What happens at a made-to-measure suit fitting?

A fitting is not a formality. It is the point at which the suit stops being a set of measurements and becomes a garment on a person, and the hour is worth taking seriously.

What we look at

• Balance — whether the jacket hangs level front and back rather than pulling one way.
• Collar — it should stay against your shirt collar when you turn and raise your arms.
• Shoulders — clean through the seam, with no divot or ripple below it.
• Chest and waist — closes without strain and without a hollow at the button.
• Sleeves — length, pitch and how much shirt cuff shows.
• Trousers — waist, seat, rise and the break over the shoe.

What we ask you to do

Stand as you normally stand, not as you think you should. Sit down. Put your hands in your pockets. Reach forward. Most fit faults show up in movement rather than in the mirror.

Say what you feel

If something pulls, catches or feels tight, say so even if you cannot see it. And bring the shoes and shirt you expect to wear with the suit — hem length is decided against real shoes.

What can be changed

Lengths, waist, seat, sleeves and most balance issues can be corrected. Anything that depends on how much cloth is inside the seams has limits, which is why measurements and posture are taken carefully at the start.