Basics
Bespoke, made-to-measure and ready-to-wear, fit, sizes, prices and how to work with a tailor.
16 guides · Updated October 2026
Basics
16 guides
Bespoke vs Made-to-Measure vs Ready-to-Wear: What's the Difference?Three ways to buy a suit, three very different processes. The difference comes down to whose pattern the suit is cut from, how often you are fitted and how much is done by hand.14 min read
How Much Does a Bespoke Suit Cost? Prices in London, New York, Milan and Dubai (2026)One table, four cities, three tiers. What a two-piece suit costs in each city in 2026, in local currency, and what moves the price up or down.10 min read
How a Suit Should Fit: Jacket, Trousers and Shirt, Point by PointEvery fit point a tailor checks, in the order they check it, with the exact rule for each and a note on whether it can be fixed later.15 min read
Your First Fitting: What to Bring, Wear and AskA fitting is only as good as the information the tailor has. Wear the right things, bring the right things, and say what you feel.8 min read
What a Tailor Can and Can't Alter on a SuitSome alterations take a tailor twenty minutes; others mean taking the jacket apart and may still not work. Knowing which is which saves you money and bad buys.11 min read
Suit Size Chart: How to Find Your Suit Size (40R, 42L and More)Suit sizes look like code, but the system is simple: a chest measurement, a length and a drop. Here is how to read any label and find your size before you try anything on.10 min read
How to Choose a Good Tailor: A ChecklistMost advice on finding a tailor is about hemming trousers. This checklist is for the bigger decision: who should cut and make your suit.10 min read
How Much Do Suit Alterations Cost? Price Guide by AlterationMost suits need a little work to fit well, and most of that work is affordable. Here is what each alteration typically costs, what pushes the price up and when to walk away.10 min read
Slim Fit vs Tailored Fit vs Classic Fit: Suit Fits ComparedThe labels on suit racks sound like a standard. They are not. Here is what they usually mean, how much they vary, and how to compare fits across brands with a tape measure.8 min read
Bespoke Fittings Explained: Baste, Forward and FinishedA bespoke suit is fitted while it is still being made. Each fitting has a different job, and knowing which is which tells you what to look for and when to speak up.10 min read
Is a Bespoke Suit Worth It? Who Should (and Shouldn't) Go BespokeMost answers to this question come from people who sell bespoke suits. Here is the arithmetic, the cases where bespoke clearly pays, and the cases where it does not.11 min read
Bespoke on a Budget: How to Get a Custom Suit for LessA suit cut for you does not have to cost Savile Row money. It does mean knowing which corners can be cut without hurting the fit, and which cannot.10 min read
How Long Does a Bespoke Suit Take? Timelines and Hours of WorkThe sewing takes a week or two of one tailor's time. The rest is fittings, queues and waiting, and you can plan around all of it.9 min read
Questions to Ask a Tailor Before You Order a SuitThe questions matter less than the answers. Here is what to ask at a consultation, and how to tell a straight answer from a sales pitch.9 min read
Why Are Bespoke Suits So Expensive? Where the Money GoesA bespoke suit's price is mostly time: the cutter's, the coat maker's and the trouser maker's. Here is where the money goes, stage by stage and component by component.10 min read
Parts of a Suit Jacket: Every Detail Named and ExplainedTailors have a name for every curve, seam and pocket on a jacket. Learn the names and you can read a fitting, compare two jackets on a rail and tell a tailor exactly what you want.14 min read