Two major UK retailers say men's tailoring is selling strongly again. John Lewis reported that sales of its own-brand suits were up 68% year on year, and Marks & Spencer said it had sold 37,500 suits at $160 in the previous month, according to a report by The Independent published on 28 September 2025. Both retailers linked the rise to workers returning to offices and to men buying formal clothing for occasions.
John Lewis also reported that sales of formal outerwear were up 584% year on year and that appointments with its men's personal stylists had risen 23%. M&S said its suit sales had grown 18% over the past two years.
“It is now back with a vengeance and it is something that we are really investing in, particularly with menswear this season.”
Vikki Kavanagh, chief commercial officer, John Lewis
What the retailers are doing
Kavanagh said tailoring had taken a real step back in people's wardrobes during the pandemic. John Lewis launched J Lewis, a premium menswear label, the week before the report, and said it would open a new tailoring concept on Oxford Street with an extended range.
M&S offers suit-fitting services in 50 stores and launched an M&S Man social media channel the month before, as it tries to reach younger male customers. An M&S spokeswoman said men's formalwear continued to be a growth category as customers smarten up their wardrobes for work.
| Retailer | Measure | Figure |
|---|---|---|
| John Lewis | Own-brand suit sales, year on year | +68% |
| John Lewis | Formal outerwear sales, year on year | +584% |
| John Lewis | Men's stylist appointments, year on year | +23% |
| M&S | Suits sold at $160 in the past month | 37,500 |
| M&S | Suit sales over two years | +18% |
Sources: The Independent and TheIndustry.fashion.
A split office dress code
The figures come against a mixed picture for office dress. Research by Indeed's Hiring Lab, published in July 2025 and cited by Retail Gazette, found that 3.3% of UK job postings mentioned casual dress, more than ten times the pre-pandemic level. London had the lowest share of such postings, at 2.3%. Retail Gazette, in a March 2026 analysis, described a market pulling in two directions, with financial services, law and consulting moving back toward formal dress while creative and technology businesses stay casual.
What it means for suit buyers
For buyers, more retailers are investing in fitting services and stylists alongside ready-made suits, from M&S fitting rooms to John Lewis's planned Oxford Street concept. A ready-to-wear suit that is fitted and altered in store can be a sound first step before going made-to-measure or bespoke. Our guides to how a suit should fit and what a tailor can and can't alter explain what to check before you pay, and our interview suit guide covers the basics for a first suit for work.
