Euan Rellie
Generally, I love slouching around during the weekend in a polo shirt, a pair of chinos and boat shoes. But sometimes you need to step it up a notch—even on a summer weekend. Are you bored of wearing a blazer to a cocktail party on the beach? The best way to stand out from the crowd: Mark yourself as an aesthete with attitude and try a sharp summer suit.
A few weeks ago, I discovered a quirky New York tailoring service called My.Suit, which I’m now quite convinced is a brilliant and unique concept. Once I picked up my suit, I made an appointment to go back for more—I was immediately a fan. (It certainly helped that it won instant approval from that most discerning of judges, Mrs. Lucy Sykes Rellie.)
My.Suit is a clever mixture of old-fashioned craftsmanship, low-cost manufacturing and modern business practice. You can take home a fantastic suit, designed to your precise specifications, starting at $495. Forget the old prejudices against “a cheap suit”; this is one of the best I’ve ever worn, and I’ve spent a lot of time and money on Savile Row.
To start, you choose your details online at mysuitny.com or visit one of the four New York locations. I found it all entirely user-friendly and totally personalized. Going in, I was curious (to put it mildly) as to how they can deliver top-quality, made-to-measure suits for less money than I normally buy off the peg. The beauty of the My.Suit model is its simplicity and efficiency: They sell directly to the customer and cut out the wholesale step, and they produce entirely on demand.
I love my new fine-stripe cotton and silk suit, made of fabric from a topof- the-line Italian fabric house. The tailors took my measurements carefully and entered the numbers straight into a database; no illegible scribbles on scraps, no scope for mistakes. The resulting suit fit from the moment I first tried it on. I’m not sure whether it gives me the “relaxed, composed and confident appearance” the company promises—you be the judge of that—but even on a hot summer day, I walk out onto Newtown Lane feeling pretty chipper.
Best of all, My.Suit’s $495 price is usually all-inclusive: There are no up-charges for pick stitching, ticket pockets, monograms, exotic lining or working buttons on the sleeves. I tried to confuse the tailor with extravagant demands; he was unmoved. For an extra couple hundred dollars, I could even have had a cool dinner jacket. (Next time.)
After my first visit, my measurements were saved online, so I can build my next suit remotely. I can also browse my “online closet” to remind myself of previous purchases, including all of the options for each one. The charismatic vice president of retail sales, James Hancock, doesn’t solicit new business. He works with his core clients, referrals from existing clients and certain distinguished VIPs who demand and deserve what Hancock calls “that very special touch.” My.Suit is trying to revolutionize the way a man buys a suit, and they just might succeed. 30 Broad St., NYC, 646-556-7430; 360 Madison Ave., NYC, 646-214-5999
