Ask the Tailor: How Long Should a Proper Fitting Take?

by Peter White
Photo by Michael

Each month we ask our expert tailors to address one of your most frequent questions. This month we’re talking about fittings. How long should a full fitting take?

You don’t need us to tell you that every tailor is different. If you’ve ever purchased a piece of bespoke menswear, you’ll know that the personality and expertise of the tailor will have a big impact on both the experience and the garment you receive at the end of it.

What shouldn’t differ, however, is how seriously a tailor takes their fittings. After all, the success of a made to measure suit is completely dependent on how well it fits! A good quality tailor will know this, and they’ll therefore be keen to ensure they take their time over the fitting process in order to get it right.

How long each individual fitting meeting will take will depend on how far along the process you are and how well you know your tailor.

The first time you visit a new tailor will be bound to take longer as they will want to check and double check all your measurements from scratch. This will include:

  • your height
  • your chest
  • your torso length
  • your arm-shoulder width
  • your over-arm shoulder width
  • your arm length
  • your in-sleeve measurement
  • your neck
  • your hips
  • your waist
  • your outseam
  • your inseam

At this stage your tailor will also need to discuss style preferences, likes and dislikes with you. This could mean that this initial fitting takes longer than you may be expecting.

Alternately, a fitting later on in the process to see how well the garment fits is likely to be a much speedier appointment. 

Equally, if you are returning to a tailor you have worked with before to commission a new garment the process is likely to be quicker. A tailor you already know will be more familiar with your likes, dislikes and preferences, and may only need to double check selected measurements before being able to get started with your bespoke tailoring. 

Next month we’ll be asking our tailors to weigh in on ticket pockets and whether or not they should be a vital part of your suit. Sign up to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss it.

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Considering Bespoke?

Every commission begins with a conversation. Here are answers to some of the questions we're often asked.

Business suits start from £999 for single or double breasted, and from £1,299 for a three-piece with waistcoat. Wedding suits start from £999, averaging around £1,500 depending on cloth and detailing.

The standard turnaround is 10 weeks from first fitting to collection. An express service is available in 5 weeks for an additional fee.

Yes. Alongside the York and London showrooms, Mullen & Mullen serves Sheffield and Manchester by arrangement, with fittings available at a client's home or office.

An independent, family-run business with over 50 years of combined experience in the industry, we pride ourselves on exceptional value: quality that speaks for itself without the inflated price tag. Fittings are in person and unhurried, built around a conversation about how a garment should look, fit, and feel, from a standout velvet jacket to a quietly sharp business suit.

The York showroom is at Unit 3, Middlethorpe Business Park, Sim Balk Ln, YO23 2BD, open by appointment Monday to Saturday, 9:30–5:30.

The London showroom is at 35 Sackville Street, Mayfair, W1S 3EG, open by appointment only.

Yes. Fittings can take place at a client's home or office instead of a showroom, at no extra call-out fee.

Bespoke shirts start from £180, made from English and European mill cloths with a choice of over 60 collar and cuff styles.

A bespoke suit is cut to a client's own measurements rather than a standard size, through a multiple-fitting process designed to get the fit right before it's finished. Cloth, lining, buttons, and detailing are all chosen individually rather than fixed in advance.

This individual approach also means better quality and longevity. A bespoke suit is made to fit and move with you, making it a garment built to last for years, not seasons.

Yes, alongside our bespoke suits, we also make bespoke shirts, overcoats, velvet dinner jackets, and shooting attire. Whatever the garment, the same approach applies: an unhurried, in-person fitting process built around getting the look, fit, and feel exactly right.