Did the title seem a bit harsh? Right from the start, we want to clarify that “cheap” here doesn’t mean “inexpensive,” but rather “low quality.” There are plenty of affordable, high-quality suits out there, hidden in secondhand shops, waiting to be discovered! In this article, however, we’ll focus on brand-new suits that are simply poorly made.
So, what are the distinctive signs of a cheap suit? Can anyone recognize them? Without diving into technical details like tailoring or construction, here are 8 clues that you might be wearing a cheap suit:
1 . Synthetic fibers
Avoid synthetic fibers! They tend to be shiny, stiff, make you sweat, and—very importantly—they’re not biodegradable. Stick to natural fibers like wool. If you want to explore further and can afford it, try fibers like goat hair (cashmere, mohair), llama hair (alpaca, vicuña), or rabbit fur (angora). As a tip, labels that say two-ply up to eight-ply indicate the number of threads twisted together to make the fabric—don’t overlook them!
2 . Plastic lining
Cheap linings are often made from polyester, acrylic, or polyamide—a type of plastic that overheats you. Even worse, they make that crinkly rustling sound when you move and can pill over time. Steer clear of these linings, especially if you have sensitive skin or issues with body temperature regulation!
3 . Angular lapels
A quality lapel should have a natural, rounded roll. Lapels folded at a sharp angle look like a sheet of paper bent in half. This happens because the canvas (the interlining between fabric and lining) has been fused with adhesive rather than sewn. To check, pull the fabric and lining in opposite directions—you’ll hear a glue-like sound. Such a jacket looks flat and two-dimensional.
4 . Chest bubbles
Bubbles in the chest area are a side effect of fusing the canvas. Rain or a poorly chosen dry cleaner using harsh chemicals can ruin the adhesive that holds your jacket together.
5 . Loose sleeve cut
Loose sleeves look sloppy and feel uncomfortable. This outdated tailoring pattern wasn’t designed with modern aesthetics in mind. Not only does it look shapeless, but it also restricts your movement (raise your arm and the whole jacket rides up).
6 . Large shoulder pads
Shoulders are one of the few structural elements that a tailor can’t easily fix, so make sure they fit well from the start. Shoulder pads that extend beyond your natural shoulder line look bad and evoke military epaulettes.
7 . Plastic buttons
Do the buttons on your suit look thin and match the fabric color exactly? There’s a good chance they’re as cheap as they appear. The good news: they’re easy to replace with something higher quality, like horn or mother-of-pearl buttons.
8. Pants without extra fabric
Only reputable manufacturers leave a few centimeters of reserve in trousers. Cheap producers, trying to cut costs, minimize material usage. Check the hem and see how much allowance has been left for you!
