There are three certainties in life. Death,
taxes, and the acceptance that there is almost always a price to pay if a
gentleman wants a tailored suit. Unless you have very deep pockets or a very
skilled hand with scissors and a measuring tape, a trip to Savile Row is often
an exercise in window shopping rather than an expansion of the wardrobe. The
issue, though, is that grabbing a three-piece from the high street rail can be
a gamble, even for someone who is a “regular size” like me.
A suit should be a statement piece, and so
when I heard about the Moss Bros ‘Tailor Me’ service I was intrigued. A
tailoring service from head-to-toe using any combination of fabrics and linings
that you want. You can even pick the stitching and the details on your button
holes, all while staying well within the three-figure mark.
The initial in-store consultation was
fairly easy; you start by chatting to a tailor and decide on what fit you’d like. Then, the fabrics and details are selected through samples in a folder. There are enough choices and combinations
to create something truly unique, while not too vast to cause a headache. Finally, out comes the measuring tape; every number is jotted down and within half an
hour the team had everything they needed. The hard part? The wait.
Fast-forward thirty days and my creation was
ready to pick up in-store. Post-wedding, I was a little anxious that my
waistline may have grown slightly but, as I slid into the ensemble in the
changing room, it fitted like a glove. I may be stating the obvious,
considering the work involved and the fact that my measurements were taken, but
it was a strange sensation to be wearing a suit that truly fitted me; and all
for slightly more than a high street price. The Prince of Wales check had strong
clean lines, as I had hoped, and the red lining popped just like it had done in
the samples folder. Every detail was accounted for and it felt great to have so
much input into a suit that (should) fit me for life. Now I just need to avoid
too many afternoon teas…
It would be great to get your thoughts on
my Tailor Me suit; what details are important to you? Do you have a favourite
fabric?
