Getting married, looking to have a suit made!
Hello! My fiancée directed me here because because I'm lost looking for a suit for my wedding in May. I'd like to get one made/made to measure, and really want to impress my fiancée because she's really knowledgeable about menswear (a styleforums veteran!)
Pertinent info: I'm a trans guy and have a pretty small build—I'm 5'6, fiancée measured me and my shoulders are 14", chest is 35.5", waist is 27". I'm looking for quality more than for a specific budget—throw the good stuff at me and I can narrow things down based on what'll work best. If there's someplace good in Baltimore or the DMV that's even better, but I'm fine with ordering online and getting tailored locally! I just want my fiancée to be like, "wow your trouser break is soooo perfect and your jacket is exactly the right length 😍" on our wedding day and compared to her I don't know a thing about suits. Please point me in the right direction! I've gotta impress her! Man I love my (future) wife.
15 Replies
Really need to add a budget
Cuz you could crack 5k very quickly w/ no limits
In #fashion-guides, there are a couple beginner-friendly guides
https://malefashionadvice.substack.com/p/guide-the-first-suit
https://malefashionadvice.substack.com/p/an-extensive-look-at-mens-suiting
[Guide] The First Suit
by u/[deleted] (2018)
An Extensive Look at Men's Suiting
by u/Eltonbrand (2013)
Also, some recent discussion about suiting by a couple non-cis folks here!: https://discord.com/channels/1116793467654381685/1156595043826667541/1156595043826667541
Are you in the NYC area? Always happy to give tailor recs.
I'd be super curious to hear about what you try and what you find! I'm cis & gnc (an afab butch) and trying to figure out tailoring atm as well.
One thing you could consider - if you're mostly concerned with what your wife likes and she knows a bit about tailoring, would you want this to be something you pursue together? like, she could suggest styles/brands she likes and you could see if that style/brand works for you. You could also relay what she likes to ppl here and they might be able to help you track something more specific down.
If you can give a budget it would be helpful too. OTR is often sub 1k (less secondhand), MTM can be around 600-3000 (best guess at range), and bespoke starts around 3500 (maybe lower depending on where you go?
hi, I'm wife, I think dear sweet konrad is overstating how much I know/care! like I told him to check out mfa because I've been "out of the game" for years and have no idea what's good or how much decent mto/mtm costs now. plus I have no idea how to dress bodies other than mine and arguably don't even know that 😊
Apologies. Didn’t read the full post like an idiot. Will ask around about Baltimore/DMV.
Yeah, at that size, you're more likely looking at boy's suits, or suits from Asia (especially Ring Jacket, often made for Ships or Beams, or stuff out of Hong Kong), if not MTM or MTO.
Custom is always risky. You do have enough time though so that's good.
DC has a few good options in the $1000-2000 range for MTM. And several grand for handmade bespoke. There are also a number of trunk shows from great makers, which will charge anywhere from $1500 to $10,000...
I understand that you don't have a fixed budget but if you could guide us that would be great. I wouldn't want to suggest a Liverano&Liverano suit for you if your budget is $1500. Right?
The second thing I'd want guidance on is what style you like.
The most basic things I'd ask for is: where do you want it on the relaxed-severe spectrum (think unstructured italian linen suit vs heavily structured british style suit in a fine worsted navy or charcoal). How formal you want it is an adjacent question, similar but not exactly the same. Classic or very-2023 (or very-2013)? More into British, American, Italian, Asian (not to lump Asian suit styles in together, but I'm just less knowledgeable on the differences between a classically Japanese vs Korean cut, can just say both tend towards british-american influences but tend to be smaller)?
Maybe use those keywords to look up some styles on the interwebs for inspiration so you can at least tell us about your favorite shoulders, lapels, pockets, materials, patterns (if any), slim/classic/full cuts, etc.
Side question, do you like Liverano and Liverano?
Their stuff looks fantastic. I don't own any of it. If any of it ends up on my closet it'll (almost) certainly be from ebay because I don't think there's a realistic timeline where I would justify a $9000 garment, which is what I think they charge for a bespoke suit today.
I got my wedding suit from Hall Madden and got fitted at their DC location. They have a fantastic selection of Loro fabrics for quite cheap. My suits were about $1400 shipped and everything
Here’s my review on Reddit. Idt it’s made it to the substack and I definitely didn’t port it to my blog yet lol
https://reddit.com/r/malefashionadvice/s/cNPS7BgCyO
Reddit
From the malefashionadvice community on Reddit: [Review] Hall Madde...
Explore this post and more from the malefashionadvice community
There are a handful of MTM suitmakers that can come in on a slim budget. They dont have a large selection of fabrics but, if you dont normally wear a suit, you may not want to spend more than $1000.
Try indochino.com.
And they probably have a store near you and measurements are free if youre buying a suit. And alterations are gratis as well when the suitcomes in. Give yourself plenty of time: 8-10 weeks minimum.
No indochino.