Some FAQs

Need to Know In General

  • Our prices for a 2-piece suit start at $1860, and we have great options at all levels ranging upward from there. Price is a transparent discussion at Watson Ellis when you come in for an appointment. It really depends on the type of fabric, and we have thousands to choose from. It also depends on the type of fitting that you need and-or want — true custom or bespoke. We would urge you to visit our How it Works page for more details on both prices and service types.

  • No problem! As long as your specialty project is broadly in the same ballpark / family as the tailored suit, then we can definitely work with you. We have created lots of specialized garments in the past. Everything is made by hand, we don't use cookie-cutter processes. Sky is really the limit in terms of design. 

  • Suit care shouldn't be too intensive, nor should you dry clean it after each wear. Think of your new custom suit like you would your own hair: you don't want to dry it out or fry it. A steam and a press is often all you need, and an occasional dry clean should do the trick.

  • We ask to see you twice before you take home your new custom suit or tuxedo, at minimum. We are very committed to the final look of your garment, and hope that you can commit to this process as well. If you pursue the bespoke option (with a muslin or test garment), we would be talking about at least three visits.

  • We give you a 24 hour grace period to make any adjustments to your order, however after we submit design and fit to the factory, changes cannot be made to design as your pattern is crafted on the specifics of what you chose at your appointment.

  • Alterations are included when your suit first comes in up until the final fitting. We do not offer lifetime adjustments. Any alterations for future weight fluctuation can be done for you at current market rates. That being said, we will fit the suit to the body you have right now to perfection. And before making a second or third suit, we will of course check the fit of your previous WE suits and make any necessary updates to your pattern.

Need to know for Women’s Custom Suits

  • Absolutely we can. We welcome everyone with open arms, and most importantly, we are experts at working with women of all shapes and sizes. We will not try to squeeze you into some uncomfortable template. We will listen to your body and shape unique pieces to it, because that's what everyone deserves when they come in for a custom garment, whether it’s a custom power suit, a white wedding tuxedo, a double breasted blazer, a tailored overcoat, or just a pair of wide leg trousers. In most cases when someone is a really unique fit, we will require a bespoke fitting process. Read more about that process and pricing on the How it Works page.

Need to know for Men’s Custom Suits

  • Our attention to detail and our expertise when it comes to fitting custom clothing to all bodies, coupled with our unlimited design options and our range of the world's best fabrics. All of these things should come with the territory of running a business like ours, but the truth is that they don't; there's often more salesmanship than actual craft going on out there. Not the case with us. At Watson Ellis, we listen to your style-voice and will not let you walk out the door until you're completely satisfied with your one-of-a-kind custom suit, tuxedo or other garment.

  • Absolutely! We love traditional styles in men's suiting as well and make them all the time for many of our male clients. From classic pinstripe suits, to houndstooth blazers, men's black tuxedos, to understated sports coast and sharkskin suits for the office -- we have a wide array of more traditional and conservative options to choose from.

  • Yes, making custom wedding suits for men is a huge and highly valued part of our business. We love working with our wedding clients, and offer a huge range of options in terms of fabrics and styles for men's wedding attire. We'd advise you to please check out our weddings page to read further on the subject and see some examples of what we can do in this regard - https://www.watsonellis.com/custom-wedding-suits-nyc

  • Believe it or not this question comes up a lot, and yes, we absolutely do make these items. Recently we've made a couple out of this beautiful dark moleskin fabric we have on offer, and they worked out beautifully. We'd love to keep exploring these styles with you, so please don't hesitate to make an obligation-free appointment to come in for a design session and discuss further.

  • Sorry, we do not alter existing suits made by other companies. However, if there's an old suit of yours that you absolutely adore and want to replicate, we'd be more than happy to work with you on recreating it in the form of a new suit.

  • We don't do made-to-measure suits, which are generally only moderately customizable items. Instead we offer both what we call 'true custom' suits and bespoke suiting options. Both options are crafted by hand and completely customizable in terms of design options and fabric choices. We would advise you to please read this page for further guidance on our processes - https://www.watsonellis.com/how-does-it-work

Need to know for Nonbinary Custom Suits

  • Watson Ellis strives to be a friendly, comfortable environment for all people. We mean it when we say that all are welcome, and that at our company we strive to make suits are for all people. We have worked with the full range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum in making custom suits, and we look forward to meeting you, too! We will work hard to make your fitting both enjoyable and affirming.

  • We start by taking your body measurements by hand with a measuring tape. We have a private fitting room where we will then ask you to try on some of our garments, based on your shoulder width and/or chest circumference and your hip/seat circumference. At this point we'll talk through how you want to present and the things we can do to achieve this! We will make recommendations based on your goals.

  • During the fitting, we'll ask you questions about how you'd like to present, what makes you feel comfortable and confident, (as well as the inverse). It's very collaborative! We fit the body in front of us so that your suit appears made for you, and then use fashion elements to make it fit your vision. This is true for all of our clients!

  • Great question! If your suit is for everyday or work wear, please wear similar undergarments (or whatever feels right for you) to what you would wear with your suit in the future. Things like binders and shapewear of course change the shape of your body, and we need to account for this at the time of the fitting. If you can, also bring proper shoes and a shirt.

  • We take lots of care to fit your garment as close to your wearing or need date as possible. If you are planning on or undergoing a major physical change, we highly suggest going with the bespoke process, which includes the muslin fitting (test garment) before the real suit gets made. This is helpful for many reasons, including your own peace of mind and comfort! The muslin is a useful tool in cases of weight loss, surgeries and transitions, or even pregnancy.

  • If you can think of it, we can make it. If you have specific ideas please come with photos! If not, we will talk you through our many choices. We'll ask you what your design goals are (androgynous, femme, masculine, etc.) and work with you to achieve them.