Bespoke in Houston?

[MRex]

Hello, everyone!
I've been thinking about getting a bespoke suit, &c. for a while now, but haven't had too many options available around me. That seems as though it will be changing, as I'm moving down to Houston, TX toward the beginning of August. I looked around the forums for recommendations out there, but haven't found anything very current or decisive. If anyone has recommendations for bespoke tailors and/or cobblers (especially with a more traditional style), I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

--MR

 

[nmprisons]

I live in Houston. I use and can recommend Steed. Edwin travels here three times a year and is likely to restart his travels soon after you move here.

Hamilton is a local shirt option, but I'm loyal to CEGO in NYC.

 

[MRex]

I live in Houston. I use and can recommend Steed. Edwin travels here three times a year and is likely to restart his travels soon after you move here.

Hamilton is a local shirt option, but I'm loyal to CEGO in NYC.

Thank you! Any recommendations for fabric type, weight, weave, &c. based on the climate down there?

 

[nmprisons]

Houston is so unbearably hot and humid for half the year that (assuming you stick around for the summer) you'll never really be outside in a suit. You'll go from one over air conditioned spot to another. That's true even if your office is downtown and you walk to lunch because you'll typically just scurry along in the tunnels.

Put differently: no suit in the world will make our summer weather feel comfortable, so just get stuff on the lighter side and stay indoors when you're dressed up between mid-April and mid-October

 

[MRex]

Houston is so unbearably hot and humid for half the year that (assuming you stick around for the summer) you'll never really be outside in a suit. You'll go from one over air conditioned spot to another. That's true even if your office is downtown and you walk to lunch because you'll typically just scurry along in the tunnels.

Put differently: no suit in the world will make our summer weather feel comfortable, so just get stuff on the lighter side and stay indoors when you're dressed up between mid-April and mid-October

Ha ha! Challenge accepted. I've not gone outside without at least a suit jacket since my second semester in college (sans manual labor or other such physical activity), and I've not worn short sleeves in as long as I can remember. I get the distinct impression that linen will be a good friend for informal occasions, ascots will replace ties unless I'm wearing a three-piece, and I might even have to justify buying woven shoes...

 

[Texasmade]

John Lobb Paris has a boutique in Houston. Paul Wilson can fly down to do measurements and shoe fittings. GJ Cleverly also visits Houston but I would highly recommend NOT using them. There are a bunch of horror stories of **** shoes, poor finishing, and terrible customer service.

For suits, there is Steed for a drape cut and Huntsman for a structured cut. Steed is currently not traveling due to travel restrictions but Huntsman has their NYC cutter fly around 4-5 times a year.

For dress shirts, there is Hamilton. I use them but I'm really not too impressed with their work. I'm thinking of switching from them for long sleeved dress shirts. For casual short sleeve shirts they're fine.

 

[MRex]

John Lobb Paris has a boutique in Houston. Paul Wilson can fly down to do measurements and shoe fittings. GJ Cleverly also visits Houston but I would highly recommend NOT using them. There are a bunch of horror stories of **** shoes, poor finishing, and terrible customer service.

For suits, there is Steed for a drape cut and Huntsman for a structured cut. Steed is currently not traveling due to travel restrictions but Huntsman has their NYC cutter fly around 4-5 times a year.

For dress shirts, there is Hamilton. I use them but I'm really not too impressed with their work. I'm thinking of switching from them for long sleeved dress shirts. For casual short sleeve shirts they're fine.

Good to know -- thank you!
What do you have, specifically, against Hamilton, out of curiosity? Also, please let me know if you find a better alternative (or if you have any options in mind right now). Thank you again!

--MR

 

[Texasmade]

Several issues.
1. My shirts have had quite a few loose threads.
2. They have my pattern but I've been getting really inconsistent results. I constantly had to get them to recut my shirts since the fit was off in the chest area. This was for repeat shirts too and not a first fitting.
3. They don't really offer any fit or style advice. On my first batch of shirts, the sleeves were too long which to me is something they should've caught. Every order since I've been having them shorten my sleeves slightly until eventually I just had them chop off a whole inch. The sleeves were literally 2 inches too long on my first batch.
4. I've never been too happy with how the collars fit. I've made numerous adjustments to my collar pattern, but I'm still not too happy with the way the collar fits/sits.


To me, they're more like a really good MTM over a true bespoke. They take measurements and make an individual pattern but they don't really assess fit and style. If you don't know what to look for, you'll end up with a batch of bad shirts. I only order once a year in June and usually do a batch of 5 shirts. Every order I've placed, I've had to get them to make adjustments that I think a more experienced bespoke shirtmaker would've caught. It took me several orders for me to get decent results.

Reason why I still use them is because they're local, during June they have a 15% off, and they're relatively cheap for shirts. Most fabrics start at $295.

 

[MRex]

Several issues.
1. My shirts have had quite a few loose threads.
2. They have my pattern but I've been getting really inconsistent results. I constantly had to get them to recut my shirts since the fit was off in the chest area. This was for repeat shirts too and not a first fitting.
3. They don't really offer any fit or style advice. On my first batch of shirts, the sleeves were too long which to me is something they should've caught. Every order since I've been having them shorten my sleeves slightly until eventually I just had them chop off a whole inch. The sleeves were literally 2 inches too long on my first batch.
4. I've never been too happy with how the collars fit. I've made numerous adjustments to my collar pattern, but I'm still not too happy with the way the collar fits/sits.


To me, they're more like a really good MTM over a true bespoke. They take measurements and make an individual pattern but they don't really assess fit and style. If you don't know what to look for, you'll end up with a batch of bad shirts. I only order once a year in June and usually do a batch of 5 shirts. Every order I've placed, I've had to get them to make adjustments that I think a more experienced bespoke shirtmaker would've caught. It took me several orders for me to get decent results.

Reason why I still use them is because they're local, during June they have a 15% off, and they're relatively cheap for shirts. Most fabrics start at $295.

Good to know. I'll keep my eyes open for alternatives.

 

[Texasmade]

You can also try Kiton for suits and shirts but they're very expensive. I remember several years ago I inquired about bespoke suits at Kiton. The starting price back then for base level fabric was $8000. For a bespoke shirt, I think the starting price was around $1000. At that price for a shirt, going with Hamilton was a no brainer.

 

[MRex]

You can also try Kiton for suits and shirts but they're very expensive. I remember several years ago I inquired about bespoke suits at Kiton. The starting price back then for base level fabric was $8000. For a bespoke shirt, I think the starting price was around $1000. At that price for a shirt, going with Hamilton was a no brainer.

...yeah... that's maybe a little bit much for a shirt...

 

[hookem12387]

Several issues.
1. My shirts have had quite a few loose threads.
2. They have my pattern but I've been getting really inconsistent results. I constantly had to get them to recut my shirts since the fit was off in the chest area. This was for repeat shirts too and not a first fitting.
3. They don't really offer any fit or style advice. On my first batch of shirts, the sleeves were too long which to me is something they should've caught. Every order since I've been having them shorten my sleeves slightly until eventually I just had them chop off a whole inch. The sleeves were literally 2 inches too long on my first batch.
4. I've never been too happy with how the collars fit. I've made numerous adjustments to my collar pattern, but I'm still not too happy with the way the collar fits/sits.


To me, they're more like a really good MTM over a true bespoke. They take measurements and make an individual pattern but they don't really assess fit and style. If you don't know what to look for, you'll end up with a batch of bad shirts. I only order once a year in June and usually do a batch of 5 shirts. Every order I've placed, I've had to get them to make adjustments that I think a more experienced bespoke shirtmaker would've caught. It took me several orders for me to get decent results.

Reason why I still use them is because they're local, during June they have a 15% off, and they're relatively cheap for shirts. Most fabrics start at $295.

I've had similar results with Hamilton fwiw.

I haven't tried them yet, and it's Dallas not Houston, but I've been meaning to get up there and try https://www.shopuncommonman.com/pages/custom for mtm suits. ~ $2k for mtm with some really nice details and quality from what I've read.

 

[Nytailor]

For a true, Savile Row bespoke, there's Huntsman or me. We both have places in NYC and visit Houston and other Texan cities regularly.

 

[Texasmade]

For a true, Savile Row bespoke, there's Huntsman or me. We both have places in NYC and visit Houston and other Texan cities regularly.

Not sound rude but who are you? There's not much information in your profile.

 

[nmprisons]

Not sound rude but who are you? There's not much information in your profile.

And, for my edification, why do you not consider Steed "true, Savile Row bespoke"?