The short answer
To find a good tailor, decide whether you need alterations, made-to-measure or bespoke, then shortlist tailors whose house style you like. Inspect finished work on real customers, ask who cuts and sews the suit and where, confirm how many fittings you get, and get a written quote. Read reviews for specifics, and test the tailor with a small job first.
- Decide first whether you need an alterations tailor, a made-to-measure fitter or a bespoke cutter.
- Choose a house whose style you already like; don't ask a tailor to abandon it.
- Ask who cuts, who sews and where; good tailors answer plainly.
- For bespoke, expect three or more fittings, starting with a basted fitting.
- Trust specific reviews over star ratings, and test a new tailor with a small job.
In this guide
- How do you find a good tailor?
- What is the difference between a tailor and an alterations shop?
- How can you tell if a tailor is good?
- Who will you actually deal with?
- What should a tailor's quote include?
- What are the red flags of a bad tailor?
- Choosing a tailor by house style
- How do you read tailor reviews?
- How do I find a good tailor near me?
- The tailor's view: what a good tailor wants from you
- Questions people ask
How to find a good tailor is really two questions: what kind of tailor you need, and which one in that category is any good. A skilled alterations tailor, a made-to-measure fitter and a bespoke cutter do different jobs, and a great one of the wrong kind will not give you the suit you want. This checklist starts by narrowing the field, then shows you what to look for in the shop, in the work and in the reviews.
At a glance
- First decide
- Alterations, made-to-measure or bespoke
- Shortlist by
- House style you like, and finished work on real customers
- Ask
- Who cuts, who sews, where it is made, how many fittings
- Confirm in writing
- Price, what it includes, deposit, timeline, alterations after collection
- Test with
- A small job: an alteration, or a pair of trousers
How do you find a good tailor?
You find a good tailor by matching the type of tailor to the job, then checking their style, their finished work, their process and their honesty about price. Work through these steps in order; most poor choices come from skipping the first two.
Choosing a tailor, step by step
- 1
Decide what you need
Alterations to a suit you own, a made-to-measure suit adjusted from a standard pattern, or a bespoke suit cut from a pattern drafted for you. Our guide to bespoke vs made-to-measure explains the difference.
- 2
Shortlist by house style
Look at photographs of the tailor's finished suits and decide whether you like the shoulder, the chest, the lapel and the length. A tailor can adapt a house style, but should not be asked to abandon it.
Tip: Bring two or three photos of jackets you like, and say what you like about each one. It saves a great deal of explanation.
- 3
Look at finished work on real customers
Ask to see garments in progress and finished suits waiting for collection. Check how the collar sits, how cleanly the shoulders and back hang, and whether stripes and checks match at the seams and pockets.
- 4
Ask who cuts, who sews and where
Find out who will measure and fit you, who makes the coat and trousers, and whether the making happens in-house, with local outworkers, or in a factory elsewhere. Each can be fine; evasion is not.
- 5
Confirm the fittings
For bespoke, expect three or more fittings, starting with a basted fitting. For made-to-measure, expect a try-on fitting and a delivery fitting. Fewer than that is a warning sign.
- 6
Get a written quote
It should state the fabric, the pieces, the price, what is included, the deposit, the expected timeline and what alterations after collection cost.
Tip: Ask whether the price includes tax. In the UK, quoted retail prices normally include 20% VAT; in the US, sales tax is usually added on top.
- 7
Judge the consultation
A good tailor asks how you will wear the suit, studies how you stand, and will talk you out of a choice that will not work. One who agrees with everything is selling, not tailoring.
- 8
Test with a small job
Before a full suit, give a new tailor an alteration or commission a pair of trousers. You will learn how they listen, how they fit and how they finish, at low cost.
What is the difference between a tailor and an alterations shop?
An alterations shop adjusts clothes that already exist; a bespoke tailor makes new ones from a pattern cut for you. Many alterations tailors are highly skilled, but they are not usually cutters, and some made-to-measure shops have a fitter rather than a tailor on the premises. The word 'tailor' on a sign covers all of them.
| Alters suits | Makes new suits | Pattern drafted for you | Basted fitting | Typical lead time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alterations tailor | Days | ||||
| Made-to-measure shop | 3 to 8 weeks | ||||
| Bespoke tailor | 8 to 12 weeks or more | ||||
| Visiting bespoke tailor | Several months |
Use an alterations tailor for hems, sleeves and waists on suits you own. Use a made-to-measure shop when standard sizes nearly fit and you want to choose your fabric. Use a bespoke tailor when you want a suit cut for your posture and proportions, or a cut no brand sells. Many bespoke houses will alter only suits they made themselves, so you may need both kinds of tailor.
How can you tell if a tailor is good?
You can tell a tailor is good by how they look at you and by the work on their rails. Price, address and decor tell you much less. In the shop, check these.
Signs of a good tailor
- They watch how you stand and move as well as taking measurements.
- They ask what the suit is for, how often you will wear it and in what climate.
- They say no when something will not work, and explain why.
- Collars on finished jackets sit against the neck, with no gap at the back.
- Shoulders and backs hang cleanly, without ripples below the collar or drag lines across the back.
- Stripes and checks line up across the pockets, the center back seam and the collar.
- Buttonholes are neat and dense; on bespoke work, sewn by hand.
- They describe the process, the number of fittings and the timeline without being asked twice.
- The quote is clear, in writing, and states what is included.
What a good first fitting looks like
The first fitting tells you more than any review. A good tailor takes their time, asks you to stand as you normally do rather than at attention, and checks the garment while you move: arms forward, arms raised, sitting down. They explain what they are changing and why, and they ask how it feels as well as looking at how it looks. If the fitting is rushed, done in front of a mirror without the tailor looking at your back, or ends without a clear next step, think twice before ordering more.
For the construction details to check on a finished jacket, see how to spot a high-quality suit.
Who will you actually deal with?
In a bespoke house, the cutter who drafts your pattern should be the person who fits you, because every fitting is a correction to the cutter's own work. In a made-to-measure shop you will usually see a fitter or a trained salesperson, who records adjustments for a factory to make. Both can be skilled. Ask who will take your measurements, who will fit you, and whether it will be the same person each time.
Behind the cutter, the jacket is usually made by a coat maker and the trousers by a trouser maker. On Savile Row many of them are outworkers, independent craftsmen working in their own workshops nearby, which is a long-standing and respected part of the trade. What matters is that the tailor can tell you who makes the suit and where.
What should a tailor's quote include?
A tailor's quote should leave nothing to guess. Before you pay a deposit, make sure it covers each of these points.
| Item | What it should say |
|---|---|
| Garments | Jacket, trousers, any waistcoat (vest) or second pair of trousers |
| Fabric | The mill or merchant, the reference number and the weight |
| Make | Bespoke or made-to-measure, and the canvas construction |
| Fittings | How many are included, and whether extra fittings cost more |
| Price and tax | The total, and whether VAT or sales tax is included |
| Deposit and balance | How much now, how much at the final fitting or collection |
| Timeline | Approximate dates for the fittings and collection |
| After collection | What alterations cost, and for how long any free adjustments apply |
What are the red flags of a bad tailor?
The red flags of a bad tailor are vagueness about the process, promises that do not fit the price, and pressure to pay. Walk away if you see several of these.
- A 'bespoke' suit promised in a week or two, with no basted fitting.
- No clear answer to where the suit is made or who makes it.
- Pressure to pay the full price up front, or a discount that expires today.
- Measurements taken over a thick jacket or sweater, or with no attention to posture.
- Agreement to fix anything, including the shoulders of a cheap jacket, without warning you of the cost or risk.
- Very fine fabrics, such as Super 180s, offered at prices that cannot cover them.
- Finished suits on the rail with puckered seams, a collar standing away from the neck, or mismatched stripes.
Choosing a tailor by house style
Choose a tailor whose house style is close to what you want, because every cutter has a way of cutting that runs through all their work. On Savile Row, Anderson & Sheppard is known for a soft, draped cut; Huntsman for a structured jacket, often with one button; Edward Sexton for strong, roped shoulders and wide lapels. Beyond London, Neapolitan tailors are known for a soft, unpadded shoulder and Milanese tailors for a cleaner, lightly structured line.
| Style | Shoulder and chest | Feels like | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structured English | Padded, defined shoulder; clean chest; suppressed waist | Formal and composed | Business wear; slighter builds that want more shape |
| English drape | Soft shoulder; extra fullness across the chest and blades | Easy, comfortable movement | Those who want comfort with a classic line |
| Neapolitan | Unpadded, natural shoulder; often a shirt-style sleeve head | Light and relaxed | Warm climates; a softer, less formal look |
| Milanese | Light structure; clean, slightly squarer line than Naples | Between English and Neapolitan | Those who want softness without looking casual |
| American (traditional) | Natural shoulder, straighter body, less waist suppression | Easy and unfussy | Those who dislike a fitted, shaped jacket |
Our guide to English vs Italian vs American tailoring compares the styles in detail.
How do you read tailor reviews?
Read tailor reviews for specifics rather than stars. A review that names the cutter, describes the fittings and explains how a problem was fixed tells you far more than ten that say 'great service'. Read the three- and four-star reviews and how the tailor replied, because how a tailor handles a problem is the best guide to how they will handle yours.
| Signal | What it suggests |
|---|---|
| Names the cutter or fitter and describes the fittings | A real customer who went through the process |
| Describes a problem and how it was fixed | How the tailor behaves when something goes wrong |
| Photos of the finished suit on the customer | Evidence of the fit as well as the fabric |
| Steady reviews over several years | A stable business with returning customers |
| A burst of five-star reviews within a few days | Possibly solicited or fake; read them closely |
| Short, generic praise with no details | Little evidence either way |
| Reviewers with one review ever, or reviews of unrelated businesses in many cities | A common sign of fake reviews |
| Mostly alterations reviews | Useful for alterations; says little about their new suits |
Independent rankings help too. Ours carry no paid endorsements, and how we rate explains our criteria.
How do I find a good tailor near me?
Start with people whose suits fit well and ask who made them; well-dressed colleagues are usually glad to share a tailor's name. Good independent menswear shops know which local alterations tailors are best, because they send them work. Look at a tailor's social media for process photos, such as basted fittings and work on the bench, rather than only finished shots. Then use map searches and reviews to check the shortlist, not to build it.
The tailor's view: what a good tailor wants from you
The relationship works both ways. A good tailor does better work for a customer who gives them what they need.
- A clear brief: what the suit is for, how often you will wear it, your budget and any photos of what you like.
- Honesty at fittings: say what feels tight or looks wrong, even if you cannot name the cause.
- The right clothes: wear the shoes and shirt you will wear with the suit; see your first fitting.
- Reliability: keep your appointments, and give notice if your weight changes.
- Patience with a first commission: the second suit from the same pattern usually fits better than the first.
When you have a shortlist, take our questions to ask a tailor to each consultation. If you are looking in London, our ranking of the best tailors in London sets out each house's style, process and strengths.
Questions people ask
How do I find a good tailor near me?
Ask people whose suits fit well who made them, and ask good local menswear shops which tailors they use. Check each tailor's finished work and process photos, then use reviews to confirm the shortlist. Test a new tailor with a small job before ordering a suit.
How can you tell if a tailor is good?
A good tailor studies your posture, asks how you will wear the suit and will say no when something will not work. Their finished jackets have collars that sit against the neck, clean backs and matched stripes. Their process, timeline and price are clear and written down.
What is the difference between a tailor and an alterations shop?
An alterations shop adjusts garments that already exist, such as hems, sleeves and waists. A bespoke tailor makes new garments from a pattern drafted for you, over several fittings. Many shops called tailors do only alterations or made-to-measure.
How do I spot fake tailor reviews?
Look for bursts of five-star reviews within a few days, short generic praise, and reviewers with only one review or reviews of unrelated businesses in many cities. Genuine reviews tend to mention specifics such as the cutter's name, the fittings and how problems were handled. Read the middling reviews and the tailor's replies.
Should I use the same tailor for alterations and new suits?
Use the tailor who made a suit for its alterations whenever you can, because they have your pattern and know how it was built. For ready-to-wear and made-to-measure suits, a good local alterations tailor is usually the better choice. Many bespoke houses alter only their own work.
Is it rude to visit several tailors before choosing?
No. Visiting two or three tailors before you commit is normal, and good tailors expect it. Be clear that you are comparing, and do not ask for detailed design work before you have placed an order.
What should I bring to a first consultation?
Bring photos of jackets you like, a suit that fits you well if you have one, and the shoes you plan to wear with the new suit. Know your budget and how often you will wear the suit. Our guide to your first fitting has a full checklist.
Does a more expensive tailor make a better suit?
Not necessarily. A tailor's price reflects the amount of hand work, but also the address, the name and the fabric range. Judge the finished work, the fittings and the way the tailor listens, then compare prices for the same make and fabric.
TailorGuide is independent. Our guides are written and checked by our team and carry no paid endorsements. How we work.