What Happens at a Bespoke Suit Consultation
Booking a first appointment with a tailor can feel like walking into something you are expected to already understand. You are not. Here is exactly what happens when you come to see us, so there are no surprises.
Before you arrive
We are at 221 Culver Blvd, Playa del Rey. It is a storefront with no suite number, and there is free parking at the front and the back. Appointments run Monday to Sunday, roughly 9am to 6pm, with 48 hours' notice.
What to wear: fitted trousers or jeans and a T-shirt, or a well-fitted shirt. Nothing baggy, and not shorts. We cannot measure accurately over loose clothing.
The consultation takes about an hour, and there is no charge for it.
Who you will meet
You will sit with me or with Ben. Never a salesperson, and never someone passing your notes to somebody else. The people you talk to are the people responsible for your suit.
The conversation
We start with what the suit is for. A wedding, work, a particular event, or simply a suit that finally fits. We talk about how you dress, the climate you will wear it in, and what you have liked or disliked in suits before. If bespoke is not the right answer for what you need, we will say so.
Choosing cloth, with the prices in front of you
Then the cloth. You handle it, hold it up to the light and against your face, and every option comes with its price. No guessing and no awkward reveal at the end.
Price is set by the cloth alone, because the making is identical at every level: full canvas, cut and sewn by hand in our atelier in Southern Brittany, France. A two-piece starts at $1,795. The full list is on what a bespoke suit costs in Los Angeles.
Once the cloth is chosen, we go through the details that make it yours: lapel and button stance, linings, buttons, pockets, trouser finish, and a monogram if you want one.
Measuring
We take around thirty measurements, head to toe, and three photographs, front, side and back. The photographs record posture and stance, the things a tape measure misses, such as one shoulder sitting lower than the other or a forward neck. All of it goes into a pattern drawn for you alone.
What happens after you leave
If you decide to go ahead, a 50% deposit at cloth selection starts the commission, with the balance on delivery. Then:
- Making. Four to six weeks in domestic cloth; six to eight for Italian or English cloth.
- Fittings. Unlimited and included. Most clients have three counting the consultation. Bring the shoes you plan to wear with the suit.
- Delivery. A final try-on, and then a year of complimentary alterations.
If you would rather think about it, that is fine too. There is no pressure and nothing to sign on the day.
Can we come to you?
Yes. A home or office visit is $300, including travel and a full cloth selection.
Questions people ask before their first appointment
Is the consultation really free?
Yes. It is an hour, there is no charge, and there is no obligation to order.
How long does a bespoke suit take?
Four to six weeks for domestic cloth, six to eight for imported Italian or English cloth. Shirts take two to four weeks.
Do I need to know what I want?
No. Most people arrive knowing only what the suit is for. Working out the rest is our job.
Book your consultation, or read more about how our bespoke suits are made and the house.
Robb, Mr James