Made To Measure Review: Knot Standard

There’s nothing like a great Made to Measure experience. If you’re in the market for a new suit, it’s the way to go. Since starting HSS a little over two years ago, I’ve had the opportunity to go through a variety of Made to Measure programs. And it’s about time I start reviewing them. First up, Knot Standard.

| WEARING | Knot Standard suit, Al bazar shirt, Drakes tie, Oliver Peoples sunglasses, Brooks Brothers suspenders, Tateossian and L. Jonas bracelets, Korchmar bag, Allen Edmonds shoes | PHOTOGRAPHY | by Rob McIver Photo

My appointment was at Knot Standard‘s New York Flagship location. They also have showrooms in Washington, D.C., Dallas, Austin, Houston, Chicago, and Dubai as well as an online shop. As always, when it comes to ordering Made to Measure, it’s best to visit a showroom in person. You’ll get personalized service, the peace of mind that you’re being measured properly (no at-home guess-work), as well as the ability to see and touch all of the fabric, lining, and button options.

MUST READ: Tips For Your First Made To Measure Experience

I was assisted at the showroom by Lewis Malivanek, who happens to be Knot Standard’s Creative Director as well as infinitely knowledgeable about menswear and the ins and outs of the custom suit making business. It’s a marketplace that has become increasingly crowded and over the past couple of years, Knot Standard has done a lot to make themselves stand out from the rest.

The Basics. From the extensive fabric books, I ended up choosing a Holland & Sherry Super 100’s worsted wool with a bold pinstripe. Notch lapel (a little wider on purpose), three flap pockets, side tabs, and dark horn buttons. Classic styling for a classic pinstripe suit. A word on the lapels: one aspect of Knot Standard that impressed me in relation to other made to measure programs, is that I was able to choose how wide I wanted them to be. Usually, there are a couple of samples and what you see is what you get. Having that sort of control was a big bonus.

Jacket Fit. I consider myself fairly lucky, in that off the rack clothing tends to fit me very well. Jackets, in particular, rarely require any alterations. This was no different for me at Knot Standard.  The 36R sample jacket was so spot on we didn’t want to touch it when the suit came back for my second fitting.

Trouser Fit. Pants are always a touchy subject and I tend to be very particular. I don’t like a high rise and I prefer them to have a slim (not to be confused with skinny) and tapered silhouette. I want to be able to actually wear and feel comfortable in them. Credit Lewis’s expertise, because when the pants came back, they fit perfectly in the waist, and I’d never had a more perfect taper without having alterations after the second fitting. We needed to lengthen them slightly, but that was a relatively minor fix.

Price. Basic prices range from $495 – $995. In the showroom, you can spend a lot more depending on what level of fabric you’re interested in, thanks to the extensive library of fabrics offered.

The Verdict. An absolutely amazing experience. From the showroom visit to the fit and and quality of the garment, Knot Standard sets the standard. It’s the best made to measure suit I own.

Thanks for reading.

Stylishly Yours,

Brian Sacawa
He Spoke Style