What better way to start this week with the giant bang that is my full custom suit from Imparali Tailors.
I was in such desperate need of a great custom tailor this year and I had gone through an absolute nightmare trying to find one. But through the magic of the internet, proximity to my place of employment, and one panicked phone call, I met Matt Harpanali of Imparali Custom Tailors. He was gracious enough to fix a suit from Indochino that was a little too roomy for me and that is where the magic began. We started to talk shop about tailoring, my blog, his history in the business, and became good friends as well as collaborators through our frequent meetings. Matt takes on all my crazy requests and e-bay finds with the same enthusiasm as myself and it’s great to know there is someone in my age group who sees the full benefits of custom tailoring.
The greatest thing about Matt is that he listens to you when you ask for particulars. He’s really good at finding what you want for a piece. For example, on this suit he made for me I wanted a very specific collar type and he would not rest until he found the exact one for me in one of his many tailoring books and magazines. You just don’t get that kind of service from a department store.
Now onto the suit itself.
Matt and I were in discussion about this for quite some time. I knew I wanted a classic gray check so I chose a fabric with a hint of blue in it’s glen check. It is a medium weight wool more ideal for the cooler months:
For the collar I wanted what is known as an English hunting collar that I found on a suit in a Ralph Lauren suit:
For the interlining I tried to match the blue of the stripe as best I could:
For the jacket sleeves I chose functioning button holes as well as a blue thread that matches the interlining on the first button hole:
The vest was really fun because I matched the back of the vest with the same color as the interlining:
FInally, the pants were given side tabs with no belt loops:
And now, here is the suit as a three piece:
And here it is as a two piece:
First off, let me just say that this is, by far, THE BEST fitting suit in my wardrobe and that one of the greatest things I have learned through the custom process is just how much fun it is to build your own suit. It is an experience every man and young man should have in his lifetime. The joy of slipping on something so wearable, comfortable, and stylish that you helped to create is a feeling like no other.
Matt will charge you $500 for the two piece and around $600 for the three piece in this material with all the customization you want. Plus all alterations are done at no charge.
This is a service and price that you just cannot get from an off the rack store. The suit ends up fitting better and you controlled every aspect of its creation and fit.
You cannot beat that in the long run.
Extra special thanks to Matt Harpanali and Imparali Tailors for making 2009 the year Made To Measure found it’s favorite tailor.
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