A bespoke tailored suit takes five to six weeks from first fitting to pickup, or three weeks if you need it rushed.
If you need a suit by a specific day, like a wedding, a black-tie gala, or your first day at a new job, the first thing to figure out is how far ahead to plan. In Houston, where those events tend to fill the calendar in the fall and spring, knowing the timing up front makes it easier to plan.
The timing depends on which kind of tailored you mean, because the word covers very different ways of getting a suit. I'll explain what each involves, where the time goes, and how to count backward from the date you need the suit by.
What "tailored suit" actually means
Shops use the phrase loosely, so it helps to know what is behind it. A suit bought off-the -rack and altered by a tailor is called tailored. So is a suit made from your measurements on a pattern that already exists. So is a suit built from a pattern drafted for your body alone. We cover the full breakdown in our guide to bespoke, made-to-measure, and custom, but the timeline is where the differences show up first.
Each route spends the majority of its time in a different place. For example, altering an off-the-rack suit mostly means waiting for a slot on a tailor's schedule. Made-to-measure and bespoke mean waiting for a suit to be made.
| Approach | What "tailored" means | Typical timeline | Where the time goes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Off-the-rack with alterations | A finished suit adjusted by a tailor to fit better | A few days to two weeks | Mostly the tailor's schedule. The sleeves and hem are quick work |
| Made-to-measure | Your measurements applied to a pre-existing pattern | Usually 4 to 8 weeks, depending on the brand | Production at the factory and shipping to the shop |
| Full bespoke (B. Kreps) | A pattern drafted from scratch for your body, then cut and sewn | 5 to 6 weeks, or 3 weeks with a rush | 4 to 5 weeks of pattern drafting and sewing at our atelier in Amsterdam, plus two fittings in Houston |
The ranges in the first two rows vary from shop to shop. The timeline in the last row is ours at B. Kreps, and the next section walks through where each week goes.
How long the bespoke process takes at B. Kreps
The process of making a bespoke suit has four stages, and only one of them takes weeks. Everything else fits into an afternoon.
The first fitting (1 to 2 hours)
You start with a try-on garment in plain cloth. We make more than 30 adjustments directly on your body, the kind of refinements a tape measure can't pick up. We suggest planning 45 minutes to an hour for the pattern itself, and then time to choose your fabric and details. Picking linings and buttons can take as long as the fitting does, and it's the part most people enjoy.
Making the suit (4 to 5 weeks)
Your pattern is drafted from the notes taken at the fitting, and the suit is cut and sewn at our atelier in Amsterdam. This is the long stretch, and it's the same for every suit no matter how quickly you decide on fabric.
The second fitting (30 to 60 minutes)
When the suit arrives in Houston, we meet again to check the silhouette and drape on you. Any refinements get saved to your pattern, so the next suit starts from what we already know.
Final adjustments (up to 1 week)
Our master tailors in Houston make the finishing changes in our own showrooms. There's no charge for the adjustments made during the fittings. Added together, the whole process runs five to six weeks from the first fitting to the day you pick up your suit.
Can a tailored suit be rushed?
Yes. We can request a rush that brings the wait down from five weeks to three. It carries an additional charge that depends on the garment, and it's usually around $150.
Can a tailored suit be rushed?
Yes. We can request a rush that brings the wait down from five weeks to three. It carries an additional charge that depends on the garment, and it's usually around $150.
How to count backward from the date you need the suit by
Fall gala season, spring weddings, and the rodeo in March all land on Houston calendars at once, and a date that feels far away in January is five weeks out before you know it. Start with the day you need the suit, subtract six weeks, and that's your latest first fitting. Leave another week or two if you'd like room for something to go wrong.
If your date is closer than that, ask about the rush when you book.
The fabric conversation also happens at the first fitting, so it's worth thinking about where you'll wear the suit. A suit for an August Houston needs a different cloth than one for a January board meeting, and it's easier to settle that before the clock starts.
Come and visit us at one of our showrooms in Houston or book an appointment for your first bespoke commission.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It depends on the kind of tailoring. Alterations to a suit you already own usually take a few days to two weeks. A made-to-measure suit often takes four to eight weeks. A fully bespoke suit at B. Kreps takes five to six weeks from the first fitting to the final adjustments.
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At B. Kreps the full process takes between five and six weeks. That includes the first fitting, four to five weeks of making, a second fitting, and up to a week of final adjustments. A rush can shorten the wait to about three weeks for an additional charge, usually around $150.
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A suit you buy off the rack can often be altered within a week, depending on how busy the tailor is. A bespoke suit can't be made that fast. Our fastest option brings the wait down to about three weeks.