Every guy needs a good quality, well-fitted suit in their wardrobe. They’re usually expensive, at least more expensive than regular clothes.
But just how expensive can suits get?
You might be used to paying a few hundred dollars or perhaps even a little more for a suit, but the most expensive suits in the world cost many times more than that.
The world’s richest, most powerful men can afford to buy suits that cost more than most people would pay for a car or a house, perhaps even the cost of a car and a house combined.
In fact, the most expensive suit in the world comes in at nearly a million dollars.
That’s not quite as expensive as the world’s most expensive dress, the $30 million Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur, but it’s still vastly more expensive than the majority of people in the world could ever hope to afford.
Let’s take a look at some of the most expensive suits in the world today.
The Top 5 Most Expensive Suits in the World
Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition
Everyone wants to look a million dollars, and you can do that with the Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition Suit.
Ok, so the suit doesn’t quite cost a million dollars, but it’s the closest you’ll ever get.
Currently the most expensive suit in the world, the Stuart Hughes Diamond Edition will set you back a mere $892,000.
So what makes the suit so expensive? Well, the clue is in the name. The suit is encrusted with diamonds on the lapels, the pockets, the collar, and in other places.
There are nearly 500 of them, in fact, totaling two hundred and forty carats worth.
Given that the absolute minimum price of a 1-carat diamond is about $1900, this means that the diamonds on the suit alone are worth some $456,000.
So what makes up the rest of the price? Rarity is a crucial factor in determining value as per the basic rules of supply and demand.
If the demand is high but the supply is low, the price of a product shoots up.
That’s certainly the case with this suit.
There is no shortage of extremely wealthy men that would pay good money to own such a status symbol, but just three of the dark gray suits were ever made.
Another factor contributing to the jaw-dropping price tag is the people involved in the suit’s production.
The suit was a joint project between Liverpool’s world-renowned designer Stuart Hughes, who is well known for selling a wide range of luxury goods, and Manchester’s world-famous tailor Richard Jewels.
Between them, they set out to create a suit of unparalleled luxury.
Not only does the suit feature 480 diamonds, but it’s also made from the best materials around, including silk, wool, and cashmere.
The pair also spent well over 600 hours on the project.
If you think of the suit as the combination of a whole bunch of diamonds, expensive materials, and the hard work of two of the world’s most highly regarded designers, it’s easy to see how it is so expensive.
Alexander Amosu Vanquish II Bespoke
The world’s second most expensive suit comes from British Nigerian entrepreneur Alexander Amosu, who specializes in luxury goods.
He previously held the Guinness World Record for the world’s most expensive suit for the Vanquish II Bespoke, a £70,000 suit he unveiled in 2009. That’s $103,000.
As you would expect from such an extraordinarily expensive suit, the three core materials used to make it are nothing but the very best.
The first of the materials used is the wool of the vicuña, which is a rare South American Camelid that only produces enough wool to merit shearing once every three years.
It’s an extremely warm and soft wool, and is for good reason known as ‘the silk of the new world’.
This is used in conjunction with the world’s most expensive wool. Qiviuk, as it is known, is the wool of the Arctic Muskox and is gathered when the animals shed their coats.
Last but by no means least is Himalayan Pashmina, from the high plateaus of the world’s highest mountain range. Combine all three together and you have unquestionably one of the most luxurious, valuable fabrics on Earth.
That’s not all the suit has going for it, though. The Vanquish II Bespoke also boasts nine 18-carat gold and pave set diamond buttons, which is the kind of luxury touch that few people can afford.
Combine the best materials in the world, gold and diamond buttons, and bespoke tailoring from an expert tailor with more than twenty years of experience, and it’s easy to see how this suit was once the most expensive in the world.
Dormeuil Vanquish II
There must be something about the name ‘Vanquish’ when it comes to the most expensive suits in the world, as the third most expensive suit on the market today is the Dormeuil Vanquish II.
Made by Dormeuil, a UK-based family fashion house that has been around for 180 years, the suit will set you back $95,300.
Dormeuil are no strangers to producing luxury suits, having made suits for many of the world’s leading politicians, business leaders, celebrities, and even royalty.
The Vanquish II is their magnum opus, created from a blend of six of the rarest fabrics in the world; qiviut wool, pashmina, and vicuña wool.
The fabric is so expensive that it costs over $4,000 for just 40-inches.
It is no surprise that a suit from such a reputable and historic fashion company as Dormeuil, made from some of the most valuable and best quality materials around, is able to sell for so much money.
William Westmancott Ultimate Bespoke
William Westmancott is a Savile Row bespoke tailor.
For those of you unfamiliar with Savile Row, it is the spiritual home of traditional suit tailoring in the United Kingdom. Of all the Savile Row tailors.
William Westmancott is probably the most highly regarded and for that matter expensive tailor operating in the UK.
As a result, Westmancott has tailored suits for some of the biggest names in the world; royalty, both British and middle eastern sultans, as well as celebrities like the late Michael Jackson.
Westmancott’s Ultimate Bespoke suits will set you back about $75,000, and there’s a good reason for that.
Each suit is a three-piece or four-piece, and takes a team of highly experienced designers and tailors over two hundred hours of skilled labor to complete.
A typical suit will involve the hand cutting, sewing, and stitching together of over 170 individual pieces of fabric.
Speaking of fabric, the suits are made of an ultralight and breathable material, which is understandable given the suits are usually made with Middle Eastern and Russian oligarchs and tycoons in mind.
To sweeten the deal, the company gives each purchaser of an Ultimate Bespoke suit five bespoke shirts on a complimentary basis.
The suits also come with a guarantee- for up to twenty years following the purchase, any adjustments or repairs required are completely free of charge. Now that’s what I call a luxury service!
Brioni Vanquish II
Yes, it’s another vanquish! Brioni is arguably one of the best-known men’s designer clothing brands in the world, having begun life as an Italian fashion house immediately after the Second World War.
Their signature design is the iconic power suit, featuring broad shoulders and a wide chest.
Such is the gravitas associated with Brioni suits, they have been worn by Daniel Craig whilst playing James Bond in the most recent films.
One such suit is the Vanquish II, which is made from the world’s rarest and most sought-after fabrics. It’ll set you back a cool $43,000, but you get what you pay for.
The company motto is ‘To Be One of a Kind’, and the elitism associated with the suit is palpable, given that only 150 of each suit are ever produced.
The suits are made in a dedicated factory in Italy, but don’t let that fool you- the suits are almost entirely handmade, complete with double-stitched buttonholes and cashmere-lined collars.
Expensive Suit Brands You Could Try
Clearly, not everyone can afford to spend tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on a suit.
Having said that, there are a few luxury suit brands that can sell you a suit that will give you much the same feel as the most expensive ones at a fraction of the price.
Here are a few ideas for a few suit brands you could try:
Burberry
Beginning their operations way back in 1856, Burberry made their name as purveyors of fashionable outdoor attire.
In more recent years, the company has developed a reputation as one of the world’s leading sellers of men’s designer clothing, including suits.
Burberry suits tend to look to the past for inspiration, combining modern tailoring with some classic fabrics and designs.
Giorgio Armani
When it comes to looking stylish, very few nations can compete with the Italians.
Begun by the enigmatic Giorgio Armani himself back in 1975, Armani has gone on to become one of the world’s biggest luxury fashion brands.
The company is considered the second largest of Italy’s famous fashion houses and plays a leading role in shaping the direction of the fashion industry.
If you want to look slick, try an Armani suit. They’re not cheap and will set you back around $3,000 but you’ll probably never own a better suit.
Tom Ford
A former creative director for both Yves Saint Laurent and Gucci, Tom Ford is no stranger to the world of luxury clothing.
His suits are some of the most fashion-forward around, and no matter what style or design you choose you are sure to make a statement.
Tom Ford has a suit for any occasion; luxurious dinner jackets, slim-cut tuxedos, and more, so no matter what your style, there is a suit for you.
Buying a suit from one of the most highly regarded designers in fashion isn’t cheap, though. Ready-to-wear suits from Tom Ford cost $5,000 or more, and you’ll pay more again for a suit made to measure.
Givenchy
There aren’t many nations who can challenge Italy for fashion sense, but France is certainly one of them.
Paris is one of the world’s foremost fashion capitals, and is home to iconic French fashion brands like Givenchy.
Whether you want something traditional or something a bit more avant-garde, you can rely on Givenchy to produce a sleek and sophisticated suit with a touch of that classic French Elegance.
What’s In a Suit?
What makes an expensive suit so much more costly than a cheaper one? Well, there are a few factors. Let’s take a look at them:
They’re Bespoke
Unlike the suits you’ll be able to buy off the rack at the local clothing store, which are mass-produced and simply made in different sizes, the most expensive suits are tailor-made or ‘bespoke’.
That means that you’ll have to go to a fitting with a high-end tailor, where you’ll have your measurements taken and have a discussion with the tailor about what you want from the suit in terms of cut, color, and material.
The end product, as well as being made out of the best materials, will fit you perfectly.
Is a Bespoke Suit Worth It?
The fit of a suit can make all the difference to how you look. Wearing a bespoke, tailor-made suit will have you looking your best, as the suit will fit you perfectly no matter what your body type.
You’ll avoid some of the most common fashion faux pas when it comes to suits; the dreaded jacket ‘x’ around the midriff, baggy sleeves, and shoulder divots and rumpling amongst others.
Expert tailoring is something of an art form, and the most expensive are created as one-of-a-kind pieces.
The whole process, from drawing board to completion, is meticulous and involves several stages, and can take hundreds of hours of work to complete.
Bespoke suits aren’t cheap, but the finished product certainly will be a sight to behold.
The Fabric
It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the core component in an expensive suit is the fabric it’s made of. Top-end suits use the world’s rarest and most luxurious fabrics, often imported from far-flung corners of the globe.
These include materials like silk, cashmere, and pashmina, as well as even more exotic fabrics like qiviut, which is the inner wool of the muskox.
These materials are often prized for their attributes as much as their rarity. Qiviut, for example, is both extremely soft and extremely warm, which is a rare but highly prized combination.
Similarly, the silk-blend Dorsilk, popular for use in suits, manages to be lightweight as well as warm and also has a beautiful fluidity to it.
What About Affordable Suits?
As we noted previously, the vast majority of people cannot afford to spend thousands of their hard-earned dollars on a suit.
That being said, it doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice looking your best.
You can buy a decent quality suit on a budget, if you know what you’re looking for. The first place to start is to have an understanding of affordable suits in general.
Affordable suits are available just about everywhere. They’re in department stores, clothing shops, off the internet, and sometimes even in supermarkets like Walmart.
So what makes an affordable suit?
Well, affordable suits are entirely machine-made, unlike handmade expensive suits.
Even the buttons are stitched on by a machine, and a suit can be made in just three hours compared to 100 times that amount of time or more for the most expensive suits.
They are made to standard measurements with standardized cuts and patterns and feature no custom elements. It’s not quite one size fits all, but you’re certainly restricted.
Of course, the fabrics used in affordable suits will be at the lower end of the cost spectrum.
Typically, affordable suits use fabrics like nylon and polyester, which are stiffer and less comfortable to wear than expensive suits.
You’ll probably also find yourself sweating more in an affordable suit on a hot day, as these fabrics tend to be less breathable.
Lastly, the lining of the suit will be of comparatively poor quality and will be glued on rather than stitched on, making it prone to bubbles forming within it as time goes on.
You’ll even notice a difference compared to more expensive suits in the little details, even in something as trivial as the button holes.
The button hotels in mass-produced suits are stitched first and cut afterward, which makes them prone to fraying.
On top of this, the buttons themselves are likely to be of poor quality and will be less durable than those on more expensive suits. The polyester lining may also be of poor quality.
The Alternative
So, what do you do if you can’t afford an expensive suit but still want a suit that looks and feels great? You’ll have to avoid the off-the-rack suits for a start.
The best thing you can do is to head for the local tailor and opt for a made-to-measure suit that is made of more affordable materials.
It’ll still set you back anywhere from $300-$600, but remember- the fit of a suit is absolutely crucial for looking stylish, arguably even more so than the suit’s material.
With regards to fit, it is vital that you ensure your new suit fits properly around your shoulders. In a men’s suit, the shoulders arguably exude the most power and masculine energy.
A bad fit around the shoulders is also another dead giveaway you’re wearing a cheaper suit, and there won’t be much you can do to offset the damage
Another great tip in terms of the suit’s appearance is to opt for a darker, duller material rather than a shiny fabric, which is one of the telltale signs of a cheap suit.
You can then add in a dash of color with your tie and pocket square if you wish, or stick to a more distinguished monochrome look.
Final Thoughts
Looking good isn’t just the preserve of the super-rich. It can be done on a budget, too, even if that means buying just one or two well-fitted suits over a bunch of mass-produced suits.
Most of us can’t afford the most expensive suits in the world, but armed with the right knowledge can still cut a striking figure in a reasonably priced suit.
If you’re struggling with fitting in within London, let me give you a piece of advice - change how you dress yourself. Sweats are for at home when no one can see you, and impressions influence everything.
I want to use my website to show you how to present yourself in cities to ensure that you’re not being held back by your clothing choices. So, let’s get to work and get you that bit closer to success!
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