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5 Tips for Getting a New Suit Tailored

Tailoring suits, how long does it take to get a suit tailored by Jos A Bank
 

At JoS. A. Bank, we do our best to offer suits in a variety of sizes, fits and styles so that just about any guy can find a suit that will look great right off the rack. From our classic traditional fit suits, to our tailored fit suits for athletic builds, to our modern slim fit suits, we have a suit to fit everyone. However, to get a truly custom fit you'll need to get your suit tailored, which is why we offer tailoring services at most of our 600+ locations. Here are 5 tips to help you get the best results when you get your new suit tailored.

Fit Starts With The Shoulders

It might seem obvious, but the fewer alterations a suit needs, the better the tailoring results will be. Find a suit in a cut you like and a size that more or less fits you off the rack, and that starts with the shoulders. Think of the shoulder of a suit jacket as the framework that the rest of the jacket is built upon. Adjusting the shoulders of a suit is incredibly time consuming and therefore expensive. By the time a suit that doesn't fit well in the shoulders is altered enough to look good, you might have been better off bringing your tailor a ream of fabric for a completely custom suit.

Save yourself and your pocketbook the trouble and find a jacket that fits well in the shoulders and just needs the sleeves shortened or the waist taken in. What you're looking for is a suit that fits correctly through the shoulders and looks good as is, but could look great with a few alterations. A good rule of thumb is, when between sizes, err towards the larger size- it's easier to take fabric away than it is to add it.

Be Prepared

You don't need to do any ironing before your tailoring appointment, but do bring a shirt, tie and shoes similar to what you'd anticipate wearing with your new suit. Wearing a dress shirt and tie to your appointment will help you and the tailor get a better idea of sleeve length and if any adjustments to the collar or lapels are needed. Wearing shoes will help the tailor get a more accurate idea of where the break on your pants will be to ensure proper drape.

Think Long Term

While highwater pants and jackets with drastically darted waist and shorter sleeves might be considered high fashion right now, how will that look hold up over time? Though trend in suit styles change over time, they are far more stable than most pieces in your wardrobe and there's no reason the suit you're getting tailored shouldn't look fashionable in five years. Stick with timeless styles with subtle contemporary touches.

Talk To Your Tailor

Some men are intimidated by their tailor, and too often defer to his or her opinion or don't speak their mind or ask questions when the tailor is doing something. While it is good to trust the expertise of the tailor, after all they are the professionals, it's is also good to keep two things in mind:

  • This is a business relationship, you are paying them for their time and services and you should get what you want.

  • This is your suit: you are spending the time and money to get a great looking suit and that's exactly what you should walk away with.

Your tailor should get the conversation going, but if they haven't gotten the ball rolling by the time your slipping on the jacket, speak up and start talking about how you'd like the suit to fit.

Try It On Again

Be ready to try on your suit again when you pick it up- shirt, tie, shoes and all. Hopefully everything will be perfect, but as often as not, your suit will need some fine-tuning to achieve the perfect fit you're looking for. Trying on your suit again before you leave the store will save you the hassle of having to come back, and many times the final tweaks that are needed can be on the spot.