How to buy a bespo ke suit

Claire Davies heads to Savile Row for smart style tips from Noel Gallagher’s tailor

Buying off the rack has its place, but there are occasions when a custom suit is best. Perhaps you’re getting married or have a new job that requires you to don a suit. If so, a tailored two-piece is a sound investment. So where do you go? Savile Row, of course.

London’s most famous sartorial street is home to many iconic tailors including Cad & The Dandy ( cadandthedandy.co.uk), a revered tailoring house that’s dressed celebrities such as Noel Gallagher and Chris Eubank. We recently spoke to Cad & The Dandy’s Chrissey Sullivan to learn more about the process of buying a bespoke suit, which begins with booking a consultation. “Choose your cloth and styling details, have your measurements taken and from here the making process begins,” says Chrissey. “After this you’ll have several fittings to ensure a perfect fit.” Prices vary, with a bespoke two-piece starting at £1,000.

When it comes to the colour of your first suit, Chrissey recommends navy. “You can easily build a wardrobe around a navy suit. A plain, mid-weight cloth of around 11oz will give you a tailored suit you can wear yearround.” As for fit and detail, “Every bespoke pattern is cut to the individual, crafted to enhance their best features and give an elegant silhouette. We have had customers requesting super-slim lapels but advise against them – bespoke is about balance.”

Trouser length is also important. “We recommend each trouser break [where the trouser rests on the shoe] to suit the height and stature of the individual. While a nod to current fashion can be incorporated, true bespoke is about individual style.”