Recomendations for high quality custom suits

[Lady Companion]

I realize this is not the ideal place to post this query, but I figured most ladies who peruse this forum also have non standard measurements and may be able to assist. Gentlemen, please also feel free to jump in with any suggestions

I am looking to have two new power suits made. Obviously nothing fits me off the rack, and many times when I buy a nice suite to be tailored, it ends up losing some appeal after all changes.

I would love to know of any places in the lower mainland who cater to creating women's suits. They are welcome to design something which will look fabulous on me.....or I can provide photos of what I like. I'm looking for very good quality/high end workmanship. Classic designs which will flatter my body. In a perfect world, they will also carry the fabric and hardware - as I really really hate fabric shopping.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you!

 

[Big Dog Striker]

JC Studio

Vancouver has a lot of cool designers from Catherine Regehr to Manuel Mendoza. When it comes to innovative power suits for women, no one makes a better impression than Jacqueline Conoir's JC Studio along the West Side.

 

[Irresistible Isabelle]

I don't know any places in town (let me know if you find a good one as I have the same problem) BUT if you have the time and need a holiday go to Thailand (or various other Asian countries). While there I had the following made:

Woman's custom designed suit (silk/wool) - jacket, skirt, shorts
Woman's standard suit (cashmere/wool) - jacket, pants, skirt, bustier
4 women's shirts
Floor length silk cheongsam

Men's suit (cashmere/wool) - jacket, pants
Men's velvet jacket
Slacks
2 shirts
4 ties

All for the grand total of $1100. All custom fitted & made in a matter of days. Apparently many places will take your measurements and after the final fitting, keep them on file and when you are back home you can call them up and have them make something and ship it to you.

 

[booblover]

most of the suits gotten in Thailand etc are not high quality but are a great price and are made to order. There is very little that would make your body ugly Angel!!

 

[timhorton]

+1 for Jacqueline Conoir. RozeMerie Cuevas one of my favourite local designers.

http://www.jcstudio.ca/

 

[timhorton]

I don't know any places in town (let me know if you find a good one as I have the same problem) BUT if you have the time and need a holiday go to Thailand ....Apparently many places will take your measurements and after the final fitting, keep them on file and when you are back home you can call them up and have them make something and ship it to you.

Singapore, Shanghai and Seoul are excellent places for this too. They have excellent tailors in these countries.

 

[FortunateOne]

Also check with these shops to see if they have info on local designers/tailors who can do custom work:

Edward Chapman Ladies Shop
Nicole Adrienne Vancouver
Leone
Enda B


I think Quality Custom Shirtmakers on West Broadway has been around for decades -- possibly they will have the know-how for women's designs.

 

[teejay69]

I have a couple of Asian ones you can try.

Consider Bill and Jack Wong of Modernize Tailers (604-685-0610). Close to Pender @ Columbia. I had them copy some dress pants for me. They did a great job plus their selection of high quality wools are decent.

http://modernizetailors.blogspot.com/2008/02/tailors-bill-and-jack-wong-get-close-up.html

Another one is Tam's Custom Tailor (5729 W Boulevard in Kerrisdale). Their number is 604-269-9440

Since there are quite a few variations for women's suits - I suggest you bring some designs or samples of what you need. You might need to buy something and then return it.

Also - I think Quality Custom Tailors retired. They had to move a few years back. (now is Memphis Blues BBQ House)

Another one is Samson Tailors - http://www.stevesamson.org/

 

[summerbreeze]

teejay is on the right track, there are numerous hong kong tailors in town who do a great job of copying european styles and tailor making them for their customers.

if the ones he mentioned don't suffice, try one of the high end asian magazines and check for the ads. (you won't need to read the language, you can tell from the graphics and photos.

 

[schizo_man]

I've heard that you can get great suits made in India too, of awesome quality.

 

[trackstar]

I've heard that you can get great suits made in India too, of awesome quality.

Just a guess, but she probably wants someone a "little" closer

That may apply for China, Singapore, New York, etc. as well

 

[timhorton]

I've heard that you can get great suits made in India too, of awesome quality.

It's not worth the trouble of travelling in India for a couple suits. Asia can be a quick trip; India can suck the life out of you if you don't speak Hindi. Very difficult to make travel and accommodation plans, and the travel and accommodations can have unexpected results.

 

[mclovin76]

There is an easter european suit maker with beautifull fabrics near richmond center, hes actually behind the bay on the north side underneath a seafood restaurant. Ive had a few suits made by him since im a 56 on the top and my waist is a 40 cant really fit anything off the rack other then pants and shoes. Yes my back is huge,i look like a gorilla lol

 

[Very Veronica]

http://www.stevesamson.org/Designer-Tailoring

 

[teejay69]

Please note that you are not having to justify Saville Row labour and rent. Things will be cheaper in Vancouver.

When I was in HK - one place I went to was not a tourist shop and their wools were fine - not quite on par with the high end Zegna stuff but good enough for me anyway. They provided two fittings. $500 USD.

The tourist Indian tourist shop was much cheaper and quality was average. $200 USD for the suit.

Anyway - the 5 Star Peninsula Hotel had custom suits for easily $5,000. Were their suits better - possibly but 10x times better than the $500 place? It is all about what you want and what you are comfortable with just like some people are fine with Holt Renfrew and others are not. You will look hot in whatever you choose.

While places like HK are cheaper compared to Vancouver - I would not justify getting on a plane unless you were there for a another reason.

 

[Katlyn]

Some of these places suggested do Made to Order which means they have a specific suit style (a whole collection) and then they will make it to your measurements and that might work if their pre-made pattern pieces are able to fit together for your body type. However the main problem is that menswear and womenswear are totally different. Most people do not realize this but this is the reason you see so few menswear suit tailors offering womenswear. It's not just a different body shape, it's a different method of construction and of cutting the pattern.

Some menswear places CAN do womenswear but make sure you ask to see samples before committing because there are also a lot that will do it just to get the business and really the suit will look awful because it will be made as a men's suit.

Unfortunately there are very very few real couturiers left in Vancouver. I would call Modernize which is one of the last REAL tailors in Vancouver and ask them if they have any suggestions. There is another which I can not pull out of my brain right now that is also menswear but would be able to give suggestions...if I remember I will post again. Modernize is a good bet though, asian seamstresses are AMAZING as they have often been trained properly and from a very young age in proper couture methods and they may have a few they know that they could recommend.

The suggestion to stop while on tour in NYC or another city is a good one. Also I know someone who does pattern making and if you find a men's tailor willing to make you a suit I could probably convince her to make the pattern for you as a tailor would not know how...I'm sure I could call in a favour. However you will get the best results if you can find a tailor that does womenswear such as the NYC suggested one.

Oh! And I just remembered. This lady does bespoke shirts for men and women, she would surely be able to suggest someone. It would not be a local person but you travel a lot so maybe that would be okay:
http://www.lucyadams.co.uk/

 

[wolverine]

http://www.samabouhassan.com/

 

[teejay69]

Footnotes for Sperminator

Since you are the resident expert . . .

I have teejay embroidered on the inside of the jacket so that SP's will recognize my handle. Other details - suit required 4 days - one fitting. Real button holes and pants are in fact lined. The material is Italian wool - in fact - it held up well as I decided to wear the cheap version on the flight back to test the resiliency (no creasing). Pants are lined to knees but the overall quality of the linings, shoulder padding, belt loops, arm holes and hand stitching is okay (I would have a hard time finding something comparable here in Vancouver for $200) but not as good as the more expensive one.

 

[Katlyn]

Since you are the resident expert . . .

I have teejay embroidered on the inside of the jacket so that SP's will recognize my handle. Other details - suit required 4 days - one fitting. Real button holes and pants are in fact lined. The material is Italian wool - in fact - it held up well as I decided to wear the cheap version on the flight back to test the resiliency (no creasing). Pants are lined to knees but the overall quality of the linings, shoulder padding, belt loops, arm holes and hand stitching is okay (I would have a hard time finding something comparable here in Vancouver for $200) but not as good as the more expensive one.

Sounds like a well made suit but the fabric is not Italian wool if it did not crease. Pure wool is resistant to wrinkling but it will crease. It was most likely a high-quality Wool Acrylic blend. Real Italian wool suiting is minimum $50/yard up to $800/yd (the stuff we can buy anyway, the fashion houses have fabric specially made which can be much more expensive) and a men's suit is minimum 4 yards. It is not that you were lied to, the fabric probably was "Italian Wool" but it is the same as how you can buy "Chanel Suiting" for $60/m. All that means is that it has the same characteristics in looks, feel, performance, etc. Real Chanel Suiting would start at several hundred $ /m. Also most countries allow at least 10% in variance when labelling, meaning 90% something and 10% something else could be labelled "pure". So it was probably a high quality Wool blend produced locally using Italian methods. Either way it sounds like you got a great suit for a steal of a price but I had to pipe in about the fabric...it is something I know about in detail but most people only know about from what they have been told.

Most pure wool suits that are in the low end price range are either a Wool-Acrylic blend or a very very cheap pure Wool. A high end Wool-Acrylic blend is MUCH better than a cheap, or even a more expensive mid-range 100% Wool

p.s. not trying to start a debate, probably shouldn't even reply but I thought the info might be interesting and it's 2am and I can't sleep.