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Three-piece vintage blue herringbone tweed suit from Studio Suits arrived today -

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44K views 90 replies 23 participants last post by  Teishintai  
#1 ·
So, I had been reading the reviews of this company (thank you Twizz and Andy for both of your experiences) and I ended up taking a risk and ordering last Tuesday (1 November). I mentioned I was from Ask Andy and said Andy had said great things about them and I ordered a three-piece suit in the blue herringbone tweed (it's darker than in the pictures, which is exactly what I hoped for). $150 for the suit and waistcoat (plus $20 postage) is a very good deal and worth the risk.

I ticked all the boxes I wanted and measured my Bookster suit to give them the proportions of my best fitting suit (it fits me pretty near perfectly). Well, I thought it would be some time and then I received a message stating it shipped yesterday (it left India, in fact, last Friday or so). I was surprised it was so quick, well...I don't have pictures yet since I wasn't expecting the suit so soon and didn't think to charge my batteries, but the quality is pretty decent. It is fused and the waistband area is a little stiff and I'll have to add braces buttons but the fit is pretty good. It's fairly lightweight compared to my 480 gramme Bookster suit but the blue is lovely. The waistcoat seems to be the right length and on par with the one from my Bookster suit and the surgeon's cuffs are a nice touch.

The one odd thing is the little loop of thread to hold in a flower, I presume (as Andy noted). I may just leave that in, a button hole wouldn't really do much for me anyway since I don't often wear a flower.

All in all, is it as lovely as my existing Bookster three-piece suit? I can't say it is nearly that nice but is it a great deal for someone who needs a basic suit? Yes. I'd certainly buy my basic everyday suits from them if they can maintain this quality consistently. I'm already pondering another tweed suit from them. I'll try and get photos up this weekend. I'm quite pleased with this suit and would recommend them to anyone who can make it clear to Studio Suits exactly what they want. I'm glad I tried them out.
 
#4 ·
The one odd thing is the little loop of thread to hold in a flower, I presume (as Andy noted). I may just leave that in, a button hole wouldn't really do much for me anyway since I don't often wear a flower.
Are you referring to the loop below the button hole on the backside?
Better suits have this (on all my Oxxford's, HF Mainline, etc).
Used to keep the stem in place vs. just flopping around in the button hole.
 
#5 ·
Hi all,

mrp: No, it has the thread on the front of the lapel and no button hole. I presume it's to secure the stem but it's not a major inconvenience.

Oldsarge and 127.72MHz, I'll try to get photos up by this weekend (they probably won't be of the highest quality). The suit is pretty decent, it is fused and all. I don't think this is at all a bad suit and I wore it to the office today and my colleagues (other professors) and staff have commented on the fit and niceness of the suit. The blue is more of a steely blue than is shown in Andy's photo and their own website photos. It's a great colour as I find this greyish/steely-blue more versatile.

Studio Suits won't replace Bookster in my wardrobe but they are most certainly a welcome addition (and an excuse for more suits for those of us on a budget).
 
#6 ·
^^ I hate not being able to talk to someone on the phone to ensure some of the details are what I expect but I have to admit the price seems to be right.


You've got me close to pulling the trigger on a suit in the same fabric you've selected for going out with the boys smoking cigars. (I'm always hesitant to wear some of my nicer tweeds for such activities)

I think I'm going to order the trousers un-hemmed and have them cuffed here.

Any other suggestions?
 
#9 ·
I ordered their sample of tweed swatches. We'll see what they've got. For a price like that I'm sure I can at least spring for an odd jacket.
More and more reasons to watch this thread with interest. I, for one, would be very grateful if you could post your opinion of the fabrics, and possibly some photos as well, because the samples on the website seem to have been run through the photoshop wringer.

Thanks very much.
 
#10 ·
127.72 MHz : I sprang for the surgeons' cuffs since my Bookster jacket required minimal altering and, with those measurements for my Studio Suits tweed suit, I was confident the fit would be fine if they adhered to my measurements (and they are and they did). But if you're leery, then it would be better to avoid those if you need alterations after. However, I noted that it's 'built in' with surgeon's cuffs and you have to pay an extra $5.00 for the tweed suit if you wanted the non-functional cuffs.

I was admittedly nervous that they'd (like Twizz's horror story) send me a ventless or centre vent jacket when I asked and prefer a dual side vent jacket or something else. None of my concerns were borne out, though. But I did, honestly, repeat in my comments and order form 'I'm an Ask Andy member and heard about your great company from Andy, who is the manager of our forum and who said great things about his jackets.' They were fairly friendly to deal with and I was honestly surprised the suit was finished and up and sent so quickly.

Note, my waistcoat is a little snug but not uncomfortably so (but that might also be because I indulged too much in some good food and drink the past few days with some colleagues). However, this might be because I added a waistcoat but they didn't ask for measurements for that (just the suit and trousers and they probably extrapolate from that).
 
#11 ·
^^ A question on the measurements. I briefly took a look at their order form and it demonstrates the way to take your own measurements,.....But I believe you mentioned that you took your measurements from your Bookster. (best fitting suit)

Perhaps the answer is for me to examine their order form more closely. Perhaps you can send either your measurements by measuring yourself or measuring your best fitting suit?

I'm happy that you mentioned in the comments section about who you were, what your wanted and that you are from AAAC.

I'm going to lull the trigger on tweed suit very similar to yours.
 
#12 ·
127.72MHz: Yes, their form is actually a combination of the two. So I had to put on my best fitting suit and measure certain parts (like the rise and my thighs and knees, etc...) but other parts I could just measure without wearing like the shoulder and sleeve length. They did e-mail me to check about my front rise which it turned out I had misread (I wrote 16 and misread it when it was really 15).

I thought it was going to be more of a pain in the bum than it turned out to be. It was fairly painless to do the measurements but it did take a bit of time, obviously, and they will check in on you (select that option so they have to ask you if you're sure about X measurements they're curious about, that way they don't adjust on their own). This is pretty sensible for any tailoring service, I would imagine. They seemed pretty eager to please, at any rate. I'm already pondering a second suit in either the brown herringbone or the light grey tweed (I have a dark brown from Bookster anyway so my brown needs are satisfied), but that light grey is tempting...

...and I, too, would like to see swatches. I feel the swatches are probably more true to colour than the online photos (they seem light and washed out). I apologise for the delays in replying, I was with students during my office hours talking about things from the Persian to the Punic Wars.
 
#15 ·
Matt says we're up to twenty-five celebrants confirmed. It should be a rocking evening. And I can't wait to get a personal look at the coat. The mrs. was dubious about the idea last night. I should have you and Jan in when we get back so she can see it. Besides, the terrier loves company.
 
#17 ·
I ordered a linen jacket from this outfit last spring and was made out of the nastiest material I've ever seen. It felt (and looked) like that plastic-backed cloth that tablecloths are made out of. Went straight in the garbage. I wouldn't even wish it on Goodwill.
Ditto on the fabric of mine.

However, seems like they may have gotten their act together somewhat, not sure if I'm willing to give it another shot or not....
 
#18 ·
^^ Twiz and Jake from LA; I'm only going for this based on Andy's experience and I've even stuck with the same fabric he's selected. At a bit over $150.-, (given that I've selected some options) it seems too good to be true,....

I'll take a couple more measurements and I'll pull the trigger on my blue herringbone tweed suit on this coming Monday.
 
#19 ·
127.72MHz, I'll try and get photos up tomorrow evening.


To all: The fabric isn't the best in the world but I think it's at least on par with most stuff I'd find at Macy's, J.C.P and the like and that's 'acceptable' most of the time. Plus, it does feel like a decent wool (not the best in the world, of course), but I'll say it wasn't a waste of money. I don't know if I'd go away from the tweed style wool, though. I've ordered a second suit in brown herringbone so stay tuned for another review to see if that suit turns out as nicely (I made mention that this would be my second suit from them).

Wish me luck chaps that, well, my time and money aren't in vain. ;) I took your review as well as Andy's into consideration when I ordered, Twizz. I was, to be honest, wondering if this would be an exercise in futility and, to be honest, for the price, it's as good as an old 'tweed style' three piece JCP suit I picked up brand new with tags on E-bay. At $150, I think this is a tolerably decent deal but obviously not equal to a Bookster (just in case I sound too worshipful).
 
#20 ·
I have an old corduroy coat that I wear with Levi's a lot. Unfortunately, it is wearing away at the cuffs. Since it's a knockabout I want to replace it with another knockabout. I'm hoping a blue or tan tweed odd jacket from them will fill the bill. And this time I want working pockets!
 
#21 ·
Okay I pulled the trigger on a two button suit in the same vintage blue herringbone tweed that Andy and RomanHistorian have. (minus the waste coat)

With the options I selected , lined trousers, working cuffs and a premium lining it came to $202.- including air shipping.

If it looks good enough to burn cigars with the boys I'll be happy. If it looks a bit nicer than that I may go for a brown herringbone tweed next.
 
#22 ·


I apologise for the photo quality and the lighting, my camera batteries are dying (and they're fully charged so it's time to replace them) and the lighting is... You can't really see the fairly nice steely-blue colour of the herringbone and my battery died after that so I couldn't get other photos. It's not too bad and if there are any problems it's probably because it's an error on my end rather than theirs. I'd normally wear a vintage pocket watch with this but I only put the suit on for the photo (I was wearing a jacket and tie today for normal business).

It's a dual side vented jacket, single pleated trousers with two rear pockets and two side pockets, no turn-ups. The jacket has two buttons in front and three working cuff buttons on each cuff. It's kind of English styled but not so much as my Bookster (but a nice jacket regardless). ...and I'm sporting my Christy's bowler and hiding my face a la Magritte. :p Not sure what happened to my left shirt cuff (pay it no mind, it does normally show).
 

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#24 ·
I am following this thread with interest, and am considering ordering something. Hard to see myself in San Diego wearing a pure herringbone suit, so I am looking at the jackets. (on the other hand the suits are certainly affordable. Would it be appropriate to use the pants as just an extra pair for mix and match?)

There are several styles, but some look very similar, eg. these three:

Classic Hand Pick Stitched Jacket... $80.00
Leisure Style Sports Coat... $80.00
Club Style Sports Coat... $99.00

Not to mention the Madison, the Manhattan, and Danish styles, etc. etc.

I wonder which would work with the blue herringbone?

I had a friend help me do some self-measurements for the first time today, but I don't know how accurate they are. When I get my sportscoat and suit back from Francois, I could use the measurements from the jackets themselves, as the Studio Suits website recommends.

Here's a link to the page that shows all the jackets:

https://www.studiosuits.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=174

While I am on the subject of measurements and tweeds, I notice the previously owned garments on sites such as Vintage Whistles and Bookster, plus the stuff on ebay, give certain measurements. I am trying to get a handle on that to be able to figure out what will fit me. (Eg. how exactly is the "armpit to armpit" measurement taken?) I seem to fairly consistently fit into a 48L in the OTR stuff I've tried on and feel very comfortable in that size at 6'1" and 225# (yeah a bit overweight :( ). Unfortunately there seems to not be as much available in my size.

I am imagining that you "clothes-horses" all have your measurements down pat, am I right?

Not so much available in previously worn in my size though. I am assuming the tweed jackets are sized like any other jacket, is that true? The only reason I ask is because some of the fabrics look so bulky!

:idea:
 
#25 ·
Having seen Andy's jacket and vest, I'm going to state that they aren't all that bulky. In fact, I don't think they're all that much heavier than a classic Pendleton shirt. So I think I'll measure my favorite blue odd jacket, add about a half inch to the sleeves and order one next month. I still haven't decided on which fabric to use so I'll wait until the swatches get here to decide. What I'll do is go down to the local camera shop and get a neutral grey card. I'll mount each swatch on the card up in my studio and photograph them in natural north light. That ought to be as close to accurate as it's possible to get on the internet. Anyone who wants to get closer than that will just have to either come over for a visit or rent the swatches from me.:devil:

Or order a set for yourself, of course.:icon_smile_big:
 
#26 ·
Do you order the sleeves longer just to be on the safe side?

About the bulkiness, I was more referring to the Harris tweeds on Vintage Whistles and Bookster.

I like the idea of the swatches. BTW apart from the herringbone, I like the "European Blue Wool", it looks like a pinstripe, what do you think of that one?

Strangely, there is another site I stumbled on with exactly the same products, called makeyourownjeans.com