Edit Suits Co: accessible made-to-measure tailoring

Edit Suits Co. are on a mission to make the made-to-measure suit more accessible. They are doing this by combining excellent customer service and quality fabrics with ease of use and reasonable prices. 

They made me a suit to enable me to test these claims. The process couldn't have been easier, as the tailor comes to your office or home. This may initially restrict the choice of cloths, but if this matters to you (it didn't to me; I had a good choice), you can visit them if you need to see an even larger range. Normally the suit will be completed after one or two fittings, but if more are needed, Edit will accommodate that.

The emphasis is on modern cuts and quality construction and materials and the client has very free input as to the style, cut and details. I wanted a fairly classic shape and selected an Italian fabric from Vitale Barberis Canonico which has exceeded my expectations, being crisp yet compliant and staying fresh even after train and car trips. The salt and pepper grey gives a good muted textural framework for a variety of shirts and tie colours and designs. 

I wanted a soft shoulder line with full canvas construction, a very slightly shorter than classic jacket and slimmer-cut trousers with turn-ups (I select turn-ups on the assumption that they can be got rid of at a later date if no longer required, whereas they can't be newly altered for later). 

I was hoping for a comfortable suit made from a forgiving cloth; and that is what I've got. Little details like initials embroidered above an inside pocket, a beautiful silk lining and well-made side waist adjusters make for a suit that's a pleasure to own and, at  a price of £599, is very competitive for made-to-measure using this quality of cloth. Prices vary between from £389 to from £979 depending on details and the quality of the cloth you select (they supply either their own house fabrics or from Ermenegildo Zegna, Dormeuil, Holland & Sherry and others). Once measured, the client's size, measurement and preferences remain on file for future orders.

Visit Edit Suits Co. to choose and order. I also had a shirt made and will talk about that in a future post.

Suede Oxford brogues: Cheaney for Mr Porter (no longer available)

Tie: Augustus Hare

Socks: Missoni

Fox tie pin: Vintage

Shirt: Charles Tyrwhitt

Pocket square: Pheres, Italy

With thanks to Jonathan and Rai of Holdall & Co for taking the photos on a visit to IWM in London.

Cary Grant and classic simplicity - Recreating the Look

It's been a while since I added a post to the Recreating the Look series. Here's a very cool Cary Grant ordering a meal on a train in Hitchcock's North by Northwest. Naturally, he's dining with a beautiful woman (Eva Marie Saint). Grant's distinguished grey hair is echoed by the silver of his immaculate suit and tie. A plain white shirt helps keep the look clean. 

This photograph could have been taken at almost any time on the last fifty years; the look is a masterpiece of classic simplicity. The suit (which may or may not have been made by Kilgour of Savile Row) is generally reported to have been a subtle blue-grey Glen check (Prince of Wales check), a cloth that never shows up properly in photographs. The tie is said to have been grey with very fine polka dots, rather than plain.

As usual, I've found some products at different prices to enable you to recreate the look. The intention is not to exactly copy, but to give a similar style. You could finish it off with some brown Oxford or Derby brogues with burgundy socks and a subtle dove-grey textured silk pocket square that doesn't inject too much colour into this understated style.

The suits I've selected are off-the-peg, but you may prefer bespoke or made to measure for a perfect fit. I've spoken to Susannah Hall, tailor, who could make a suit for you from £850 depending on choice of cloth and style. Prices elsewhere for a tailored suit can rise to several thousand pounds, depending on the level of bespoke and the tailor you select

M&S Sartorial check suit £299

Richard James grey birdseye Hyde suit £795

Oliver Peoples Gregory Peck sunglasses

John Lewis Oxford shirt £35

Burberry £275 Mr Porter

M&S silk textured tie £17.50

Marwood tie and tie pin £280 - Mr Porter

For more in the Recreating the Look series click here. If you have any looks you would like me to recreate, please get in touch.

Suppliers

Marks & Spencer

Richard James

Oliver Peoples

John Lewis

Mr Porter

Marwood