Esquire Magazine just released a handy guide on how to budget for a suit based on your income. As image consultants, we at Henry Davidsen were very pleased because budgeting is one of the most important parts of a long-term wardrobe building strategy. One thing the article didn’t mention was the following:
According to Money Management International, a non-profit consumer counseling organization, we should be spending four percent of our monthly income on clothing. This isn’t a hard and fast rule (living in major metropolitan areas, for example, may warrant upping your budget to six or seven percent), but it serves as a good point of reference.
Your 4% & The Henry Davidsen Suit Range
Since suiting is our broadest category and the one for which we’re best known, here’s a brief breakdown on our different suiting labels, with approximate price ranges and details. Here at the shop, we pride ourselves on our ability to offer high-quality garments that fit into nearly any budget, no matter what that 4% means to you, and we’d be happy to help guide you in your decision. The information below is a broad overview, so please make an appointment to come in and see us and we’ll gladly elaborate.
White Label – $770-$1,200
White Label is a great option for a man just getting into made-to-measure clothing and/or who’s getting started in his career. A fused canvas garment, it’s made-to-measure, not fully custom. Many makers of similar garments often claim this erroneously, so for a refresher on the difference, click here. Still, decisions about style; button stance, lapel width, linings, and much more, are the client’s. Available in a wide array of patterns and colors, it’s a great way to start building a high-quality wardrobe.
Black Label – $1,200-$1,800
A step up the ladder is our Black Label. Like our White Label, it’s made-to-measure. The difference is in the construction: our Black Label suits are half-canvassed. To be brief, this means that the chest has a thicker padding and canvas than the White Label jacket and the fused lapel has been replaced with canvas and machine stitching, giving the lapel a more pronounced, natural “roll,” and more body and life to the look of the garment.
Blue Label – $2,350 and up
Our Blue Label is a fully canvassed, traditional custom garment. A paper pattern is created exclusively for the client and kept on file for future orders once it has been perfected. The process involves an additional fitting and yields a garment whose only machine work is in the stitching in the lapel and collar. We’re also proud to say that this is a garment made right here in the United States, and is priced significantly less than comparable garments off-the-rack.
Purple Label – $2,900 and up
Rounding out our offerings is the Purple Label. It is a 100% handmade garment, placing it on par with the likes of Kiton and Oxxford and thus very rare. Also made in the United States, we’re proud to be able to offer this very special garment to our clients.
Your Wardrobe Is An Investment
No matter whether you make $40,000 a year, or $4,000,000, you should always buy quality over quantity, and go for the highest quality that you can afford. This, in addition to caring for your clothes properly, will ensure their longevity and make them superior investments as a result.
