Need advice regarding suits and shoes

[pinstripe000]

Hi all,

I would like some advice regarding the following:
Currently I have two suits I ordered from hockerty, they're not amazing but they do the job for me currently. I had to get an alteration done by a tailor to get the button sown for my braces because Hockerty's factory didn't do it for some reason and I will never use them again.
As a large sized person, I've always avoided buying clothes off the rack but with my intention of going down quite a few sizes, I would like to find a way to get suits as I decrease in size without killing my pocket.
1) Could I get stuff off the rack and then get a tailor to alter it to my body shape? What would be the best option with getting new suits?
2) What is a good shoe brand, I've heard bad things about Church's shoes but I am looking to invest in a good collection of shoes.
For Context, I am based in London,UK and budget wise would like to spend £300-600 per suit until I can get to a weight i'm good with and then start spending some money on bespoke suits. For shoes, budget wise, I'm happy to spend what is required to get quality.
Thank you for reading!

 

[pinstripe000]

Please delete, realised this is in the wrong sub forum.

 

[Testudo_Aubreii]

Here's the conventional SF wisdom: Buy clothes that fit the body you currently have. There's no way to know what your body's shape will be if you lose fat or gain muscle. Your guess might be wildly wrong. And in the meantime, clothes that fit your actual body will be worn more often than clothes that fit an aspirational body.

Would I like to be more muscled? Sure. But I don't buy suits for that body. I buy suits for the body I actually have.

FWIW, bespoke trouser makers often forget to sew on the braces buttons. I wouldn't stop using a maker just because they forgot that.

For shoes, try Loake or Barker. Herring Shoes's website has good images to help you get a sense of their models (and their own Herring-branded shoes are quite decent in quality). If you can, go to a shop to try the shoes on in person. That will help you figure out which lasts and sizes fit your feet. If you want to spend more, there's Cheaney, Alfred Sargent, Tricker's.

If your feet are specially wide or narrow, quality U. S. makers like Alden and Allen Edmonds offer lots of narrow and wide sizes.

 

[pinstripe000]

Here's the conventional SF wisdom: Buy clothes that fit the body you currently have. There's no way to know what your body's shape will be if you lose fat or gain muscle. Your guess might be wildly wrong. And in the meantime, clothes that fit your actual body will be worn more often than clothes that fit an aspirational body.

Would I like to be more muscled? Sure. But I don't buy suits for that body. I buy suits for the body I actually have.

FWIW, bespoke trouser makers often forget to sew on the braces buttons. I wouldn't stop using a maker just because they forgot that.

For shoes, try Loake or Barker. Herring Shoes's website has good images to help you get a sense of their models (and their own Herring-branded shoes are quite decent in quality). If you can, go to a shop to try the shoes on in person. That will help you figure out which lasts and sizes fit your feet. If you want to spend more, there's Cheaney, Alfred Sargent, Tricker's.

If your feet are specially wide or narrow, quality U. S. makers like Alden and Allen Edmonds offer lots of narrow and wide sizes.

thank you for your wisdom

 

[TomTom]

Hello, I agree with the sentiment expressed above that you should always buy clothes for the body you have , not the body you plan to have 6 months to a year down the line.
If you are in London you have several options for suits , but it all depends on the style and fit you are looking for. For more modern style SuitSupply is a good shout plus you can get a good suit for about 400 pounds and they have an alteration tailor on hand.Hackett is also a bit more fashion forward without being to skin tight. I'm very fortunate that I have found RTW that pretty much fit me like it was MTM and I only need to do the minor alterations like sleeve length and of course trouser finishing. SO for work i go down the RTW route plus i treat myself with a MTM once in a while.

Shoes wise, if you are starting you cannot beat Loake or Barkers for construction and price. When you want to upgrade Chaney, Crocket and Jones and Trickers are very good and they all have shops all over London.