Custom Tuxedo in the DC Area for under $3k?

[WallaWalla]

I'm looking to get a custom tuxedo for my wedding next month. I live in the DC area. And have had bespoke suits made by Baytok and Fields. Both have done amazing work but their prices $3,500+ are just out of budget for my wedding tux.

I've done some MTM suits in the area and have been completely unsatisified. The fit of the bespoke for my body type (tall and thin) is just on a different level. The MTM stuff I've bought makes me look like I'm swimming in it. And stuff off the rack is a disaster.

Does anyone have any recent reccomendations about a custom Tux? I would like to spend no more than $2k. But don't think I'm going to be able to swing bespoke in that price range. Can I? Since I already own a tux, I am willing to compromise on quality of fabric, etc. for fit and price.

 

[Antonio Centeno]

Reach out to

Grant Harris - http://imagegranted.blogspot.com/

or

Chris Hogan - http://offthecuffdc.com/

They both know DC and the clothiers there.

 

[ny2dc]

Not sure if you've checked out Do's Custom Tailor in Georgetown. He tailors all of my suits and I talked to him briefly about possibly making a tuxedo. He may do it but I'm not sure. Good luck.

 

[TimelesStyle]

Which makers have you tried for MTM? Don't forget, a MTM suit starts with a basic silhouette, and if you chose one that's just not cut for you there's only so much you can do with it. Most Oxxford, for example, won't look good when done as MTM on a tall and thin guy.

Unless there's something very abnormal about your build, you can probably find MTM that will work, you just have to try a ton of OTR suits and find one you think can serve as a base. Bespoke will be difficult given your timeline and even MTM could prove problematic.

Off the top of my head, I'd suggest going to RL and Zegna. The Black Label tuxes should be modifiable to your specs (unless you find the shoulders too padded) and a Zegna based on their Milano cut suit would probably look quite good. My guess is they'd each run you just under $3k. If Brooks Bros. can do a MTM tux to their GF standards but based on their Milano suit cut, that might work as well (but not sure if that's possible).

 

[WallaWalla]

I have tried Highcliff Clothiers for my MTM. It was a disaster. I took one of my bespoke suits and said I wanted it copied exactly. I was measured. The initial jacket came back what looked like two sizes too large, with a neck roll and uneven in the shoulders. Even after these were "corrected" it looks like I'm swimming in the suit. The pants, which I like more of a wide leg and flat front came back super baggy with almost a pleated balloon top.

Because I am tall and have very big feet, pants are a huge issue for me. I need a wide/straight leg for a nice looking break. Almost everything that comes of the rack is way to skinny in the leg and makes my feet look giant. So, it's almost certain that I'm going to have to have the tuxedo pants custom made.

My bespoke suits are amazing. But for a tuxedo, which I will wear maybe once a year (max), I can't justify spending $3,500. Which is the minimum bespoke price I've been quoted by Fields and Baytok.

Does anyone have any other alternatives? I tried calling London Tailor in Bethesda and the language barrier completely prohibited any sort of normal conversation. But I was told they do bespoke? I called Do's and was quoted $3,500 as well. Geoffrey Lewis told me they would do a custom tuxedo for $2k. I asked them if it was MTM and they said no. But I don't think they are true bespoke because I've read they send to a plant in NYC - which concerns me?

Finally, and this may be me. But the MTM suits I've seen (maybe I just haven't gone to the right purveyors) look awful compared to the Bespoke stuff I've had made?

Anyone have any other bespoke recommendations? Or maybe a phenomenal MTM - but even this concerns me based on my experience with Highcliff.

 

[zalb916]

If you are anti-MTM, but want quality custom in D.C. for under $2K, then the only option seems to be one of the traveling tailors. WW Chan is visiting D.C. on March 8 and 9. You should be able to get a tuxedo for less than $2K. Plenty of examples throughout the forum.

 

[WallaWalla]

What is the turnaround time on a WW Chan suit? I would need something by April 1. Is that even feasible?

 

[mikej77]

Fields in Geogetown.

 

[Metlin]

I know you said no MTM, but Edwin DeBoise just sent out an email about Steed's Spring MTM specials.

The note said that if you placed your order before March 3rd, they will guarantee delivery before their Spring visit on April 3rd.

It did not include dinner jackets, but you could write and ask. I'm sure if they've an MTM program for dinner jackets, they'd be willing to accommodate you. And Steed's MTM will probably look better than a bespoke outfit from a less capable tailor.

 

[zalb916]

Originally Posted by WallaWalla

What is the turnaround time on a WW Chan suit? I would need something by April 1. Is that even feasible?

Highly doubtful you'd get it that quickly. Highly doubtful you'd get a lot of custom things that quickly.

Originally Posted by mikej77

Fields in Geogetown.

Did you actually read his post?

 

[WallaWalla]

I contacted Geffrey Lewis and received this response:

Thank you for the e-mail. Yes, what we primarily do is custom clothing. All of our clothing is hand sewn in New York and is of highest quality, measurements are detailed to an 1/8 of an inch. On the average, our Tuxedos will be around $1,300 to $1,350 but obviously can go up depending on the fabric you choose. With our custom clothing you will not have issues with some made-to-measure products since it will be based on a pattern that will be solely yours.

Has anyone had experience with them? $1,300 for a bespoke tuxedo seems awfully low? Can that be right? Can it really even be bespoke if the suit is sewn in New York?

 

[Joffrey]

Originally Posted by WallaWalla

I'm looking to get a custom tuxedo for my wedding next month. I live in the DC area. And have had bespoke suits made by Baytok and Fields. Both have done amazing work but their prices $3,500+ are just out of budget for my wedding tux.

Does your fiance know your skimping on your wedding day?

 

[Will C.]

Originally Posted by WallaWalla

Can it really even be bespoke if the suit is sewn in New York?
That question makes no sense.

 

[WallaWalla]

I was under the impression that bespoke is measured and made in house by a tailor and multiple fittings are conducted. If the measurements are sent to New York to have the product sewn - isn't it then M2M? The overall question is, has anyone had experience with Geoffrey Lewis? At this pricepoint it seems more like M2M, but they are claiming that it is not?

 

[TimelesStyle]

Originally Posted by WallaWalla

I was under the impression that bespoke is measured and made in house by a tailor and multiple fittings are conducted. If the measurements are sent to New York to have the product sewn - isn't it then M2M? The overall question is, has anyone had experience with Geoffrey Lewis? At this pricepoint it seems more like M2M, but they are claiming that it is not?

Seems more like a MTM/bespoke hybrid. Technically, I suppose it's bespoke, but if you want to get bespoke right, you can't really expect that it'll take only one fitting. Even custom shirts can require more than one fitting.

MTM technically starts with an existing pattern and modifies it. In actuality, I'd trust MTM much more than bespoke with only one fitting.

Based on your comments from above, about your build, here's something I'd try if you have an extra hour or two: go to someone that does Zegna MTM (they have a boutique in Tyson's) and try the jacket from a Milano suit and the trousers from a Roma suit. The Roma trousers will be wider all the way down than the Milano in any given waist size, but the Milano jacket will be nice and slim fitting. I don't see any reason they couldn't make you a tux with the trousers based on one model and the jacket on another.