Is Suitsupply’s custom program any good? Here’s a hands-on review of a custom Suitsupply suit, shirt and overcoat.
Table of Contents
Suitsupply needs no introduction: the brand is often touted as the best place to buy a suit right now. Boomers had Men’s Wearhouse, and we have Suitsupply.
Heck, I’ve recommended this modern Dutch clothier countless times to friends looking for a wedding or groomsman suit.
Sure, Suitsupply has caught some heat over the years for their aggressive marketing campaigns and possibly pretentious in-store reps (personally, I’ve never noticed this), but they still make a great suit at a relatively affordable price.
I say “relatively” because Suitsupply isn’t cheap. But it’s also not overpriced. In other words, you’re getting a lot of value for what you pay.
My Past Experience with Suitsupply
But, even though Suitsupply has become my top destination when helping someone buy a suit, it hasn’t actually worked well for me.
I bought a basic navy suit from Suitsupply a few years ago, just to see what all the hype was about. At the time, Suitsupply didn’t have a robust custom program, so that wasn’t an option.
I tried on a few different cuts and sizes, and the rep determined that a 32R Lazio with alterations was my best bet. After tailoring, it fit okay, but not great. For the price (nearly $600 after tailoring), I was disappointed.
I ended up donating that suit and decided that Suitsupply just wasn’t for me.
But that all changed…
Suitsupply Custom Made
Suitsupply’s marketing department reached and asked if I’d like to review their newly revamped custom clothing program, in exchange for my honest review.
They said I could start the process online and finish it up in a store (which is great because the closest Suitsupply is a couple hours drive from my house).
I was too curious not to jump on this opportunity, but I wanted this review to be thorough. So, instead of just getting a custom suit, I asked for the whole getup: suit, shirt and overcoat.
They agreed, and I got started on the design process at home, before visiting a store.
Suitsupply’s ‘Design Your Own’ Tool
If you’ve ever built a custom garment on any online made-to-measure brand’s website (like Indochino), then Suitsupply’s interface will feel familiar.
You pick your garment type, fabric (they stock more than 1,000), construction and details. You see your changes in real-time as you choose your lapel width and pocket style.
This type of garment designer is commonplace these days, but I have to say that Suitsupply’s execution is above average. It feels clean and intuitive, like a Volkswagon.
They offer as many or more customization options than any other MTM brand, including some that you won’t find elsewhere, like several different types of shoulder construction.
Between canvas, shoulder and lining options, you can really create a unique jacket with Suitsupply.
For your suit pants or odd trousers, you can choose your preferred type of waistband, closure and fly. You can add pleats, cuffs, pick stitching, suspender buttons and unique pocket types.
I love that you can add side adjusters to the waistband instead of belt loops. When it comes to keeping your pants up with style, side adjusters are far superior to belts (in my humble opinion).
Even the optional waistcoat can be customized to your liking, which is a nice touch.
For custom outerwear, you can choose between six different fabrics (wool, cashmere, camel and blends) and three different styles. From there, you can customize the length, lining and buttons.
The bottom line is, Suitsupply has done a great job with their online customization tool.
But none of that matters if they can’t deliver a garment that fits properly, so let’s move on…
What I Ordered
Suitsupply offered a full getup with no restrictions on fabric or add-ons, and you better believe I took advantage of this.
Here’s what I chose:
Suit (Brown Wool/Silk/Linen) – $1,087
- Jacket
- 2 button, double vent
- Full canvas (light)
- Narrow notch lapels
- Natural shoulder
- Flap pockets
- Trousers
- Double hook closure
- Side adjusters
- Zip fly
- Single pleat
- Cuffs (4cm)
- Half-linsed
- Waistcoat
- 4 button
- Notch lapel
- Straight pockets
- Fabric back
Shirt – $119
- Cotton twill
- Light blue hairline stripes
- Mother of pearl buttons
- Widespread collar
Overcoat – $499
- Navy wool
- Thigh length
- Brown/light brown buttons
- Paisley lining
I started with these designs online, then I saved them and sent the designs to Jared at Suitsupply’s Georgetown location.
We ended up tweaking a couple of small details in store, based on his recommendations, but most of our time together was spent getting my measurements right.
Getting Measured In Person
This is the part of the process that makes or breaks your custom suit. No matter how many customization options you get to choose or how fancy the fabric is, if the person taking your measurements doesn’t know what they’re doing, your suit isn’t going to fit properly.
And if you’re taking your own measurements, chances are you don’t know what you’re doing (I’m not blaming you…I’ve botched my own measurements more than a few times).
So I really prefer getting measured in person, and I like Suitsupply’s “start online, finish in store” approach. Of course, it only works if you can get to a Suitsupply location, which I could.
I have to say: Jared Bethune, a custom made specialist at Suitsupply’s Georgetown shop, was a pleasure to work with.
He was friendly, knowledgeable, laid back (not at all rushed) and, of course, very well dressed. He was also svelte like me, so he understood what it takes to fit the shorter, slimmer body type.
Jared had me try on a fitting garment for each piece (jacket, pants, shirt, coat), and he built out my measurement profile based on adjustments to these garments.
This is a standard approach used by many other custom brands. It’s made-to-measure, not bespoke, but some companies do it better than others.
For example, some brands only adjust the length of your jacket, not the button stance, which can throw off the overall proportions of your suit.
Jared explained that Suitsupply moves the button stance up or down proportionally based on your jacket’s length. This sort of micro-adjustability is really important, especially for people with non-off-the-rack builds.
We finished up my measurements, and about 3 1/2 weeks later, the clothes arrived at the Georgetown shop, ready for me to try on.
How Did Everything Fit?
I went back to shop and tried everything on, and I’m happy to report that this custom Suitsupply suit fit much better than the off-the-rack Lazio I’d tried a while back.
The waistcoat and overcoat fit just right, no alterations needed.
The jacket sleeves needed to be shortened just a tiny bit to make sure a sliver of shirt cuff would be exposed on my wrist. All of the important stuff, like the shoulders and length, were great.
The pants had to be taken in and hemmed slightly. All of these minor alterations were done in store that same day, which is pretty cool.
The final product is great. With Jared’s help, Suitsupply was able to make me a suit, shirt and overcoat that fits well.
Some common problems I have with suits, such as collar gap and twisting sleeves, aren’t present here. The suit is comfy (not too tight) but still nice and fitted, which is how I like my suits to wear.
My Overall Recommendation
We here at TMM have tested out so many custom suit companies: Oliver Wicks, Black Lapel, Indochino, Enzo Custom, Hall Madden, Lanieri, Knot Standard…the list goes on.
Suitsupply definitely deserves your consideration if you’re in the market for a new suit, shirt or overcoat, especially if you’re tough to fit off the rack.
I’ve had hit or miss experiences with custom clothing over the years. These pieces from Suitsupply turned out remarkably well. They’re high quality, they fit properly, and the overall experience was straightforward and stress-free.
The only downside is the fact that you’ll need to be able to get to a Suitsupply location. The in-person measuring is what makes this process work.
If you can make that happen, I absolutely recommend Suitsupply for your next custom suit, shirt or coat.
Frequently Asked Questions About Suitsupply
Still have questions? Here are the answers you need:
Does Suitsupply make custom suits?
Yes! Along with their ready-to-wear line, Suitsupply offers a Custom Made service that includes suits, sportcoats/blazers, trousers, shirts and overcoats.
You can design your custom suit online or in store. You can choose between ready-to-wear sizes or go to a Suitsupply store to get measured.
How much is a custom suit from Suitsupply?
Custom suits from Suitsupply start at $498, and the price goes up depending on which fabrics and options you choose.
Custom shirts start at $119, and custom coats start at $499.
How long does it take to get a custom suit from Suitsupply?
Typically, it takes 2-3 weeks for Suitsupply to make and deliver your suit. During periods of high demand, it can take 6-7 weeks. My suit order took about 4 weeks to be completed.
Where are Suitsupply’s suits made?
Suitsupply suits are made in China from imported materials (e.g., Italian fabrics).
Does Suitsupply make custom shirts?
Yes, they make custom jackets, trousers, waistcoats, shirts and overcoats.
Is Suitsupply one word or two?
The actual brand name is one word with no spaces – Suitsupply – although many people mistakenly call it Suit Supply (two separate words).
