Getting fitted at the Indochino Traveling Tailor SF – Photo by Mike Self
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Indochino reached out to let us know that they have updated their suit making process, so now – in stores, their patterns only allow them to make suits to a size 56. According to the company, however, you can still order online (measuring yourself from the comfort of your own home) and get a suit in any size.
Finding the perfect big and tall suit is, like everything else related to big men’s clothing, a difficult task. You need a great fit, but for the price, you want it to be stylish, right? This usually means you can’t buy something off the rack. When you do that, if you’re not careful, you come out looking like Spongebob – boxy shoulders and a squared off body. Not cool. There’s another option: a custom tailored suit.
Indochino Traveling Tailor SF – Photo: Mike Self
Men’s custom clothing company Indochino makes it easier for gents of all sizes to affordably find looks they like in sizes they need. At Indochino.com, you can create suits, shirts, and pants to your exact specifications, no matter what your size. Find something you like, enter your measurements, and voila! You’ve got the fashion-forward look you were searching for.
Now you know where to go, but you still don’t know how to customize your suit; how do you make the right choice when going through all those details? Should you go with a peak or notch lapel? How many buttons should a jacket have? Going through the process on the website gives you suggestions, but if you want more in-depth assistance, you can do what I did and visit Indochino’s Traveling Tailor – a pop up shop that visits cities around the country throughout the year. I went to the shop in San Francisco and spoke with Anthony, who helped me find the perfect big and tall suit.
Finding the perfect big and tall suit – Photo: Mike Self
Here are a few of the tips Anthony offered when customizing the suit I ended up choosing, which was the Essential Blue Suit ($449). Keep in mind that these tips were custom to me, a short and wide guy, but you’ll probably find that most of them will work for you.
Consider a Wide Peak Lapel: The wider peak lapel is a good fashion forward choice that will look more proportionate on a stout body, helping to elongate it a bit. As a shorter guy, this made sense for me.
Skip the Pleats: A flat fronted pant offered a more contemporary look, which is what I was going for with this suit. I wanted a suit that was versatile, and pleats are associated with a dressier type of suit. If you wear your pants below your stomach, like I do, go with a flat front as they are made to be worn a bit lower.
Short Guys Go With a Shorter Jacket: I’m not hobbit short, but I’m a shorter guy. Anthony suggested that I choose a shorter jacket, which helps ensure that the entire suit looks more proportionate. Remember, this should be based on your proportions, and since everyone is different, you want something that works well for you. A good rule of thumb is that your jacket should cover your backside.
How Many Buttons? I opted for a two button jacket because I’m not quite tall enough to pull off three, and one button wasn’t quite as versatile for my needs. You can wear a two button suit to a formal event as easily as you can wear it to work, so if you only have one or two suits in your wardrobe, this is probably the way to go.
Big and tall suit tips with Anthony from Indochino – Photo: Mike Self
Here are a few more details from the customization of my suit that you might want to keep in mind when you order your own:
There you have it – a few basic tips to help you choose the perfect big and tall suit. Once my suit arrives, you’ll see photos and more details on how I put it together right here at Chubstr.
Are you in the San Francisco area? Make an appointment with Anthony and the rest of the Indochino team at the Traveling Tailor San Francisco Pop Up Shop through March 23rd. See where the Traveling Tailor is going next by clicking here.
