So this may be kind of a silly question but if I'm looking to buy things like shirts and vests and cardigans and jackets that are a step up from what you get at Uniqlo or whatever where should I be shopping?
For that matter, where do you get a good suit besides Men's Wearhouse?
Honestly, Uniqlo is a pretty decent place to get stuff. It's not amazing quality, but it's good for the price, better value than any of the typical mall brands (at least when they aren't on sale). The construction and fits are usually alright, even if their materials err on the cheap side. You may already know about it, but the seasonal Uniqlo U lines are made in collaboration with Lemaire and are usually more interesting and fairly well made. You could look at Banana Republic, J. Crew, Bonobos, Brooks Bros, department stores, etc. but I'd recommend trying to get them on sale. Also, beware of the outlet versions of those stores - while they do have some things that are out of season leftovers or returns from stores, most of the stuff is made for the outlets specifically and is lower quality (worse materials, worse construction) than the main brand.
If you want to make a larger step up to things that are higher quality, you're looking at independent/boutique brands. That's much harder to make a recommendation for, because it depends a lot on what styles you're interested in and what you can spend, but it does open up a whole world of different fits, materials, and styles.
For suits, Men's Wearhouse and Jos. A Bank type places aren't great, really, and neither are department stores unless you go higher end. If you have a SuitSupply or an Indochino near you, you could try them out, but the best option is really to try to find a local tailoring shop. You don't need to go full custom or anything (unless you're a very uncommon size), but a local shop is going to have a wide selection, measure you properly, and will probably do alterations in house.
