Custom Suits for Venice
Mr James is a bespoke tailoring house about fifteen minutes from Venice, down Lincoln Boulevard and past the Marina, at 221 Culver Blvd in Playa del Rey. We make fully canvassed, fully bespoke suits from $1,795, cut from a pattern drawn for one man and made by our own atelier in Southern Brittany, France.
Venice is not a suit-wearing neighbourhood, and that is rather the point. When a man here does need tailoring, it has to look like him and not like a uniform.
Tailoring for a place that does not wear suits
The suit that works in Venice is soft in the shoulder, easy through the chest, and made in a cloth with some life in it. It should be as comfortable with an open collar as with a tie, and the jacket should stand on its own with a pair of odd trousers at the weekend.
That is a cutting decision as much as a cloth decision, and it is exactly what a bespoke pattern allows. A soft navy or a mid-grey of that kind is worn far more often than a formal business suit. The trouser half of the argument is in our guide to odd trousers, which start at $450.
Cloth for the coast
A mile from the ocean, weight and weave matter more than anywhere inland. High-twist wool, linen, and wool and linen blends let air through and recover from a warm afternoon. A heavy worsted does neither. We set out the choices plainly in the best suit fabric for hot weather, and we will say which cloths we would not recommend for the way you live.
Beach and canal weddings
Weddings on this stretch of coast are very often held outdoors. Sand, wind and bright reflected light all argue for a lighter cloth, a paler colour than you would choose for a ballroom, and a trouser cut to sit cleanly without a heavy break. Wedding parties are twenty per cent less. More on the wedding suits page and on groomsmen suits.
What it costs
| Two-piece suit | from $1,795 |
| Three-piece suit | from $2,045 |
| Tuxedo | from $1,795 |
| Odd trousers | from $450 |
| Custom shirt | $295 |
Unlimited fittings and a year of complimentary alterations are included in every price. Finer mills run from Drago at $2,995 to Loro Piana at $3,995. Full detail on the cost page.
If you would rather we came to you
A visit to a home or office anywhere in Los Angeles is $300, with cloth and finished garments brought to you. More on home and office visits.
Questions we are often asked
Is there a custom suit tailor near Venice?
Yes. Mr James is at 221 Culver Blvd, Playa del Rey, about fifteen minutes from Venice.
What kind of suit works in Venice?
A soft-shouldered suit in a cloth that breathes: high-twist wool, linen, or a wool and linen blend.
Will you come to me?
Yes, for $300 a visit.
How long does a bespoke suit take?
Four to six weeks in domestic cloth, six to eight in imported Italian or English cloth. Fittings are unlimited and included.
Come and see us
221 Culver Blvd, Playa del Rey. Monday to Sunday by appointment, roughly nine until six, forty-eight hours' notice. Free parking front and back.
Book a private consultation, or telephone 310-503-3592 and we will find a time. You can also write to mrjames@bespokemrjames.com.
Nearby: Santa Monica · Marina del Rey · Playa del Rey · Culver City. More: bespoke suits · about the house.