Tailored suits

Adsta · 5 Aug 2015 at 13:35

I'm looking to get a couple of tailored suits as I'm bored of having go through racks of stuff to hopefully get a full suit that fits well. As I am a bit of a short ass I always tend to struggle to find shorter length trousers that are not either HUGE waist sizes or not really short and end up looking baggy near the shoes.

Anyways theres a website that keeps poping up "a suit that fits" and they have a branch near where I live. I wondering if anyone has any experience with this shop/tailor. They seem to have a rather mixed bag of reviews some raving how good they are some saying how god awful they are.

I live in Milton Keynes but I'd be quite happy to head to London if needed if anyone has any recommendations for London.

Looking to spend up to 650 maybe 700 a suit.

*awaits the people saying WHY SPEND THAT MUCH ON A SUIT !*

Clarkson · 5 Aug 2015 at 13:48

I'm not a suit aficionado but my first impression would be that if it's a 'branch' then it might not be specialised enough to warrant my £700. More one of those types of shops trying to be something special when they aren't.

Just take a trip to an experienced and highly regarded tailor in London.

Skidder · 5 Aug 2015 at 13:51

I've used King and Allen twice with great results. Their HQ is walkable from my house but they have others. May be worth checking them out.

iaind · 5 Aug 2015 at 13:52

Spend £400 on a good suit from a normal high street retailer, that fits as well as possible. Then find a local tailor and get it adjusted. Some shops will offer some adjustment free - you dont need a made to measure suit for it to fit properly

wnb · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:05

I got my suit from a local trailer in Carlisle, its a father and son outfit who also have a shop in London. I was well pleased with the suit, best thing I have ever worn.

/\ndy · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:36

Adsta said:
As I am a bit of a short ass

http://www.warwickdavis.co.uk/images/webshop_im_warwick_davis.jpg - No hotlinking!

This guy pulls of a suit well, check out Warwick Davis for inspiration.

Paul11 · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:41

iaind said:
Spend £400 on a good suit from a normal high street retailer, that fits as well as possible. Then find a local tailor and get it adjusted. Some shops will offer some adjustment free - you dont need a made to measure suit for it to fit properly

This , buy a suit off the shelf and get it altrered.

dowie · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:44

Adsta said:
I live in Milton Keynes but I'd be quite happy to head to London if needed if anyone has any recommendations for London.

Looking to spend up to 650 maybe 700 a suit.

*awaits the people saying WHY SPEND THAT MUCH ON A SUIT !*

on the contrary I don't think that is enough to spend for a proper tailored suit - you'd need more like 2 grand or so

have you considered a made to measure suit? That will solve the issue you're trying to solve and is more realistic given your budget.

tom_e · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:46

Find your nearest Slaters, they offer in house free alterations on any suit bought from them.
If they can make a suit look good on a 5'6, 48" chest, 34" waist and 28" leg midget like me then they can fix it for anyone!

AtticusFinch · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:48

king and allen in London (and I think they may do out of London too) are great - fixed price suits and partially to fully tailored and well within the price range you're suggesting.

I highly recommend them.

Skidder · 5 Aug 2015 at 14:55

dowie said:
on the contrary I don't think that is enough to spend for a proper tailored suit - you'd need more like 2 grand or so

have you considered a made to measure suit? That will solve the issue you're trying to solve and is more realistic given your budget.

That's why places like King and Allen etc. are doing well. You get a bespoke suite with baste fittings etc. for a typical made to measure price but between each fitting it goes back and forth to Asia for a tailor who is paid in local currency to work on. They don't say that is their business model but it is (or at least was last time I got one).

dowie · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:00

Yeah and I'd be skeptical... if you're going to get a tailored suit then do it properly - also their price is more like a grand. For 600 or so (the OP's budget) it looks like you'll just get a half canvas made to measure suit.

RSR · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:04

I've got a few MTM suits and a MTM Overcoat which cost a small fortune, I'd recommend getting a off the peg suit for that price like a Hugo Boss one for example and having its tailored.

However, its all depends on what your requirements are.

Skidder · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:08

dowie said:
Yeah and I'd be skeptical... if you're going to get a tailored suit then do it properly - also their price is more like a grand. For 600 or so (the OP's budget) it looks like you'll just get a half canvas made to measure suit.

I'm not sceptical about their capability or quality as I have two of their suits and two overcoats. As such I'm probably in a reasonably good position to judge

perhaps prices have shifted up significantly though as I've had two fully bespoke from them, first was about £490 and second closer to £700 but that was in their earlier days. They had a good choice of cloths which improved significantly from my first to second suit.

dowie · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:15

maybe, maybe not - depends what you're comparing it too

they just sound like a made to measure service masquerading as bespoke tailors - it doesn't seem like they actually make the suits but take some measurements to send to Asia

if you're happy with what you've got from them then fair enough though

Burnsy2023 · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:22

If you're around Surrey, I would recommend this place: http://www.honsartor.com/

I'll be going there for a tailored suit at some point soon.

Skidder · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:31

dowie said:
maybe, maybe not - depends what you're comparing it too

they just sound like a made to measure service masquerading as bespoke tailors - it doesn't seem like they actually make the suits but take some measurements to send to Asia

if you're happy with what you've got from them then fair enough though

How would you explain the skeleton baste fittings which I actually had then if it is just made to measure?

dowie · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:41

I'm not explaining anything, I'm merely stating that I'm rather skeptical - if you're happy with what you've bought then that is cool

Skidder · 5 Aug 2015 at 15:52

dowie said:
I'm not explaining anything, I'm merely stating that I'm rather skeptical - if you're happy with what you've bought then that is cool

I'm arguing a point of logic not quality. You said you are sceptical that they are not just made to measure - I am saying you are wrong as if you pay for bespoke with them you have as many baste fittings as you need including with the canvas showing. I am a bit lop sided in the shoulders due to an old injury and this measurement was fully reflected from my first fitting.

dowie · 5 Aug 2015 at 16:14

Like I said, if you're happy with that and think you've got a tailored suit then that is all that matters.