Your First Savile Row Suit: A Step-by-Step Guide
From finding the right house to the final fitting — everything you need to know
Edward Cavendish
Fashion & Style Editor
15 December 2024
13 min read
The Savile Row suit is not merely an item of clothing. It is a year-long conversation between you and a craftsperson, the result of which is something no machine can replicate. Here is how to begin that conversation.
The Row has been making men's suits since the 1840s. The craft — pad-stitching, hand-sewn buttonholes, a canvas chest cut specifically for your posture — has not fundamentally changed. What has changed is the price of entry: a first bespoke suit from a Row house now begins around £5,000 and climbs to £10,000 for the most prestigious cutters.
Choosing Your House
The Row's 30-odd houses have distinct characters. Henry Poole claims to have invented the dinner jacket in 1860 and dresses the formal traditionalist impeccably. Anderson & Sheppard's 'soft' English cut — a full chest, natural shoulder, suppressed waist — suits those who want to look dressed rather than tailored. Huntsman is the sportsman's choice, built for tweed and the country. Gieves & Hawkes at No. 1 serves the naval officer in all of us.
“The first consultation is merely a conversation. You are interviewing them as much as they are measuring you.”
- First fitting: paper pattern and basted cloth, allow 6–8 weeks
- Second fitting: finished suit in rough form, chalk adjustments
- Third fitting: final adjustments and finishing
- Collection: typically 3–4 months after order
- Budget: £5,000–£10,000 for first bespoke, more for speciality cloths
Partner
Henry Poole
By appointment. First consultation is complimentary. Est. 1806.
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