Looking for good recomendations for OTTAWA, Canada

Originally Posted by MunnyGuy

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I am going to bring in some suits for alterations and some shirts to be fitted. Thinking of getting some custom shirts too. Will let you know.

I can tell you from first-hand experience that MTM or "Bespoke" shirts from Harry Rosen will not turn-out well. Just trust me on that one. Find a proper shirt maker.

FWIW, I've done MTM armani/samuelsohn, "bespoke" shirts (it's really a hybrid mtm program that doesn't work), and bespoke sport coats (true bespoke) at the HR in montreal.

Seriously, don't waste money on their shirts. I even had the benefit of the bespoke tailor fitting me but they **** them up where they make them in Toronto. Every time the shirt came back for pinning and adjustments, they messed it up some more, often by undoing corrections they had just made.

Originally Posted by GQgeek

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I can tell you from first-hand experience that MTM or "Bespoke" shirts from Harry Rosen will not turn-out well. Just trust me on that one. Find a proper shirt maker.

The comment you replied to was about Raymond, Tailor Of Distinction, not Harry Rosen.

Also, on the subject of cobblers, I've had Westboro Shoe Rebuilders, just off of Richmond by the Starbucks in Westboro, recommended.

Glad to find this discussion on Ottawa.

Has anyone had any experience with Myles, on Queen St? Or any of the other men's clothing stores nearby on Sparks St?

Originally Posted by mendel

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I dropped off a couple of pairs of pants (my Winners Coppleys!) and a sportcoat with Raymond for alterations earlier today. I got a good vibe. I'll let you know how it went.

Went well. Two pairs of pants shortened and a sportcoat taken in and sleeves shortened for $40. Results are good. He paid close attention to what I was asking for with the jacket, too, even noticing that the shirt I was wearing that day was a bit short in the sleeves when I was telling him how much linen I wanted to show. (The end result was spot on.)

I've got a basket-case suit that I'm going to get some thoughts on here and take in if I think it's salvageable, which I figure will be an even better test, but for now Raymond seems like a good bet.

Originally Posted by prospero27

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Glad to find this discussion on Ottawa. Has anyone had any experience with Myles, on Queen St? Or any of the other men's clothing stores nearby on Sparks St?
I'd love to hear some Sparks St shops thoughts too. I really don't like being the only person shopping the first time I'm in a small store, but along there you're always the only person, it seems.

Originally Posted by mendel

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Went well. Two pairs of pants shortened and a sportcoat taken in and sleeves shortened for $40. Results are good. He paid close attention to what I was asking for with the jacket, too, even noticing that the shirt I was wearing that day was a bit short in the sleeves when I was telling him how much linen I wanted to show. (The end result was spot on.)

I'm afraid I need to hesitantly withdraw that recommendation for now.

I took a suit in (not my basket-case one, a new one) for a bit a couple of Fridays ago, told him I needed it the following weekend, and then came in the next Friday and it hadn't been touched. Luckily the event I'd needed it for had been cancelled. He then promised me it'd be ready on Monday, but it wasn't. I finally picked it up on Tuesday but it was clearly done in a rush. He did at least offer a discount for the delay.

Not only that, but the jacket sleeves are still too long, which annoys me. It's partly my fault for buying a jacket with working cuffs that needed shortening, but I'd asked him at the beginning if he had enough room to work and he said he did, and it turns out he didn't. Had I known I'd have considered returning the (RTW) suit instead. (It's wearable, it just doesn't show much if any shirt cuff, and I haven't decided yet if it's worth having it shortened from the shoulder.)

I've heard some good things about Mario Master Tailor who I might try next.

Thanks for the update Mendel. Since Harry Rosen is back in my good books, I have been using them again. Always a good idea to have a decent back up. unfortunately, I checked out Mario's site and he tends to cater to the Military crowd and his "Fashion Tips" tend to be a lil dated. Has anyone tried Levonian The Custom Shirtmaker 1015 WELLINGTON ST ??? i drove by the store recently but have never heard of them.

I think it is a great idea to keep this thread alive! We do not have the selection that our Montreal, Toronto or international brethern.... gotta share the pearls!

I've used Raymond's tailor for a few pairs of MTM pants, and they are terrific value, as he gets cloth discounts from his supplier in montreal, leaving me with MTM pants w/ Dormeuil fabric for about half the price that Harry Rosen charges (~$160-180 vs 350-400). I'm hoping to try a suit in the near future. Also, if you're looking for some affordable shirts and don't mind waiting for a few months, Maxwell's Clothier (travelling tailor) is in town right now: http://www.maxwellsclothiers.com/ The shirts work out to about $55 each after shipping and everything. High-end, they are not, but still very usable. They do other stuff, as well, but I'm not in a position to recommend, Also, there is a custom shoe-maker on Bank (and Gladstone?). Has anyone been in there to check it out? I'm hoping to stop by next week and, given my problem finding shoes in the right width I'm hoping he can help.

Originally Posted by MunnyGuy

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Thanks for the update Mendel. Since Harry Rosen is back in my good books, I have been using them again. Always a good idea to have a decent back up. unfortunately, I checked out Mario's site and he tends to cater to the Military crowd and his "Fashion Tips" tend to be a lil dated. Has anyone tried Levonian The Custom Shirtmaker 1015 WELLINGTON ST ??? i drove by the store recently but have never heard of them. I think it is a great idea to keep this thread alive! We do not have the selection that our Montreal, Toronto or international brethern.... gotta share the pearls!

Hi there from someone else in Ottawa. I'm looking to get a new suit and the natural places seem to be Harry Rosen and Holt Renfrew. Does anyone know when they usually have sales? I always hate to pay full retail.

Harry Rosen and Holts usually have sales at Christmas time. If you are going to deal with Harry's deal with Garry, Ian or Indy. Garry is my go to guy but the others are very attentive as well. Also if you know your measurements check out the Buy and sell forum here. Some GREAT deals.

On the same line... anyone have any reccomendations for Consignment/Thrift shops? We all know about Value Village, Sally Ann, St Vincent..... anywhere else. Most consignment shops I have checked out will cary women's and children's clothing as their attitude is men will wear a garment til it is falling apart (obviously never been to SF )

So give all your recomendations.

Hey, glad to see there are others from Ottawa on here as well.

Most of the places have already been mentioned save a couple of small boutiques that come to mind right away for me - Morgante on Sparks and Vernini Uomo in the St.Laurent Centre.

Morgante carries all the usual suspects - Canali, Boss, Cavalli, etc. They also carry Canali, AE and Boss Orange shoes. Haven't been in that store in quite a while.

Vernini is definitely all over the place when it comes to style. Some stuff is a bit flashy (i.e. Versace suits) but there are some really nice items as well.

Other than that, really, there isn't much. I liked the new Paul Smith stuff at HR, but seeing the same Canali/Samuelsohn/Boss suit in every store is a bit tedious.

As for Norris, we still take individual orders but we do not have a storefront, since now most of our operations is focused on the leather goods business. Site should be up in about a week or so, hopefully!

Originally Posted by MunnyGuy

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Has anyone tried Levonian The Custom Shirtmaker 1015 WELLINGTON ST ???

I am a former resident of Ottawa and had 3 shirts made by Rachel at Levonian about 2 years ago. Overall, I found the experience very positive. She is very down to earth and easy to communicate with, especially compared to the bluster of some Toronto tailors and shirt-makers I've interacted with lately. She listened very carefully to what I said I wanted for the shirt, and then executed it exactly as I had specified.

She doesn't have a minimum order for shirts. As well, she takes measurements and then supplies a finished shirt. She did not offer a fitting, but I did not ask for one. It came with high arm-holes and shanked buttons as a matter of course. I asked for a soft lining in the cuffs and collar and it came with exactly that. She said she had three different stiffnesses of lining she carried and could execute stiffer collars if the customer wanted. During the measuring, she asked if I wanted a split-yoke and mother-of-pearl buttons, stating that many of her clients are indifferent to these details (it is Ottawa after all). The split-yoke does not cost anything extra but the MOP buttons are $10. The shirts come with small, elegant labels which she places at bottom of the

She has a good number of fabrics in-stock in the show-room. Some fabrics are $175, some are $195 (this is 2 years ago). I believe most of the fabrics are Testa. I knew very little about fabrics at the time, so didn't know to ask about Thomas Mason or other better quality shirtings. As well, she made me a pleated-front dinner shirt at very short notice (7 days) for, I think, $275.

The first shirt I got from her fit very, very well. I specified some minor changes for the second shirt (slightly slimmer placket, slightly higher collar band in front, slightly longer collar points, and slightly narrower collar spread) and she executed them all perfectly.

Part of what made the experience so positive is that she is very passionate about the craft of shirt-making. As an example, my first shirt came with thin mother-of-pearl buttons, which I lamented, and she explained was all she could get from her Canadian supplier. I believe this is true as I've ordered shirts from a Toronto shirt-maker that came with the exact same buttons. When I went to see her for a second shirt, she had just returned from a vacation in the States and brought back a supply of first-rate, full thickness mother-of-pearl buttons such as are seen on quality British shirts and was excited to show them to me. Subsequent shirts all came with these very good buttons.

Overall, I would say Levonian represents very good value and I intend to go back and buy more shirts.

New post to an old thread. I've just arrived in Ottawa and can add two things to the above.

Consignment store: http://www.clothesencounters.ca/ carries some men's stuff in a variety of qualities. Some nice pieces but not a lot of selection (no where near a place like Off the Cuff in Toronto).

For tailoring, I've had good luck with Rideau Tailors on Wellington. Nice old Italian guy with a very dry sense of humour. A craftsmen who takes pride in his work.

You guys ever try Maxwell? Tailors from HK who travels to Canada once or twice a year. Bought shirts from them in the past, decent. Never tried a suit, heard mixed feed back from people.