I know many here aren't keen on Jos. A Bank in general. I abhor their constantly churning marketing/sale/promo gimmicks, ridiculously inflated MSRP tag prices, and especially their Buy 1 Get 3 style promos. That said, I've found that the local store is staffed by some very knowledgeable and helpful gentlemen that are able to measure and size me extremely accurately, and that those sizes tend to transfer across all of their lines with some minor size up/down modifiers depending on cut (I can wear a 39 Regular or 41 Slim, but 40 Tailored is my sweet spot, for example). As such, I can get measured any time I have notable weight/body changes and then trust those measurements to shop online in the constantly rotating clearance section where the company's real price/quality value seems to be.
As such, I've spent enough time on their site to understand the basic dichotomy of most of their lines, but where some of the lines fit aren't quite as clear to me.
These are my findings and question marks arranged from low to high end. Keep in mind my assessments of quality are from someone who is reasonably stylish but not an owner of fine suits or a daily wearer of suits (probably wear a sport coat 4-5 times/month and a suit once a month). I'll say my
Known Quantities
Executive (MSRP ~$650, Clearance ~$100)
Bottom of the barrel. Suits are fully fused and mostly Traditional fit. Suit pants are unlined. Dress/Sports shirts are a bit on the thin side with no wrinkle-free properties (though the sports shirts honestly aren't bad for non-ironed weekend wear). Chinos feel cheap with no wrinkle free properties even though they're advertised as such. The only thing I'd ever buy Executive would be a casual sports shirt for weekend wear or a tie.
Joseph (MSRP ~$650-900, Clearance ~$100)
Priced similarly to Executive. Pick stitching, high arm holes, mostly slim fit. Fully fused, pants unlined. Dress shirts are slim-fit equivalent of Executive. Overall a more modern/trendy equivalent to the Executive line, but (to me) I think the cut and fit make these feel at least somewhat nicer, as does the copper lining. That said, they may not hold up over time.
Tropical Blend (MSRP ~$700, Clearance ~$100)Priced similarly to Executive. Linen/wool blends. Fused, unlined. Similar to the Joseph line, these exceed their price point in quality.
Traveler (MSRP ~$800, Clearance ~$100)
Much more known for the shirts than the suits. Fully fused, lined to the knee, natural stretch 100% wool, treated for wrinkle/stain resistance. Shirts also formaldehyde treated for wrinkle-free no-iron wear out of the dryer or with a quick shower steam. Chinos also treated for wrinkle free and stain resistance. First real step up in quality across the board and they actually do travel well (I usually steam or use wrinkle release after removing from my carry-on). Also carried in all three fits (Slim/Tailored/Traditional) across the entire line. Clearance items are usually priced the same or only slightly higher than Executive/Joseph.
Signature (MSRP ~$900-1100, Clearance ~$200-300)
Similar in quality/construction to Traveler but with nicer merino wools and without the travel-friendly treatments. Still fully-fused, lined to the knee. Shirts are also similar or better quality compared to Traveler, again without the wrinkle-free treatments. Clearance prices are usually ~2x-3x that of Executive/Joseph/Traveler and waiting for the somewhat rarer Signature Gold promos in the same ~$230-$250 range is probably a better value.
Signature Gold (MSRP ~$1300, Promo ~$250)Steps up to half-canvased, still half-lined to the knee. Full range of fits, pleat/plain front, and pick/non-pick stitched. The promos are somewhat rarer, but when you can get these in the $250 range they're a very solid deal if you're looking for the next step up in quality.
Signature Platinum (MSRP ~$2200, Promo ~$550)
Full-canvased, 150s wools, improved stitch/pocket/hardware quality. Rarely on clearance but included in promos. If you can get these in the $500 range they're a solid deal if you're looking for that level of quality.
Question Marks
Classic
Outlet-only Executive line?
Stays Cool
Low end (some under $400 MSRP) seersucker? 100% cotton. Can't say I've ever looked too closely at the quality in-store, but these seem like the suit you buy to wear to one summer wedding a year and that's about it.
Natural Stretch
Similar to Stays Cool, but poplin?
Crossover
Joseph Collection without Pick Stitching?
Signature Gold Centocinquanta
Signature Gold with Italian Super 150s wools?
As such, I've spent enough time on their site to understand the basic dichotomy of most of their lines, but where some of the lines fit aren't quite as clear to me.
These are my findings and question marks arranged from low to high end. Keep in mind my assessments of quality are from someone who is reasonably stylish but not an owner of fine suits or a daily wearer of suits (probably wear a sport coat 4-5 times/month and a suit once a month). I'll say my
Known Quantities
Executive (MSRP ~$650, Clearance ~$100)
Bottom of the barrel. Suits are fully fused and mostly Traditional fit. Suit pants are unlined. Dress/Sports shirts are a bit on the thin side with no wrinkle-free properties (though the sports shirts honestly aren't bad for non-ironed weekend wear). Chinos feel cheap with no wrinkle free properties even though they're advertised as such. The only thing I'd ever buy Executive would be a casual sports shirt for weekend wear or a tie.
Joseph (MSRP ~$650-900, Clearance ~$100)
Priced similarly to Executive. Pick stitching, high arm holes, mostly slim fit. Fully fused, pants unlined. Dress shirts are slim-fit equivalent of Executive. Overall a more modern/trendy equivalent to the Executive line, but (to me) I think the cut and fit make these feel at least somewhat nicer, as does the copper lining. That said, they may not hold up over time.
Tropical Blend (MSRP ~$700, Clearance ~$100)Priced similarly to Executive. Linen/wool blends. Fused, unlined. Similar to the Joseph line, these exceed their price point in quality.
Traveler (MSRP ~$800, Clearance ~$100)
Much more known for the shirts than the suits. Fully fused, lined to the knee, natural stretch 100% wool, treated for wrinkle/stain resistance. Shirts also formaldehyde treated for wrinkle-free no-iron wear out of the dryer or with a quick shower steam. Chinos also treated for wrinkle free and stain resistance. First real step up in quality across the board and they actually do travel well (I usually steam or use wrinkle release after removing from my carry-on). Also carried in all three fits (Slim/Tailored/Traditional) across the entire line. Clearance items are usually priced the same or only slightly higher than Executive/Joseph.
Signature (MSRP ~$900-1100, Clearance ~$200-300)
Similar in quality/construction to Traveler but with nicer merino wools and without the travel-friendly treatments. Still fully-fused, lined to the knee. Shirts are also similar or better quality compared to Traveler, again without the wrinkle-free treatments. Clearance prices are usually ~2x-3x that of Executive/Joseph/Traveler and waiting for the somewhat rarer Signature Gold promos in the same ~$230-$250 range is probably a better value.
Signature Gold (MSRP ~$1300, Promo ~$250)Steps up to half-canvased, still half-lined to the knee. Full range of fits, pleat/plain front, and pick/non-pick stitched. The promos are somewhat rarer, but when you can get these in the $250 range they're a very solid deal if you're looking for the next step up in quality.
Signature Platinum (MSRP ~$2200, Promo ~$550)
Full-canvased, 150s wools, improved stitch/pocket/hardware quality. Rarely on clearance but included in promos. If you can get these in the $500 range they're a solid deal if you're looking for that level of quality.
Question Marks
Classic
Outlet-only Executive line?
Stays Cool
Low end (some under $400 MSRP) seersucker? 100% cotton. Can't say I've ever looked too closely at the quality in-store, but these seem like the suit you buy to wear to one summer wedding a year and that's about it.
Natural Stretch
Similar to Stays Cool, but poplin?
Crossover
Joseph Collection without Pick Stitching?
Signature Gold Centocinquanta
Signature Gold with Italian Super 150s wools?