Advice for first custom suit

[joneog]

This is my first post on the forum - just wanted to say this is a great place and it's helped me out a lot.

I'm considering purchasing a custom made suit and have found some info researching old threads but was looking for something of a compendium on the topic. I was wondering if anyone had a list of places they know to be quality, any experiences they could share etc. (or a link to a thread I may have missed) I live on long island but spend a lot of time in NYC so anything between the two will work. My new tailor is out here on the island and makes custom suits but I'm not sure If that's the way I should go or not; I have to pick something up later in the week so I'll try to get some specifics.

Any advice on what I should look for, ask, avoid etc would be great. I don't have a price range per-se but assume it will be somewhere around $1000. At that price should I just look for a deal on something like a Hickey Freeman and have it tailored or go custom, even if I have to spend a bit more? My main issue is that I have broad shoulders (relative to neck and chest) and an 8 inch drop. Thanks.

-jon

 

[lureynol]

I'm in the process of getting my first from Mr. Ned. I've been very happy so far but we'll see the finished product.

I'm a very large guy and he seems to be good at getting the fit right, he's also honest about what will and will not work, which I appreciate.

His prices start at around 800, but if you want to push it up, he has plenty of lovely fabric that will easily take you to the top of your spending cap.

I plan to post more when the suit is done, but I hope this helps at least slightly in the meantime.

 

[sum1else]

If you are open to something cheaper, I used http://www.elegantrochees.com/, one of the hong kong tailors. The suit he made me is wonderful, fits better than anything from Brooks ever did. My problem is a weird shoulder slope and monkey arms, but Mr. Daswani hooked me up. The quality is pretty good, no problems so far--I've had it since June.

I paid $600 for a suit, 3 shirts and to put a rush on the order (30 extra). He has cheaper/more expensive materials as well. Plus he didn't charge me extra for working cuffs.

 

[teddieriley]

Advice: Don't do it.

 

[joneog]

thanks for the suggestions, I'll take a look.

My problem is a weird shoulder slope and monkey arms

I have a similar issue I think. Like most people my shoulders roll foward so if I don't keep good posture i get some pull between the shoulders. If I go up a size then the neck and mid section is too loose. I wear a 15.5" / 35" shirt with a 33-34" waist so I also have to get shirts taken in a ton.

Advice: Don't do it.

Care to elaborate?

 

[patrickBOOTH]

Originally Posted by joneog

Care to elaborate?

If you only have $1,000 to spend and have no idea what to get on your own you won't be happy. Let your style evolve more, find out what it is you like and want to look like and get something made well.

 

[TheFoo]

Chan. The New York options at that price point pale.

 

[sum1else]

OP, my neck arms are similar. 15 3/4, 35/36. Thats why I go custom. The belly is always huge on anything I find in a store. More so for the shirts than the suit. I have some OTR suits which when tailored fit reasonably well. The sleeve is always how I must buy suits and then hope they can take in the gut. Brooks is pretty good at this.
But no shirts ever fit me, even the slim ones. I'm not slim enough for those, but I'm also just not big enough to fit a normal oxford.