Best place in London for a <£700 tailored suit?

[Drogue]

I've been looking around here and the AskAndy forums to help me decide where I should get a suit made. The trouble is, there seem like lots of good options, and I've no idea how to decide which one to go for!

I'm looking for something relatively traditional - single-breasted in grey or navy, probably with a pinstripe, that's made of good wool and will last - but that's waisted and will fit and flatter. I'd like to have a relatively slim-fitting suit while I can still get away with it! However other than that I'm not really sure what to go for, so I'd really appreciate a tailor who can help me decide what would suit me best. In case it makes any difference, I'm 24, about a 40" chest and 33" waist, and work in the public sector.

Ideally I'd like to find something nearer £500, but I get the impression spending a couple of hundred more makes a big difference, so I'd be willing to go to around £700 or so. I don't usually wear suits at work, so my idea was to get one, and if I really like it and start wearing it often, I'd get a second made.

I have quite a few questions (please bear with me!):

Is it better to go to a Saville Row tailor for MTM or a generally good tailor for something more bespoke (like the various Georges) or even somewhere more modern like Cad & The Dandy (which has the advantage of being a couple of hundred cheaper)? How important is a fitting at the basted stage? And how much would the extra couple of hundred quid get me if I were to go to a more traditional tailor?

Here's a few options I've seen positive comments on looking around the forums, I'd appreciate any opinions on which might suit my needs best or any I've missed:

George's Tailors in Harringay
Jasper Littman
Luke's
Graham Browne
George (threadneedleman)
Gieves & Hawkes/Ede & Ravenscroft (I've read these both use Wensum like Jasper Littman?)
Cad & The Dandy

I saw Curator's thread on AAAC about George in Harringay, though that was a few years ago. Has anyone had any more recent suits from him?


Many thanks for any help! I realise there have been quite a few similar questions asked, but I'm having a lot of trouble deciding where to go, or even deciding how to decide where to go...

 

[Drogue]

As another option, my housemate mentioned that Roderick Charles are having a sale, making their MTM £499 rather than £699. Does anyone know if they're any good?

 

[fox81]

they use wensum as well i believe.

 

[Modernist]

I've heard good thing about the Georges, especially threadneedleman. I've seen some suits worn by mods that seemed good. And since he somewhat specialises in what one could describe as a mod cut, I believe you won't have the usual client-tailor argument &quot;I won't it shorter/slimmer - No! it's too short/slim already&quot;. And you can ask for some details that other tailors won't do, not after a long argument anyway.

I'd go with a proper tailor, instead of MTM. Two reasons. First, the fittings. No matter how good the measurements, proper fittings are crucial to determining the fit of the garment. Secondly, you'll enjoy it. You'll get to meet and develop a relationship with someone who has been around and has stories to tell about it. Tailors are interesting people.

Why don't you go visit some of those places? If you keep it polite and short, tailors are usually happy to answer questions and show you some of their work.

 

[fox81]

woh, have you seen his website? it offends my eyes

 

[Drogue]

Originally Posted by Modernist

I've heard good thing about the Georges, especially threadneedleman. I've seen some suits worn by mods that seemed good. And since he somewhat specialises in what one could describe as a mod cut, I believe you won't have the usual client-tailor argument "I won't it shorter/slimmer - No! it's too short/slim already". And you can ask for some details that other tailors won't do, not after a long argument anyway.
I have to say, the emphasis on the mod look did scare me a little, though I understand he does a lot of business suits and such too. While I'd like something waisted, I'm keen to keep it relatively traditional.

Originally Posted by Modernist

I'd go with a proper tailor, instead of MTM. Two reasons. First, the fittings. No matter how good the measurements, proper fittings are crucial to determining the fit of the garment. Secondly, you'll enjoy it. You'll get to meet and develop a relationship with someone who has been around and has stories to tell about it. Tailors are interesting people.

Why don't you go visit some of those places? If you keep it polite and short, tailors are usually happy to answer questions and show you some of their work.
Many thanks for this, I'll try and visit a couple. I definitely see your point about developing a relationship, though I've heard people talk about Jasper Littman in the same way using his MTM service - that he's happy to give advice, easy to develop a relationship with and is critical of his own work when it comes to getting a second suit.

 

[Modernist]

Originally Posted by Drogue

Originally Posted by Modernist

I've heard good thing about the Georges, especially threadneedleman. I've seen some suits worn by mods that seemed good. And since he somewhat specialises in what one could describe as a mod cut, I believe you won't have the usual client-tailor argument "I won't it shorter/slimmer - No! it's too short/slim already". And you can ask for some details that other tailors won't do, not after a long argument anyway.

I have to say, the emphasis on the mod look did scare me a little, though I understand he does a lot of business suits and such too. While I'd like something waisted, I'm keen to keep it relatively traditional.
I understand completely what you're saying. IMO though that means that he, or any similar tailor, can be flexible at what he does. And most importantly, doing something more fitted will come natural to him. And if you ignore the haircut, what a lot of mods are wearing is essentially what is in vogue right now, ie a less structured, bit more fitted suit with slimmer pants.

Originally Posted by Drogue

Many thanks for this, I'll try and visit a couple. I definitely see your point about developing a relationship, though I've heard people talk about Jasper Littman in the same way using his MTM service - that he's happy to give advice, easy to develop a relationship with and is critical of his own work when it comes to getting a second suit.
He sounds good. Anyway, as Smokey Robinson's mother told him "you better shop around".

 

[Shanks]

You could check out Gieves & Hawkes of Savile Row. They do a Personal Tailoring line that starts at about £650. I was just fitted for a three piece that came in at £980 & it'll take eight weeks. Might be worth a look for you if you don't need it immediately. http://www.gievesandhawkes.com/en/tailoring/personal/

 

[0b5cur1ty]

One option you might like to add to your list is Suitsupply MTM. They have a shop in London that I believe offers the MTM programme (though I don't think there's a physically separate shop for MTM like here in Amsterdam). Price-wise, this will be nearer your original goal.

To give you an idea, here are pics from two of my WAYWRN's from this week - the blue suit is structured shoulder / fully lined, the grey one is 1/4 lined with a natural shoulder:

 

[fox81]

Originally Posted by 0b5cur1ty

One option you might like to add to your list is Suitsupply MTM. They have a shop in London that I believe offers the MTM programme (though I don't think there's a physically separate shop for MTM like here in Amsterdam). Price-wise, this will be nearer your original goal.

They have two stores in London now, one in the new Westfield and the other at the start of Savile Row across from Gives and Hawkes.

How much was your made to measure from Suitsupply? I think they run close to 800 pounds here, although they claim they start at 400ish.

 

[0b5cur1ty]

Originally Posted by fox81

They have two stores in London now, one in the new Westfield and the other at the start of Savile Row across from Gives and Hawkes.

How much was your made to measure from Suitsupply? I think they run close to 800 pounds here, although they claim they start at 400ish.
My latest suit (similar to the blue one posted above, with cloth chosen from Suitsupply's own brand collection) cost around 600 euros. The natural shoulder / quarter-lined construction (as per the grey suit) adds a bit to the cost. Choosing branded cloth, as opposed to from their own books, adds quite alot to the cost - the vertical supply chain integration and cutting out the middle man is pretty much core to their (relatively) low-cost business model.

Claiming very low starting prices is something every MTM place here seems to do. It's very annoying - I order my suits with own-brand cloth and few options but I've no idea whatsoever how you would get down to those advertised 'from' prices.

 

[fox81]

I got an email from suit supply saying something about oversupply of italian fabric yadda yadda and they were now offering m2m from 299gbp, originally 499. i am pretty interested in that price. oddly, it says price does not include alterations. i dont know how that would be the case with m2m but i guess they have to do their best to squeeze some margin.

 

[robinsongreen68]

i strongly advise you check out mr eddie on berwick street.

 

[Philip1978]

Originally Posted by 0b5cur1ty

One option you might like to add to your list is Suitsupply MTM. They have a shop in London that I believe offers the MTM programme (though I don't think there's a physically separate shop for MTM like here in Amsterdam). Price-wise, this will be nearer your original goal.

To give you an idea, here are pics from two of my WAYWRN's from this week - the blue suit is structured shoulder / fully lined, the grey one is 1/4 lined with a natural shoulder:

Nice.

 

[whiteslashasian]

That suitsupply website is super slick. Wow. Makes me want to book a trip over to Europe to check out their MTM program...They always look great on obscurity