vote cast.
So the more people who vote, the more who find the selection slightly above average at best. Aside from Tom's Place no one even cracks a 3 out of 5.
Obviously, these are mediocre selections and obviously I'm not the only one who thinks so. When only one establishment, based on one vote, is ranked above 3 stars out of five, there is something wrong. At the time of writing this the number one spot on the list, "Got Style", had 2.3 stars. That's below average. That's a negative review.
Perhaps I'm misreading what the numbers mean. If that's the case, my apologies. If not, I stand by my assertion that this list is a joke and that you're offering people mediocre choices without directly informing them of that.
But you do provide them with the direct data. So that's good.
Je. Ryan Oakley is my name. It does not require quotation marks. I can only assume that you're trying to convince people that my name is not Ryan Oakley. It is.
And what are you doing here? Posting random things from my blog, which anyone is free to go look at, presumably to somehow assault my character, while you provide no link to any sort of site you may have, so that I may do the same to you? Posting under the name Je. That's your name? Je? Are you like Madonna or something?
Look a little harder, Je, and you'll find things that make me look much worse than that. Feel free to use them as you please. It's nice to have a hobby.
And if you think that a nice neck is culture, then I pity you. I'm much more of a consumer of necks than of culture. She has a lovely neck. Your culture, however, is dull.
Unless of course, Sam Mitchell & Bryan Colangelo are willing to set up shop downtown. Those two men are the best dressed in the city. Ted Rogers, make it happen.
I think this is quite possibly one of the best comments ever made on blogTO.
http://www.grreatstuff.com
www.sprezzatura.ca
Thanks!
I prefer online shopping more than local store shopping, i usually buy my formals be it <a href="http://www.customsuitsshirts.com/Mens-Custom-Suits-orderby0-p-1-c-1.html";>men`s custom suits</a> or business suit or casual dresses i choose online stores, saves lots of time and good in terms of deal.
Regards,
sarah_9
I also met with Sydney who I think would have done a great job, but unfortunately he was out of my price range.
I have a short stocky build and can never find off the rack suits that fit me; I did my research beforehand and went to Harry Rosen Bespoke (on the top floor!) and they quoted me $3600 for a basic 2-piece with an unknown brand cloth. I managed to get beautiful grey Holland and Sherry Super 100's cloth, 2-piece suit for much less!
Oxborough of London are travelling tailors from London, UK. The standard of stitching is the best i have ever seen, and for the price is unbeatable. Check out www.oxboroughoflondon.com :)
Online stores are also good option to buy quality suits and shirts, though it is bit difficult to find the genuine stores but few stores offers wide range of quality items at suitable price.
Regards,
sarah_9
http://www.customsuitsshirts.com
TDB
The owners of the company are a couple of brothers that live in Toronto- both great dudes! They will take care of any alterations that are needed once your garments are delivered to you. Like I said, they don't have a store front, but you can visit their site www.suitsinthecity.ca and register for updates on future events. You wont get bombarded by emails, they only email you when an event is coming up. Worth checkin out!
I take all my clients there.
There are many out there who think Swiss Chalet is a Great Meal. Or even McDonalds (for the Zara lover). They can think that all they want, it doesn't make it true.
online shopping also a good choice,I like online shopping my clothes,a great place is mysuitforless for a fraction of price,they features sending you color swatches of their fabric, I believe it helps you a lot
Does anyone know a good shop for shoes? I am tired of only being able to buy shoes when I go to Europe. I am size 13 and my size, though common, never seems to be in stock for anything good.
Mike W; hahahaha...
http://www.mysuitforless.com/
Custom made suits, you either measure yourself using your perfect fit suit before as a guild or print out a form and take to a local tailor to get measured and send that info to them.
Prices range from $199-$300. Very Fast, like under 2 weeks from time of order. They pay for any alterations needed when you get it or if nescessary make you a completely new suit.
I've only got one suit and shirt so far, but I was extremely satisfied, i'm a skinny guy too and it's sooo nice having a suit that actually fits.
The selection of women suits available, not only in this list but in Toronto, is horrible.
I challenge you blogto!
It's definitely not a fancy place but it's got some great stuff for wickedly low prices.
I got a Copley jacket for $85.HOly Crap I saw the same one at Harry Rosen's for $779 and an older version of the exact same jacket at Toms for $299.
If your a label whore than this place is probably not for you because some of the best stuff in there has been de-labeled so they can sell below regular retail.
i I got a Paul smith overcoat for $99, a Ted Baker Blazer for $70, and a Brooks Brothers tuxedo for $150. Even on E-bay this tux was $599.99 plus.
There's a place that offers much better quality suits for a w/e price you're looking for, pretty much. They have great fabrics, already made suits and entirely bespoke suits as well They do an amazing job and the guys that work there are nice and very helpful), they're called Acapella Clothing.
thanks
mr sam
Service is amazing and personal. Gentlemen check it out.
Awesome, no commission place. I felt very comfortable there.
Thanks!
first choice for me is off the cuff. lee is legit http://www.offthecuff.ca/
I have yet to visit the other locations mentioned, but there is a Men's shirt store on Cumberland (Yorkville) my Husband adores called 7camicie. Plenty of selection... everything is displayed and organized for super quick and easy shopping. For any man who gets easily irritated with "helicopter" Sales People or hates having to spend an eternity browsing through racks of merchandise, I highly recommend this gem of a store.
Also .. to you gentlemen out there... any advice on where I can find a stylish pair of dress shoes for the Hubby? Something WITHOUT the square point!
TNX
Cheers!
http://www.aliexpress.com/store/106447
competitive price , better quality , they also accept cmt service .