Are you ready to add a new custom suit to your wardrobe? Designing a custom suit with Capitol Hill Clothiers is your next step toward a look that's both fashionable and distinctly yours. This guide will walk you through the process of creating a tailor-made custom suit that flawlessly complements your physique and personal style, ensuring you flow into any room with confidence and class.

Whether you're smoothing out the details for a wedding, gearing up for a cycle of corporate events, or just keen to update your wardrobe for the new season, here's how to get started designing your new favorite custom suit with Capitol Hill Clothiers.

Step 1: Inspiration and Research

Before your consultation, it’s a great idea to have a vision in your mind. Would you like a classic, vintage look or something modern and cutting-edge? Spend some time researching the latest trends for Spring 2024. Regardless of the year, it’s worthwhile to look at different fabric types, current trends, and customization options to consider so that you’re informed before going into the Capitol Hill Clothiers design process and have time to come up with unique ideas!

Another useful way to get a feel for the custom suit features you might like to have is to research fashion influencers and bloggers to see what they’re wearing.

Step 2: Book Your Fitting

Capitol Hill Clothiers offers a completely bespoke suiting experience from the comfort of your home. Our Online Custom Program allows you to design a custom suit on your terms, without the hassle of flying to DC to be fitted in person!

Step 3: Consultation

After submitting your booking inquiry, you will be prompted to schedule a consultation call with our owner Anthony Bolognese. Throughout your conversation, you will discuss your work, hobbies, interests, style preferences, and existing clothing in order to ensure the garments you create have the maximum amount of versatility in your wardrobe. The goal is not to upsell or rack up a hefty clothing bill, but to make sure that what you get from Capitol Hill Clothiers is the most appropriate for your lifestyle and is something you’ll feel confident in every time you wear it.

Step 4: Measurements

There are two ways that Capitol Hill Clothiers offers online fittings.

1. The Virtual Scan - This is a software that utilizes your phone’s camera to take a few full-body photos and convert those into a 3D avatar of your figure. This is then used to create a pattern for a custom suit based on your preference of fit style (slim, fitted, traditional, or comfort)

2. The Tailor - If you’re not one to trust the robots, fear not! Capitol Hill Clothiers offers comprehensive PDF measurement guides for every garment. You can take these to your local tailor (or a trusted friend or family member) and they will be able to follow simple guidelines for the exact measurements we need to create your new favorite suit.

   Once these measurements are submitted, the fun really begins with…

Step 5: Design Your Suit

Designing a custom suit is a unique experience that allows you to express your individual style while ensuring the perfect fit. The process begins with selecting a fabric from an extensive range of premium materials, including wool, linen, silk, cashmere, and more, accommodating every season and style preference.

You then choose the suit style—be it a classic single-breasted, an elegant double-breasted, or a distinguished three-piece—tailored to complement your body type and the occasion.

Lapels can be designed to your personal taste, from notched for a business-ready look, peak lapels for a touch of formality, or shawl lapels for black tie sophistication. Buttons can also be selected, with various materials, colors, and styles available to add distinctive character to your suit. The fit of the suit is meticulously tailored, offering slim to relaxed options, all adjusted to ensure your utmost comfort.

Inside the suit, choose from an array of lining patterns, colors, and even the option for a completely custom lining, allowing the interior of your suit to be as unique as the exterior. For an ultimate touch of personalization, custom embroidery or monogramming can be added, adding hidden details that you can show off to only those you choose.

If you want to be extra prepared for your fitting, check out this Style Guide to learn how you can customize your new suit. With endless options to choose from, designing your custom suit can be as unique and personal as you are.

Step 6: Patience!

Once your suit is customized and your order is placed, it will take about 7 weeks to create your new masterpiece. While waiting for your custom suit to be ready, you have the chance to get some other style updates sorted too. It’s a great time to look for new ties, belts, or shoes that’ll go well with the suit. Maybe even get those shirts that have been sitting in the closet fixed up or tailored for a better fit. It’s also a good moment to catch up on what’s new in fashion or get some advice on how to wear the suit with style when it’s finally ready. Basically, it’s about making sure everything else is as sharp as the new suit will be. To do that, you can always keep in touch with us on Instagram or listen to The Getting Dressed Podcast!

Step 7: Receiving Your Suit

Once your suit arrives, you’re ready to rock! We welcome any photos you care to share in your new custom suit and love getting customer feedback! At Capitol Hill Clothiers, we're really proud to make custom suits for people who want their clothes to do more than just fit well—they want to stand out and feel powerful. We understand how important it is to have a suit that feels like it's made just for you, reflecting your ambition and style. Our team puts a lot of care into making sure each suit is perfect, because we believe a great suit can give you an extra boost of confidence, whether you're heading into a big meeting or a first date! We’re here for you and we want to help you Dress to Conquer.