A Suit That Fits: Bespoke Tailoring in Holborn

It is a compliment to bespoke suit creators,  A Suit That Fits, and not an expose of  my weakness for the male form  when I say that every model at last week’s fashion show looked both classy and smokin’…cloakin’?

The suit modelling took place at Sway Nightclub, Holborn, a distinctly grown-up environment with massive chandeliers hanging low and roaming disco beams. A free Courvoisier cocktail came with the evening’s entertainment, as did a touch-up by make-up artists Benefit. However a little into the evening their stall mysteriously disappeared, never to be seen again.

A Suit That Fits, a twelve man team with outlets in Liverpool Street, Canary Wharf and Piccadilly, operates by a five-step process that, for the gentleman who knows what he wants, can begin online by either customising the template of an existing suit or making one from scratch choosing from various ranges (distinguished,  professional or dinner) fabrics, and cuts. Vital statistics are then entered, payment issued (suit prices start at £150) and the tailors on the other side of the internet get to work. Once the design has been created, the customer goes into a store for last minute tweaking.

For those who want a bespoke suit but don’t fancy designing much, it is possible to book an appointment for a fitting and some professional guidance. This expertise will cost another £25 but may be preferable to finding the look that’s right for you out of the potentially overwhelming eight billion choices.

Demonstrating their personal interpretation of being suited and booted was a procession of relaxed men. With all bar two of the models being actual customers you might expect one or two shuffling embarrassments, but to my disbelief there were no duds. Clearly clothes are the great equaliser enabling the Lurches and Wallys of this world to give off as much magnetism as the high cheek-boned wonders.

There had to be a reality check and it came in the form of  A Frock Online, affiiliate of the main act and provider of an XX to every XY garment that made its way down the catwalk. Their output drew from my slightly emotional, sleep deprived friend her inner Perez Hilton. Scathingly yet accurately she remarked: ‘you can tell there was a good idea somewhere along the line but somewhere it went wrong’. The dresses, which were variants on classic styles from flapper to tulip,  reliably featured some unflattering fuss seemingly designed to emerge their customers in a subtle battle against ridiculousness. This may be a fun sport for those to whom looking good is just too easy but I shall be giving it a miss.

Yet the excesses of the dresses served to emphasise the simplicity of the suits to the point where conspiracy theorists might suspect this to be the organiser’s dastardly plan. The secret of ASTF’s unqualified success is merely common sense: if it’s made to fit you it will look good. The only mystery is why, in a world where looking good is such a powerful currency, the bespoke industry is not more mainstream.

To book an appointment with A Suit That Fits call: 0203 006 7999.

www.asuitthatfits.com