Sometimes you can get some nice slacks pretty cheap at Marshall's. Macys/Dillards during a sale is always good. I like getting polo shirts from the Gap because they have "t-shirt" ones that are really thin. I don't know how casual you can get.
wait for the Brooks Brothers sale. They'll still be around $50/shirt, but they last forever, never need ironing, and you won't have to dry clean them.
JC Penny usually have good sales, u just missed the Father's Day sale, they had Polos (button up, striped, etc..) for $10 that usually go for as much as $30. pants/slacks, I usually get them from the clearance section at Marshalls/Ross, u can find some good ones for less than $15
Zara. They are relatively well prices compared to Express and Banana Republic, and the quality isn't bad at all.. As a matter of fact I just came home from the Galleria and bought a shirt and a pair of pants from there. They also have great suits if anyone is interested...
If you do decide to splurge on an end all business shirt, Houston has one of the best custom shirt makers in possibly the world. You can take in your own materials or decide from the rolls they have there. Once I get in the shape/weight I want to stay at permanently, I'm going to get something made there. If you want durability, I think Brooks Brothers and Jos. Bank are well made enough to last a few years at work and the power lunches and the business trips to Treasures. If you favor fit over durability, then try the modern or athletic cuts from zara or express or banana like previously mentioned. I have long arms, so I have to buy the shirts that are specifically sized, with neck and arm sizes. Small details like proper length of cuff, type of collar, and patterns go a long way into looking professionally confident.
$250+, for 1 shirt. some are upwards of $350. but everything is customized - the collar, the colors, the cuffs, the sleeves, the length, everything.
Also look into Norton Ditto; it's around the same price range as Hamilton's and a very good value compared to places in NYC and Chicago.
business casual, not business. don't need to splurge if you're just starting to build the wardrobe... hamilton or brooks is way overkill for now. here's the basics: -banana republic chinos, they go on sale for like $25 frequently. get gray and light brown, or something than can be easily matched. avoid gap - their version of business casual is overpriced for what it really is. br is better, and it does good dress shirts, just wait for a good sale ($25-30) -black dress pants, uncuffed, unpleated is preferable, but if you have shorter or thicker legs, you may want pleats. cuffs are sort of out of style. -my favorite: at marshall's, dress shirts are usually around $15 a pop, and they're brand name. find a basic blue and a basic white, then go for white with patterns. yellow is good for some folks. the trick here is to know your dress shirt size exactly. measure your neck and sleeves (16" neck and 32/33" sleeves is good for me). if you are smaller, a bonus find is a "slim/modern" fit shirt, usually by calvin klein or joseph abboud. if you are bigger, polo makes "classic fit". whatever it is, the worst thing people do is buy shirts that are too WIDE... make sure the under arm area isn't ridiculously too far from your body.. 1-1.5 inches is enough. -wait for express's 1mx shirt sale ($20/each) and stock up with colors -zara is next. great stuff, but it's only at the galleria. i've rarely gone, because i usually find what i need at marshalls for less... it just takes a little longer to find the best stuff. -shoes at zappos.com, endless.com, or DSW warehouse. black and brown. always match your brown shoes to your brown belt. -one nice paired tie can help. just don't buy those boxed shirts with the tie included... they normally aren't very good quality. -socks, just make sure they match the pants. black/gray pants = black socks, brown/tan pants = light gray, tan, or brown socks. if you're lazy like me, i have all black socks. -one blazer is nice when it gets cold - i got a $80 deal at jos. a bank for a brown corduroy happy shopping
QFT. Marshall's is a must for the working guy. Ties are very cheap there too. Invest in a nice navy blazer. Quality is a must because it'll be your primary jacket and good ones just fit and hold up better.
K&G Superstore at Meyerland, if they're still around. I was living on excess student loan funds in college but was able to still have suits for every career fair and bombed internship or full-time job interview. Also try SuitMart.
Jos. A. Bank usually has shirts on clearance for $29. They are great shirts, but maybe a notch below Brooks Brothers. Beware of the Van Heusen shirts at Marshalls et. al - those shirts don't have removable collar stays so after a couple trips to the dry cleaners you will see an outline of the collar stays. It looks bad, trust me.
