Originally published on Tuesday, 18th August 2009

A Cut Above The Rest

Men’s tailoring can be a tricky beast. But just because you’re not dropping ten grand on your ultimate bespoke three-piece, doesn’t mean you should settle for high street off-the-peg.

Spoilt by a wealth of options for a variety of budgets, here’s our pick of a few of the finer tailored alternatives available to the discerning gentleman who’s craving something a little different. Without totally freaking out the bank manager…

A Suit That Fits

With several branches throughout London and a highly accessible online service, A Suit That Fits offers an impressive balance between budget and tailored style. All suits are handmade by a family-run tailoring business in Nepal – meaning their ethical profile is also a million times better than much of the clothing you’re probably already wearing.

The real coup de grace is a canny piece of software that stores your corporeal profile online, allowing any variety of different garments to be ordered without you ever stepping foot near a tape measure again (assuming you ease off the pies).

Suits start at £150 a pop (but expect up to the £500-mark if you like your bells and whistles), meaning you can afford to play around a bit. We’re leaning towards their slick blue-grey bird's-eye for dates… and maybe a contrast-lined Prince of Wales check blazer for the weekend.

Ad Hominem

From the moment Claire Alexander and Vicki Clark first step foot into your home or office you just know you’re in for something different. Offering a refreshingly female take on the traditionally male-oriented tailoring experience, the pair are both joyously easy to talk to and have excellent taste.

So whether you’re looking for something formal or a little more playful (make sure to check out their gorgeous collection of unique silk prints that are perfect for a cheeky bit of lining or cuff detail), between their incisive stylistic advice and the perfect fit of their shirts and suits, it’s easy to understand why so many of their clients remain loyal devotees.

Shirts and suits usually start at £110 and £775 respectively. But Ad Hominem are kindly offering a 25% discount for all UJ subscribers. Just quote ‘Urban Junkies’ when ordering.

Stowers Bespoke

This is Savile Row – just not as you know it. Neither impenetrably stuffy like the old guard nor opaquely over-styled, Ray Stower has something very special in his Savile Row store.

Here there is no pretentious 'house-style'. Instead, the ex-Gieves & Hawkes tailor and his team wield a wealth of experience yet are dedicated to producing, in the words of Ray himself, ‘whatever you want’. That’s anything from bespoke swimming trunks to traditional tweed three-pieces, alongside some of the slickest wedding suits we’ve ever seen.

Their newly-launched ready-to-wear range also offers a more pocket-friendly introduction to Savile Row tailoring. But the real beauty to Stowers is their flexibility, so we say go with it. But then, we would say that. After falling in love with the most stunning pair of tailored mohair shorts – perfect for both the summer boardroom and tropical escape alike.

Stowers Bespoke , 13 Savile Row, W1S 3NE

Bespoke suits start from £3000, ready-to-wear from £1500, individual items will vary but a similar pair of shorts will weigh in for about £750 and swimming trunks for £350.