How far would you go for a good tailor?

DocHolliday · Mar 8, 2011

Third base? Kidding.

Now that I know the dead walk among us, I'll ask: How far would you travel to establish a tailoring relationship? At what point would it be just too much hassle?

For those who live in the same city as their tailors, or in a city that their tailor visits: If you had to make a lengthy trip for each fitting, would you still bother?

Thanks.

coolpapa · Mar 8, 2011

I've gone to Naples. I think going to the source and having at least one fitting with the person cutting/sewing the garment makes the most sense if you're going to make the financial commitment. Getting there every one to two years to do fittings on multiple garments is consistent with my needs at this point.

Wes Bourne · Mar 8, 2011

I think it goes something like this:
Big Timers travel to Naples
Bigger Timers have their tailors travel to them
No Timers™ read about it all on teh interwebz

doc, I thought you only bought rtw? Are you taking the plunge?

*For all teh Big Timers: there's a helluva lot of tailoring talent in Chicago right now. Just sayin.

bullethead · Mar 8, 2011

If I had to board a plane on my dime for fittings, I wouldn't bother. Too much added cost to already expensive (for me) garments.

Luckily, for me, I am in a city where there are options for every style/budget.

mlongano · Mar 8, 2011

I regularly travel 500 miles round trip to my tailor. Last year I made seven round trips.

I am seriously considering traveling 1,500 miles round trip to visit Chris Despos in Chicago. That would be a minimum of 4,500 miles for the standard three fittings, and 6,000 if it required a fourth visit.

A good tailor is worth the trip...a bad tailor is not worth getting up from the living room and walking to the family room for a fitting.

UrbanComposition · Mar 8, 2011

I have a great tailor in Berkeley that was a 10 minute walk when I lived there. Now that I live in SF, I still take the 45-ish minute trip. She takes in shoulders, shortens jackets, all the stuff that tailors rarely do, and after 3 years & who knows how many suits/shirts/trousers, understands how I like things to fit.

I'd still go if I had to travel 2 hours.

dbc · Mar 8, 2011

Singapore to Hong Kong.

So about 1600 miles/ 3.5 hours flight time.

JayJay · Mar 8, 2011

About 3 hours by car (Chicago) or a couple of hours by plane (DC or NYC).

SirGrotius · Mar 8, 2011

I don't see much difference traveling from the States to Naples to have a suit made than just going to Macy's and picking up a Calvin Klein suit off the rack for $200.

TheEdwardian · Mar 8, 2011

I travel a couple of hours to mine. Shires to Oxford or London doesn't count?

I think you do it as a cost factor. I go to places I can go anyway, and do often enough for pleasure anyway to take in a tailor.

I obviously enjoy clothing because I am here, but for the most part, it's about building up a solid wardrobe, and not pure pleasure and hobbying, and I'm lucky enough to be in easyish reach of useful locations. If I was in thewilderness of rural america or whatever, I think I would take what I could get, or work on places I had reason to pass through a few times a year. Otherwise you factor in the cost of the travel to the cost of a suit, which may or may not suit your holiday plans or wallet.

Seems to me once it becomes more than trivial, it becomes an economic rather than sartorial factor.

NORE · Mar 8, 2011

I would sooner buy a machine and learn the craft myself thru trial and error than to go to great lengths to find a "good tailor". FWIW OTR fits me pretty darn good and as long as I don't start "critique my suit" thread I should be OK.

cronicmole · Mar 8, 2011

Originally Posted by SirGrotius

I don't see much difference traveling from the States to Naples to have a suit made than just going to Macy's and picking up a Calvin Klein suit off the rack for $200.

Think about what you just typed.

TheEdwardian · Mar 8, 2011

Originally Posted by cronicmole

Think about what you just typed.
About $4000 before the hotel and food?

jefferyd · Mar 8, 2011

Originally Posted by NORE

I would sooner buy a machine and learn the craft myself thru trial and error

You would sooner walk to Naples and back than learn the craft yourself through trial and error.

AncientSoul · Mar 8, 2011

Originally Posted by jefferyd

You would sooner walk to Naples and back than learn the craft yourself through trial and error.
Well said. +1

How far would you go for a good tailor?

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Stylish Dinosaur

Distinguished Member

Well-Known Member

Distinguished Member

Senior Member

Well-Known Member

Distinguished Member

Well-Known Member

Classic Menswear Featured products

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: