What to know before hiring a suit

Your suit hire appointment is your chance to spend some time with an expert, getting your outfit just right.

As well as knowing just how a suit should fit, they also know what works for different personalities and occasions. They’ll suggest options that make you feel on top form, which is exactly what you want for the big event. It’s also your opportunity to get their styling advice (such as how to tie your cravat), as well as ask questions about the rest of the hire process.

Here’s how to make the most of this your time with a suit expert.

We say no later than 80 days before the event, but the sooner the better. Although we have lots of stock, getting in there early simply means there’s more chance we’ll have the exact suit and fit you want. It also leaves time for any changes you might want to make further down the line.

And why not get them sorted early? It gives you one less thing to think about.

You should allow around an hour for your suit hire appointment. It can take as little as 15 minutes to find your outfit and get measured up, but having more time means you can try on different outfits, weigh up your options and ask as many questions as you like. What you wear is a big decision, so it’s worth taking some time over it.

If your suit is for your wedding, you should bring the key decision-makers with you. That’s likely to be you and your other half, or you may have free rein and want to bring your best man or woman to help you decide.

You don’t need to bring all your groomsmen as they can get fitted at a later date. We’ll give you ID numbers for each person, which means they can go to any Moss Bros. store and try on a suit in the correct fit. Don’t worry – only the groom (or bride) can make decisions on the outfit, so they won’t be able to change anything without your consent.

If your suit is for prom or a black-tie event, bring whoever you like – or just come along on your own. Though if you’re not paying for the hire yourself, you may want to bring the person who is along too.

There are three key things your expert will need to know before they can give you the best advice on your suit.

1. Date – we need to know when you need your suits for.
2. Colour scheme – if you want to match your bridesmaids or your date for an event, we can help you decide on the best accessories. A swatch or photo of the dress will be helpful.
3. Venue – if it’s outside, in a barn or in a particularly posh venue, our experts will make sure you look the part.

Our best tip? Come with an open mind. You might not have considered wearing tails, a burgundy suit or tweed, but put one on and you could be very surprised by how it makes you feel. We see it all the time – a groom puts on tails and he suddenly feels like he is getting married very soon. And it’s the same with a tux for black tie. Great tailoring is powerful – which must be why people turn to it when they need an outfit to mark a special occasion.