A. Caraceni is the place to see the Milanese cut at its most complete. The shoulder is set slightly wider than the wearer's own, with a concave 'pagoda' line and a slight roll at the sleeve head; the chest is structured but not stiff, and the front is held firmly at the lapel, armhole and pocket. Peaked lapels are wide, with a gentle belly and an olive-leaf tip. Augusto Caraceni held that a well-made suit should let its wearer fence, and the atelier still cuts for freedom of movement as much as for line.
Its lineage is unusually direct. Augusto, younger brother of the Rome tailor Domenico Caraceni, dressed Josephine Baker and Charles Boyer in Paris before the war and opened at Via Fatebenefratelli 16 in April 1946. The family still owns the business: Rita Maria Caraceni and her husband, Carlo Andreacchio, hold 90 percent between them, and Andreacchio and their son, Massimiliano, are the cutters who take on new clients. Il Giornale has listed Gianfranco Ferré, Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren among its clients.
It is also a business of real scale by the standards of Milan bespoke. Milano Finanza reported production worth more than $1.7 million in 2025 and 21 employees, and each tailor makes a whole jacket rather than one part of it. Prices are not published: Gentleman's Gazette put a two-piece at about $5,400 in 2011, and the figure will be higher now. Expect three fittings during making, plus a final one.
Choose A. Caraceni for a structured suit, a double-breasted or evening wear, made in Milan by the people who fit it. Musella Dembech offers the same northern lines with a lighter make; anyone who wants Neapolitan softness should look elsewhere. Ferdinando Caraceni, a separate firm, closed in 2024. Visits are by appointment, on weekdays.
TailorGuide score
Each test is scored out of 10 and weighted. Scores set the order within Milan; they are not compared across cities.
- CutCut and construction35%
- 10/10
- FitFit and fittings30%
- 9/10
- ReputationReputation over time20%
- 10/10
- ServiceService15%
- 8/10
- Founded
- 1946
- House style
- Structured Milanese cut, pagoda shoulder
- Best for
- Formal Milanese bespoke, from double-breasted suits to tailcoats
- What they make
- Bespoke suits, jackets and overcoats, trousers and waistcoats, evening and formal wear, ties and accessories, alterations
- Two-piece bespoke suit
- From About $5,400 · 2011 figure; the house does not publish prices
- Vicuña overcoat
- From About $28,100 · 2011 figure
Prices are approximate and change with the fabric and customizations you choose. Confirm the price and the number of fittings before you order.
History
- 1935Augusto Caraceni opens an atelier at 92 Avenue d'Iéna, Paris; the war forces him to close it
- 1946Opens in Milan at Via Fatebenefratelli 16 in April
- 1972His son Mario takes over and names the business A. Caraceni after his father
- 1998Mario retires; his daughter, Rita Maria Caraceni, and her husband, cutter Carlo Andreacchio, take charge
- 2004Their children, Massimiliano and Valentina, join the business
- 2016Carlo Andreacchio is entered in the Fondazione Cologni's Maestro d'Arte e Mestiere Gold Book
Clients named in published sources include Gianni Agnelli, Eugenio Montale, Karl Lagerfeld, Gianfranco Ferré, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Marco Tronchetti Provera, Mike Bongiorno, Josephine Baker (Paris, 1930s) and Charles Boyer (Paris, 1930s).
Questions
How much does an A. Caraceni bespoke suit cost?
The house does not publish prices. Gentleman's Gazette put a two-piece suit at about $5,400 in 2011, and il Giornale gave a starting price of $4,000 in 2006; expect more today. The fabric you choose changes the final figure, so ask for a quote at the first appointment.
How many fittings does an A. Caraceni suit need?
Carlo Andreacchio has described three fittings while the suit is made, plus a final fitting. Il Giornale reported in 2006 that a suit took about two and a half months from choosing the fabric to delivery.
Are A. Caraceni and Ferdinando Caraceni the same business?
No. A. Caraceni was founded by Augusto Caraceni, brother of Domenico Caraceni of Rome. Ferdinando Caraceni came from the same town, Ortona a Mare, and worked for Augusto for many years, but Gentleman's Gazette reports he was not related to the family. He opened his own atelier on Via San Marco in 1967; his daughter, Nicoletta, closed it in 2024. The Domenico Caraceni label later sold in Milan by Gianni Campagna was also unconnected to the family.
Who runs A. Caraceni today?
Rita Maria Caraceni, the founder's granddaughter, and her husband, Carlo Andreacchio, who cuts. Their son, Massimiliano, also cuts, and their daughter, Valentina, works in the business. Milano Finanza reported in 2026 that Rita Maria and Carlo each hold 45 percent and their children 5 percent each.
Do I need an appointment at A. Caraceni?
Yes. The atelier is on an upper floor at Via Fatebenefratelli 16, with no shop window, and sees clients by appointment, Monday to Friday, 9am to 12.30pm and 3pm to 6.30pm. Call +39 02 655 1972 or email info@a-caraceni.it.
By TailorGuide · Updated April 2026
Spotted something out of date? Email contact@tailorguide.net.
