I Got Fitted For A Custom Suit From A Startup That’s Making The Process Painless And Surprisingly Affordable

Source: Business Insider, Brandt Ranj
Photo: Ben Nigh

Wedding season is well underway, and for men that means finding the perfect suit.

Although off-the-rack options are always readily available, new retailers are making it easier and more affordable for men to get a custom suit.

Two members of the Insider Picks team recently went through the process with Black Lapel, a New York-based company that’s been selling custom suits online since 2012.

Although we visited the brand’s New York City showroom, which they encourage if you’re local, you won’t have much of a different experience when shopping from home. You’ll need to sign up for an account, take a number of measurements, choose your fabric, color, fit, style, and any particular customizations you want.

Taking your own measurements can seem a little intimidating — accuracy is key to good results — but a Black Lapel stylist will look over them before the suit is made, so you’ll get a heads up if something seems off.

Those stylists are also available to help make suggestions once you’ve found a suit that you like; although you can always choose everything yourself if you’d prefer to. After picking your suit, you’ll wait between between three and four weeks for it to arrive, at which point you can decide if any alterations need to be made.

Black Lapel will reimburse you for up to $75 worth of suit alterations, so they can offer tips on what to alter.

Although its suits can vary in price, most cost $549 — that’s without any extra discounts or sales. A couple cost $499, with more premium options topping out at $1049 for a tux. Those prices are very competitive with suits you’d find in a nicer department store, but with a fit that’s significantly better.

For our full thoughts about our personal experience with Black Lapel, and to get a sense of what their suits look like on average people, check out the slideshow below.

**Brandt (right):** I’ve never had a custom suit made before, and although I said as much to my stylist, I was never made to feel uninformed. During each step I was given suggestions, but I never felt pressured to choose what my stylist wanted.

**Jeff (left):** In the last year, I’ve had the opportunity to try out a few different custom suit makers, and I believe more than ever that you just can’t beat the fit of something made specifically for your body type. My experience with Black Lapel was a breeze and reaffirmed this.

**Brandt:** I understood there would be a difference between a regular and custom suit, but didn’t know how big it was. It’s easier to be confident when you know everything you wear is going to fit just right.

**Jeff:** When it comes to wearing a suit, there’s no greater feeling than putting on a tailored jacket that you actually want to wear over and over. A custom-fitted jacket should drape smoothly along your torso without excess bunching or pulling, and not be too boxy or bell-shaped — something you rarely achieve with off-the-rack options. Black Lapel nailed the fit with this one.

**Brandt:** The suit I chose was a more traditional midnight blue because I know I’ll be wearing it to a lot of weddings. Although I can’t recall the names of every customization I made, I was walked through each one thoroughly so I’d know what to expect with the finished product.

**Jeff:** I had my eye on a light gray suit I could dress up for weddings in the summer but still carry into a business setting around the year. To add a formal flair, I opted for peak lapels to break away from the typical notch lapels on my other suits.

**Brandt:** One of the things you get used to when wearing an off-the-rack suit is little places it doesn’t fit. I’ve traditionally felt a little constricted when sitting in a suit, but that wasn’t the case here.

**Jeff:** The arm length on my jacket came down to the perfect length, showing just enough shirt sleeve. I found the arms had plenty freedom of movement and room to breathe, which is helpful on hotter days. The double vents offered a more modern look, plus extra room to maneuver throughout the day.

**Brandt:** Going through this process taught me about suit rules of thumb (like how you want your shirt sleeve to extend a little past the jacket sleeve) that I didn’t know before.

**Brandt:** Because this suit was made to my exact measurements, moving in it felt as easy as moving in more relaxed clothes.

**Jeff:** Black Lapel offers a wide variety of fabrics, colors, and patterns. We went with a couple of more traditional colors, but they also have seasonal offerings and bolder options if you want to make a statement.

**Brandt:** Black Lapel’s suits can be made to fit any body type. Jeff and I are built differently, but we’re both very pleased with our suits. I’ve already worn my suit to a wedding, and a couple of relatives complimented me on it.

**Jeff:** My suit fits like a glove but doesn’t restrict my movements in any way. I’ve worn it to a summer wedding already and was surprisingly very comfortable in the humidity, from the seated ceremony to the dance floor.

**Jeff:** I haven’t tried on a French-cuffed shirt with the suit yet, but it looks like the armholes easily accommodate them. Black Lapel’s custom jackets come with functioning buttonholes and customizable contrast stitching, which are both subtle indicators of custom tailoring.

**Jeff:** I chose a glen plaid to give this suit a bit more character than another plain gray suit I own. Don’t be afraid to have a little fun with your custom suit. Notice the fine pick-stitching along the lapel, another indicator of quality tailoring. I was worried the peak lapel width would be overpowering but it was just the right size.

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-custom-suit-black-lapel-review?nr