Discussion
Alas I’m not a powerfully built director so I’m turning to my fellow PH’ers for some advice. Fortunate enough to not need suits for work so only ever wear them at events or special occasions.
I need a suit for an event next year, assuming Covid doesn’t cancel it. Only ever bought off the shelf ones and whilst they fit fine for the most part they never look 100% so figured I’d try something different this time. I’m 5’10” and of average build, albeit with a bit of a gut but I’m working on shifting it.
Is a budget of £600 enough to get a decent made to measure one or am I better off buying something off the rack and having it tailored? I figure most places won’t have sold many suits this year so hopefully there should be some bargains to be had
I need a suit for an event next year, assuming Covid doesn’t cancel it. Only ever bought off the shelf ones and whilst they fit fine for the most part they never look 100% so figured I’d try something different this time. I’m 5’10” and of average build, albeit with a bit of a gut but I’m working on shifting it.
Is a budget of £600 enough to get a decent made to measure one or am I better off buying something off the rack and having it tailored? I figure most places won’t have sold many suits this year so hopefully there should be some bargains to be had
giblet said:
Alas I’m not a powerfully built director so I’m turning to my fellow PH’ers for some advice. Fortunate enough to not need suits for work so only ever wear them at events or special occasions.
I need a suit for an event next year, assuming Covid doesn’t cancel it. Only ever bought off the shelf ones and whilst they fit fine for the most part they never look 100% so figured I’d try something different this time. I’m 5’10” and of average build, albeit with a bit of a gut but I’m working on shifting it.
Is a budget of £600 enough to get a decent made to measure one or am I better off buying something off the rack and having it tailored? I figure most places won’t have sold many suits this year so hopefully there should be some bargains to be had
If you are not a slim or tailored fit you will be bloody lucky to find anything off the peg these days. I needed to buy a new suit in September, I have taken a 42R jacket since I can remember but there was almost nothing off the peg that was suitable fpr anyone other than mid 20's gym addicts.I need a suit for an event next year, assuming Covid doesn’t cancel it. Only ever bought off the shelf ones and whilst they fit fine for the most part they never look 100% so figured I’d try something different this time. I’m 5’10” and of average build, albeit with a bit of a gut but I’m working on shifting it.
Is a budget of £600 enough to get a decent made to measure one or am I better off buying something off the rack and having it tailored? I figure most places won’t have sold many suits this year so hopefully there should be some bargains to be had
To be fair, with all the working from home going on I can imagine sales of suits have not exactly been stellar this year but the choice was really crap & absolutely nothing available if you are of a larger build
Eventually found good suit in a small menswear shop but even there the choice was very limited at best.
Stretch your budget slightly and go and get a bespoke suit made. Gresham Blake start their two piece bespoke at £700 with a good range of materials and linings for that price. Yeah it won’t be as amazing as one of their £2000 efforts but it will be a damn sight better than anything from one of the made to measure merchants. They were doing a special offer recently where that £700 was down to £500 on a smaller selected range of fabrics see if that is still going or speak to them and cheekily ask. The bespoke option will mean full floating canvass and will fit you perfect. They have a variety of styles too so you won’t be stuck with the house style like you will at some of the more traditional tailors which sometimes can look a bit classic for many.
A lot of the made to measure companies are of variable quality and most in reality provide nothing more than what you would get off the peg with a slightly better fit.
A lot of the made to measure companies are of variable quality and most in reality provide nothing more than what you would get off the peg with a slightly better fit.
Wombat3 said:
If you are not a slim or tailored fit you will be bloody lucky to find anything off the peg these days. I needed to buy a new suit in September, I have taken a 42R jacket since I can remember but there was almost nothing off the peg that was suitable fpr anyone other than mid 20's gym addicts.
To be fair, with all the working from home going on I can imagine sales of suits have not exactly been stellar this year but the choice was really crap & absolutely nothing available if you are of a larger build
Eventually found good suit in a small menswear shop but even there the choice was very limited at best.
Slim/skinny fits are not good for gym goers tbh.To be fair, with all the working from home going on I can imagine sales of suits have not exactly been stellar this year but the choice was really crap & absolutely nothing available if you are of a larger build
Eventually found good suit in a small menswear shop but even there the choice was very limited at best.
I'm not a massive guy (6 foot and 180lbs) but I do go to the gym fairly regularly and the trousers never fit around my legs if I buy the correct waist size and it is the same with arms if I get the correct chest size.
Freshprince said:
I buy mine from suitsupply.com. They do a M2M within your budget with good quality materials, fully lined canvas etc. Depends on what style you’re after. Suitsupply offer a more modern cut, rather than traditional. I think their stores are only in London currently.
This is good advice.I wouldn't be looking at MTM for £600.
Suit Supply is reasonable quality and they will do alterations on site. You need to go to a shop and try things on, though, because their sizing is quite unusual at times. They also stand by their product if something doesn't wear well.
craigjm said:
Stretch your budget slightly and go and get a bespoke suit made. Gresham Blake start their two piece bespoke at £700 with a good range of materials and linings for that price. Yeah it won’t be as amazing as one of their £2000 efforts but it will be a damn sight better than anything from one of the made to measure merchants. They were doing a special offer recently where that £700 was down to £500 on a smaller selected range of fabrics see if that is still going or speak to them and cheekily ask. The bespoke option will mean full floating canvass and will fit you perfect. They have a variety of styles too so you won’t be stuck with the house style like you will at some of the more traditional tailors which sometimes can look a bit classic for many.
A lot of the made to measure companies are of variable quality and most in reality provide nothing more than what you would get off the peg with a slightly better fit.
As a regular customer I would suggest this, or get one of their of their off the peg suits adjusted; I've had that done. But the OP lives in Leeds. Not exactly close to Brighton or London. A lot of the made to measure companies are of variable quality and most in reality provide nothing more than what you would get off the peg with a slightly better fit.
Mr_J said:
As a regular customer I would suggest this, or get one of their of their off the peg suits adjusted; I've had that done. But the OP lives in Leeds. Not exactly close to Brighton or London.
Ahh yes I hadn’t noticed the OP was our resident take away chow machine from Leeds 
worth the trip though and you should only need to go twice The best advice I can give you apart from the above is to download this book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Looking-Great-Sui...
Simple read and it will tell you all the Savile Row tailors tricks in how a suit should look because most people don’t have a clue and armed with that advice and a decent alterations place you can make most suits look much better than you imagine
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Looking-Great-Sui...
Simple read and it will tell you all the Savile Row tailors tricks in how a suit should look because most people don’t have a clue and armed with that advice and a decent alterations place you can make most suits look much better than you imagine
craigjm said:
All you’re really getting from suit supply though is similar stuff to what you get from John Lewis etc off the peg but with the ability for minor alterations. In terms of suit construction they are all fused glued the same as any high street suit.
I think Suit Supply is better the stuff sold by JL and pretty much any suit is alterable.But at £600 I would not be trying to get MTM. I'd be looking for ready to wear and decent alterations.
Budget-wise, I tend to think that the budget required is:
RTW: Anything.
MTM: £1200.00-£1400.00
Bespoke: £4500+
Yes, you'll get firms like Cad and the Dandy doing bespoke for less. But it is not a true bespoke experience.
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.
Louis Balfour said:
craigjm said:
All you’re really getting from suit supply though is similar stuff to what you get from John Lewis etc off the peg but with the ability for minor alterations. In terms of suit construction they are all fused glued the same as any high street suit.
I think Suit Supply is better the stuff sold by JL and pretty much any suit is alterable.But at £600 I would not be trying to get MTM. I'd be looking for ready to wear and decent alterations.
Budget-wise, I tend to think that the budget required is:
RTW: Anything.
MTM: £1200.00-£1400.00
Bespoke: £4500+
Yes, you'll get firms like Cad and the Dandy doing bespoke for less. But it is not a true bespoke experience.
As with most things in life, you get what you pay for.
In all honestly, like I said above, most people have no idea how a suit should actually fit and have no idea what one is talking about when talking fused vs canvas etc. and spending 99p on the kindle version of the book I linked will tell them all they need to know to make sure even the cheapest suit fits well.
https://www.antichfinetailors.co.uk/
Leeds Rd, Huddersfield. Plenty of choice in your price range, | have used them before with no issues and a decent suit for the money.
Leeds Rd, Huddersfield. Plenty of choice in your price range, | have used them before with no issues and a decent suit for the money.
StuntmanMike said:
Was wondering how long it would take for someone to post thatLeon R said:
600 is plenty to get a decent one
tailored.
Obviously you can up that with expensive materials but 600 will buy you a nice suit.
If you do go off the rack and then have it tailored remember it is easier to take it in than let it out.
Thanks, will bear that in mindtailored.
Obviously you can up that with expensive materials but 600 will buy you a nice suit.
If you do go off the rack and then have it tailored remember it is easier to take it in than let it out.
Freshprince said:
I buy mine from suitsupply.com. They do a M2M within your budget with good quality materials, fully lined canvas etc. Depends on what style you’re after. Suitsupply offer a more modern cut, rather than traditional. I think their stores are only in London currently.
Had a play around on their website the other day, managed to spec a 3 piece up for around £650 which looked good. Sadly all the stores are currently closed as the big smoke is in tier 4. Wombat3 said:
If you are not a slim or tailored fit you will be bloody lucky to find anything off the peg these days.
I’d describe my build as tubby! Never really had issues with off the shelf stuff before, they still do the job but I feel like splashing out for once. boiler2003 said:
I can recommend Norton and Townsend (www.nortonandtownsend.co.uk) who will travel to you to measure and fit in the comfort of your own home/office.
Strangely they are only a short drive away in Ilkley, will give them a call to find out what their prices are like. craigjm said:
Mr_J said:
As a regular customer I would suggest this, or get one of their of their off the peg suits adjusted; I've had that done. But the OP lives in Leeds. Not exactly close to Brighton or London.
Ahh yes I hadn’t noticed the OP was our resident take away chow machine from Leeds worth the trip though and you should only need to go twice craigjm said:
The best advice I can give you apart from the above is to download this book
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Looking-Great-Sui...
Simple read and it will tell you all the Savile Row tailors tricks in how a suit should look because most people don’t have a clue and armed with that advice and a decent alterations place you can make most suits look much better than you imagine
Cheers, will download it and give it a read over the weekend. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Looking-Great-Sui...
Simple read and it will tell you all the Savile Row tailors tricks in how a suit should look because most people don’t have a clue and armed with that advice and a decent alterations place you can make most suits look much better than you imagine
pitboard said:
My son had a suit made for a wedding. No idea of cost as he wasn't paying, but I'm sure it wont be astronomical. Made by a pair of charming traditional bespoke tailors in Leeds.
Brightbarts,
51D New Briggate,
Leeds,
West Yorkshire
LS2 8JD
Might be worth a call
Thanks, they are as local as it gets. Will give them a callBrightbarts,
51D New Briggate,
Leeds,
West Yorkshire
LS2 8JD
Might be worth a call
Tony Angelino said:
https://www.antichfinetailors.co.uk/
Leeds Rd, Huddersfield. Plenty of choice in your price range, | have used them before with no issues and a decent suit for the money.
Thanks, fairly local and have been recommended by someone else I know too, will give them a call. Leeds Rd, Huddersfield. Plenty of choice in your price range, | have used them before with no issues and a decent suit for the money.
ClaphamGT3 said:
If you can stretch your budget a little, Trotter and Deane in Bury At Edmunds will make you something wonderful starting at the £800 mark
Alas £600-£650 is the top end of my budget, only likely to wear it once or twice based on my plans for next year and then once in a blue moon after thatGassing Station | The Lounge | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff