How to Choose the Right Tailor Made Suits in London?

For those of you who are looking for tailor made suits London offers an extraordinarily wide range of options. The city has a long and storied suiting tradition and is home to some of the best and most experienced tailors in the world today. It is also home to Savile Row, one of the most popular streets in all of London and synonymous with fine suits.

British Suiting Tradition

The British suiting tradition goes way back in time to the 17th century, but it was only during the 19th century that the concept of the modern suit was introduced by Beau Brummell. In the early days, English people used to wear suits that were ornate and excessively designed, but during the time of Brummell, it was simplified and modernized to a great extent.

Brummell advised people to wear suits that not just look good, but are also comfortable to wear. When he introduced and popularized the concept of highly personalized, tailor made suits London tailors made it their job to meet his expectations and started making suits that fit perfectly well irrespective of a person’s height, shape, and size.

Though modern day suits emphasize more on comfort, fit, and ease of movement instead of focusing on ornate designs and excessive handwork, you can still find people wearing bespoke suits that are meticulously designed and personalized with monograms, unique thread work, and so much more.

The Uniqueness of the English Suit

Traditionally, the English suit is quite different from the suits from other parts of the world. It is a two-piece or double breasted suit which makes you look taller and leaner than you actually are. The shoulder area of the suit is generally padded to make you look sturdy. The suit typically has flap packets is also double vented for greater ease of movement. The armhole is also placed a tad higher than usual to make sure the suit does not appear saggy.

The trousers or pants that accompany the suit are also different from the pants that you normally wear. They have a slimmer cut and are generally pleated inward. The pants are also generally worn above the waist. The whole idea is to make sure the person you speak to has his or her attention on your face and upper body and not your lower body. The attention to detail and excellent craftsmanship are the reasons why when it comes to tailored suit London is considered the undisputed capital by many.

Choosing the Right Tailor

London, as mentioned above, is home to a large number of immensely talented and experienced tailors who are known for their suit making skills. Apart from Savile Row, there are still a number of places where you can find tailors who can make the perfect suit at the right price. If you are looking to order a custom suit for the first time and not sure what to expect from your tailor, here are a few pointers.

•    Experience – London tailors are generally adept at making suits, but tailors with years of experience are in a class of their own. So, it is a good idea to choose a tailor with a few years of experience.

•    Receptive – The tailor should be easy to talk to and receptive of your ideas and inputs. At the end of the day, it is your suit and you are the one who is going to be wearing it. The tailor should talk to you, find out exactly what kind of suit you want, allow you to choose from a range of fabrics, colors, and designs, and stitch it from scratch.

•    In-House Tailors – Some of the tailor shops only have one or two tailors and outsource their work to third-party tailors when they are not able to meet the workload. It means your suit is made by someone whom you do not even know or have met. To avoid this problem, you should choose a tailor shop or store that has a team of in-house tailors. 

When it comes to tailor made suits, London tailors usually take anywhere from eight to ten weeks for the stitching process. So, if you are planning to wear the suit for a special occasion, plan your schedule accordingly and get the suit stitched on time. Remember – even the best of tailored suits need to be maintained properly and if you do, they will last you a lifetime.

The Beginner’s Guide to Made to Measure Suits

Made to measure (MTM) suits are great to wear. They are more comfortable to wear than off-the-peg suits, fit you better, and last a lot longer. While they are not the same as custom made suits, they serve as a link between off-the-peg and custom suits. They are more sophisticated and customized than off-the-peg suits and at the same time more affordable than bespoke suits. So, in a sense, they offer you the best of both worlds in terms of suits.

Made to Measure vs. Bespoke – The Difference

 

Not many people actually know the difference between made to measure suits and bespoke suits and some are even under the impression that they are one and the same. There are actually quite a few differences between the two types of suits, which have been listed below.

•    MTM suits are made from existing patterns. Bespoke suits, on the contrary, are made from unique patterns each time.

•    MTM suits take relatively less time to make than compared to bespoke suits.

•    MTM suits can be personalized up to a point, but certainly not to the extent you can customize bespoke suits.

•    The number of options you have in terms of fabrics, colors, and designs is slightly lesser in terms of MTM suits than in the case of bespoke suits.

Still, there are a number of reasons why many people choose MTM suits over fully customized, handmade suits.

Reasons to Choose Made to Measure Suits

 MTM suits are generally considered an ideal choice for those who do not like the bland, unoriginal appeal of off-the-peg suits, but at the same time cannot afford to buy a fully customized suit.

Customization – Unlike ready-to-wear suits, MTM suits are not something you pick up off the rack and wear. You still have a number of options in terms of cloth and finishing and also in terms of buttons, trimmings, and other such embellishments. While it cannot be compared to a bespoke suit, an MTM suit feels a lot more personal and original than a ready-to-wear suit.

Quicker to Make – MTM suits generally take less time to make than genuine handmade suits. In case of a bespoke suit, you might have to wait anywhere from eight to ten weeks, whereas you can get an MTM suit stitched in four or five weeks. So, if you need a suit for a special occasion and are short on time, an MTM suit is the best choice for you.

More Affordable – This is undoubtedly one of the main reasons why many people opt for MTM suits over 100% bespoke suits. If you are on a relatively smaller budget and cannot afford to spend thousands of pounds on tailored suits, MTM suits are your next best option. They look and fit you better than the run-of-the-mill readymade suits and can also be personalized to a certain extent.


In terms of made to measure suits London tailors offer you a number of options in terms of fabrics, finishes, and trimmings. A typical MTM suit requires two fittings and is delivered in four to six weeks’ time. The number of fittings and the delivery time, however, might differ from one tailor to another.

Some tailors even offer what is now called ‘semi bespoke’ suits, which are a cut above regular MTM suits. These suits are created from unique patterns, which is not the case with the average MTM suit. You also have the option of choosing between fused and floating canvas. Between the unique pattern, floating canvas, and the number of choices you have in terms of materials and finishes, this is as close as you can get to handmade suits at nearly half the price.

Not all tailors in London, however, offer semi bespoke suits. So, you have to look around, talk to a number of tailors, compare their stitching methods and the rates they charge, and then choose one who suits your needs and budget. One thing you need to know about made to measure suits is that the first suit generally takes slightly longer to stitch whereas the subsequent suits can be made in a very short period of time, as the tailor already knows your exact measurements and preferences. The tailor might also give you some tips as to how you should take care of the suit. If you follow his suggestions, the suit will last a long time and give you great value for your money.

A Beginner’s Guide for Made to Measure Shirts in London

If you are someone who likes to look fashionable, made to measure, also called tailored shirts, shirts are your best choice. They fit you perfectly, look great, and help you to accentuate your looks and style.

For a while, it seemed like tailored shirts went out of fashion. People were too busy to visit a tailor and get a shirt stitched, so they opted for ready-to-wear shirts, which are available in every nook and corner and can be bought in bulk whenever you need them. The trend, however, seems to have changed these days and made to measure shirts are back in vogue big time. Particularly, in cities like London, where the art of tailoring is still respected a great deal by people, tailored shirts have become fashionable again.

In terms of made to measure shirts London offers you a tremendous range of options, which makes it easier for you to find what you need without exceeding your budget. First, let us find out why exactly tailored shirts are considered the better choice than ready to wear shirts.

Off-the-Peg Shirts vs. Tailored Shirts


There are a few reasons why even the best of off-the-peg shirts will never measure up to tailored shirts.

Poor Fit
This is the number one reason why many people prefer tailored shirts over off-the-peg shirts. The makers of ready to wear shirts usually have a ‘one size fits all’ mentality, so you are not likely to find a great variety in terms of size and sleeve length. The shirts are created based on standard industry patterns, which in turn are based on the body type of the average male model.

Needless to say, not all of us are built like the male models that you see on TV and in magazines. So, if you are slightly on the thinner side or thicker side, you might find the shirt a little too loose or tight for your comfort.

Generic Look:


There is nothing unique about ready to wear shirts at all. You can only choose from a set number of patterns and designs. You have no say whatsoever regarding any aspect of the shirt. The shirt that you pick out is no different than the one that a thousand others are wearing.

Short Lifespan

An off-the-peg shirt, by definition, is created for quick consumption. You are meant to wear it for a while and then throw it away. So, you have to keep buying a new shirt quite regularly. In other words, whatever money you initially saved by opting for a ready-to-wear shirt instead of a tailored shirt, you will end up spending on new shirts anyway.

Now, let us take a look at the benefits of made to measure shirts and how they compare against ready to wear shirts.

Fit

Tailored shirts are the very definition of the term ‘snug fit’. Before stitching a shirt, the tailor usually takes a number of measurements to make sure it fits you well. This is the reason why a tailored shirt is very comfortable to wear and fits you much better than an off-the-peg shirt ever could.

Customization

A tailored shirt can be customized to the core. You have a say in every single aspect of the shirt – right from the fabric to color, collar design, cuff shape, pocket shape, stripe patterns, sleeve length, and many, many more. You can even get your initials monogrammed on the shirt cuffs. The shirt is unique in every sense of the word and is created only for you. This is the most important reason behind the popularity of made to measure shirts.

Durability

Tailored shirts are made from quality materials and are stitched to perfection by experienced tailors. So, they last much longer than any off-the-peg shirt ever could and give you excellent value for your money. Even though you have to spend a little more on a tailored shirt than compared to a prepackaged shirt, you will still end up saving money in the long run as you no longer have to run to the nearest clothing store to buy a new shirt every six months or so.

As you can see, tailored shirts are an excellent choice if you want to wear something that makes you look better and fits you perfectly. If you need high quality made to measure shirts London is your best bet as you can find a number of tailors who can stitch a great looking, great fitting shirt well within your budget.

In Search of Tailor Made Suits in London

When it comes to tailor made suits, London is the undisputed capital of the world. Though many countries have their own suiting tradition, none comes close to the storied English suiting tradition in terms of historicity, style, and aesthetics. The British love to suit up and London is the place where suit connoisseurs go in search of the perfect suit.

History of English Suiting Tradition

The suiting tradition in London city goes way back in time to the 19th century. It was during this period that the idea of the suit as we know now was born. It was the brain child of Beau Brummell, who improved upon the suiting style introduced and popularized by Charles II back in the 17th century. Brummell thought of different ways to improve the looks and fit of the suit and introduced the concept of wearing well cut, finely tailored suits, which looked and fit much better than the earlier version worn by Englishmen back in the old days.


From then on, men in England, particularly those from aristocratic and rich families that formed the elite of the society, took great care to wear tailored suits and matching neckties to improve their personal appearance. Today, the suit has become the choice of clothing for people from all walks of life, not just the social elite. In terms of tailor made suits London offers the greatest range of choices, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Men love to wear suits for formal business meets and on special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, dinner parties, and various public and private events, to attend which you have to adhere to a formal dress code.

Tailoring in London

If you are in need of a tailored suit London is quite simply the place to be. The city has so many tailoring shops where you can shop for the suit of your choice. The tailors here are greatly experienced and have mastered the art of stitching the perfect suit. For many of them, making suits is the family business, one in which their families have been in for generations. In fact, it is not at all an uncommon sight along the streets of London to find a second generation, third generation, or even a fourth generation tailor. Such is the rich tradition of tailoring in the city!

Why Wear Tailor Made Suits?

If you are someone who has never felt the need for a tailored suit and have always stuck to buying off-the-peg suits, you are missing out on all that is good about the English suiting tradition.

An off-the-peg suit is neither comfortable to wear nor does it fit you perfectly. In most cases, it is either slightly tight or slightly loose, depending on your physical frame. If it is the former, it will most likely restrict your range of motion and make you feel stiff and constricted. If it is the latter, it will make you look bigger than you actually are. 

Moreover, a readymade suit does not last longer, as it is not stitched, but glued together. You might have to keep spending your money on buying new suits on a regular basis.

With tailor made suits, you have no such problems. A tailored suit fits you snugly, as it is made specifically for you. London tailors usually take multiple measurements to make sure the suit fits you like a glove, so you need not worry about the suit being too tight or loose at all.

A tailored suit is stitched from scratch and not glued together. It lasts much longer than an off-the-peg suit. So, even though you might have to spend more money on a tailored suit initially, it gives great value for your money as you can wear it for a long time.

Finding a Tailor

If you are in need of tailor made suits London tailors should not be hard to find. They can be found all across the city – from the famous Savile Row to numerous other streets that are equally known for their suiting tradition. Once you find a good tailor, you just need to tell him what kind of suit you need. You can leave the rest in his capable hands and wait for him to deliver a suit that is stitched to perfection.