The London Lounge

I am shortly to be married and need some advice. Due to financial constraints (my bride-to-be likes the finer table decorations in life) I cannot afford a fully bespoke suit by the tailors I would like.

I am seeking a softer style of tailoring (perhaps similar to the work of Thomas Mahon) or something in neopolitan style.

I live in London and have a budget of about £700. I was thinking of going to a small traditional tailor in the East End or opting for Made-to-Measure.

Recommendations or suggestions would be gratefully received.

Hello David

Sorry I can't point you in the way of a bespoke tailor in London who fits your requirements but a couple of thoughts.

As this is such an important day and you only have 'one shot' at getting the suit right, might it be an idea to look at a ready made suit which you could have altered to fit? Kilgour has suits in your price range which, in the case of the ones I have tried on, are relatively 'relaxed' in structure (although not A&S or Neopolitan relaxed). Some of these are one button which I noticed you mentioned in another thread that you liked.

Other ready to wear options which are worth looking at but are more compromised in terms of construction and your ideal style are Pal Zileri, Daks, Crombie and Aquascutum (which has some nice new lines in this season). With all of these you will have to look closely as they offer various levels of quality and differing fits but they are all within walking distance of the Mayfair/Bond Street/Regent Street areas and a visit may give you some ideas.

One other alternative is Volpe (www.volpe.ltd.co.uk) which have RTW and MTM (starting at £590, according to the web site) and have a picture of a Neopolitan shoulder featured. I have no experience of this company but it the only place I have found in the UK which even alludes to Neopolitan styling in a that price range.

Good luck.

Regards

GAH

P.S. Compromised on clothing budgets because of table decorations. Are you sure she's the right girl for you, David?

If you are opting for the traditional formal morning attire, Hackett used to have RTW in the comparable price range. Also Bertie Wooster, but now that they had closed down, maybe you might inquire who did get the remaining stock and where it can be found?