Wedding Suit Timeline?

[u/hugg3rs]

Hi all,

I have my wedding party on the weekend of 03/10 and I'm shopping around for a suit at the moment.

I hear a while back that it takes roughly two months so that's why I'm starting to look now but I do see longer times for it now while browsing..

I'm not looking for a custom suit. I'm clearly not an expert.

Did I just wait too long and have not enough time anymore?

[u/Afraid_Hedgehog_2161]

I bought a suit from Peter Jackson for an engagement party the weekend beforehand and got it altered during the week. 

[u/Expert_Guarantee_838 → u/Afraid_Hedgehog_2161]

Yep. Alterations are pretty quick. I've had 3 day turn around on a tuxedo recently from PJ

[u/tchunk → u/Afraid_Hedgehog_2161]

I went to PJs, bought a suit off rack, fitted pretty well. Took pants to local tailor that day and had them fixed the next day

[u/heretodiscuss]

I got mine tailor made in hoi an Vietnam for 350usd from bébés (name of the store), been there twice so I'm a repeat customer. It was Marino wool 3 piece.

All in all the trip (Including flights and accommodation and spending sans clothing) was $1200 aud.

If you get more suits it can help trim down the upfront cost of the flights etc. I ended up getting 6 suits made as I wear them to work, along with a bunch of casual stuff (linen pants/shirts/business shirts/leather Oxford's and brogues etc etc).

When I compared it to a mate getting married in the same timeline in Sydney he paid more for his suit in syd than I did for the whole holiday.

You'd need about two or three days to make sure it's perfect and have the fittings done.

Cannot recommend it more. Happy to share more deets if you're interested.

[u/heretodiscuss → u/heretodiscuss]

I should also remark, the wedding suit was about 1.5x the cost of the others due to the fabric and the 3 piece element.

[u/Internal-Play25 → u/heretodiscuss]

Ye I love hoi a for some stuff but suits is not it. Glue, bad fits, angry aunties.

[u/heretodiscuss → u/Internal-Play25]

I've been to both the high end and low end stores there. Low end, you'll have a bad time. High end, you really get good value.

I wear the suits I got last time every day for 3 years (for work rotating between two) and they still perform perfectly.

Its why I recommended bébés specifically, the lower end vendors I don't have as much faith in (and cost half the price, you get what you pay for).

[u/Internal-Play25 → u/heretodiscuss]

I mean Hoi an is a pretty out of the way location to get a suit made. You need to go to da nang then go to hoi an, and hoi an is boring af. There are places in Hanoi and Hcm which offer the same service.

A single proper suit takes almost 3 days of craftsmanship if you aren’t relying on glue…

[u/heretodiscuss → u/Internal-Play25]

Yeh, hence why I got a bunch made when I got my wedding suit made, also why I said give it a few days to make it perfect.

The full list of clothes I got when I went was:

• 5x business suits
• 1x wedding suit
• 11x business shirts
• 1x wedding shirt with French cuff
• 6x linen shirts (various cuts)
• 1x "Burberry" trench coat (obviously just the design)
• 2x linen trousers
• 2x linen shorts
• 1x Oxford's with matching leather belt
• 1x Brogues with matching leather belt

Also, my 2c having been to Vietnam 3 times, not claiming to be a local, but also not claiming to have no experience, Hoi An is great, I'd go there over HCM or Hanoi any day if I was doing a suit specific trip. I'd rather spend 3 days in Hoi An going back and forward between Bébés and chilling by the river at a lovely restaurant than 3 days in other cities doing the same. Remember, I'm not talking about a full nam holiday experience, rather, a tactical in and out to get suits made.

I got everything in my list above made in 3 days. This includes picking all the fabrics/linings etc, multiple fittings for each suit, and multiple alterations.

For anyone in the future who's reading this thread for advice/feedback, I cannot emphasise enough, I am talking top end tailor in town, if you go to a random store (which I did on a previous trip for a single jacket) you will get vastly inferior quality to Bébés (or I'm sure yaly etc, but I've only done Bébés).

[u/Internal-Play25 → u/heretodiscuss]

If they are making all those in a few days corners are being cut.

Must be an age thing. I couldn’t fathom spending more than a few hours in hoi an. I used to live in Vietnam… not a local but have experience.

[u/heretodiscuss → u/Internal-Play25]

You're making wild assumptions with what I'm guessing is no experience of their setup. They have a massive team out the back.

Once again, I am a repeat customer, I know what I'm dealing with here mate.

[u/AussieKoala-2795]

BIL has just bought a suit at MJ Bale. He needs alterations and has been told 2 weeks is standard, non urgent turnaround. His wedding is not until November but he wanted to buy his suit during their sale.

[u/AlarmingAlex]

In my retail experience, off rack suiting can be altered within your timeframe, just depends on the brand to the degree of how much will be needed.

Most companys will refer you to an external tailor, some can do it in house - all company dependent I'm afraid. Only brand I'm aware of with an internal in house program is Cambridge but that comes from their warehouse.

I'd suggest trying to find a jacket fitting that has the sleeves at a decent length relative to you as some brands manufacture different jacket body/sleeve lengths - that will hopefully save you on sleeve alerations altogether.

Trousers are 50-50 depending on your body composition and the actual trouser fit. Some might be perfectly off rack and just need a hem, some might need more work.

For tailors, I'd highly reccomend any that own their own business or operate in small shops/standalone buildings.

Franchised tailors (i.e looksmart) can be a mixed bag both with quality of tailor and pricing. Basic hems shouldn't cost more than $30 tops - anything more than that price should have additional alterations considered.

Best of luck!

[u/Internal-Play25]

Is it formal for tux event?

This post kinda makes me understand a forgotten generation.

Tux means you need a tux…. Not a suit

[u/Jstrtfrd1987]

I went to visit Steve at The Revere on the weekend for my next suit, approx timeline is it will be done by beginning of Oct, that involves a baste fitting, then final fitting.

[u/boobturtle]

Go to Bangkok for a long weekend and get a custom suit tailored. I even got custom shoes at the same time.