A men's suit or blazer: ready-made, tailored or rented
Start with the occasion and the format
A suit for a groom, for the office and for a graduation are different purchases. For a wedding people more often take a two-piece or a three-piece with a waistcoat, sometimes a tuxedo. For work, a plain suit in navy or grey is enough, and a blazer on its own is easy to pair with jeans or chinos.
Before you search, decide the format: ready-made, tailored to measurements, ready-made with alterations after a fitting, or rented for one event. Renting helps if you need the outfit only once.
What to put in your request
- what exactly: two-piece, three-piece, just a blazer, tuxedo, waistcoat;
- occasion: wedding, graduation, office, formal event;
- size and height: for example 40 and 182 cm; height decides the length of the jacket and trousers;
- ready-made or tailored: buying, made to measure, alterations or rental;
- fabric: wool, wool blends, linen, velvet;
- colour: navy, charcoal, beige, black;
- condition: new or second-hand;
- city for fittings or delivery, and budget, if you want to state it.
Example: “I need a men's three-piece suit for a wedding on 14 December, navy, wool or a wool blend, slim fit. Size 40, height 182 cm. Ready-made with alterations or tailored, fitting in Cape Town. Budget up to R 3,000.”
How to search through BlaBlaPrice
You describe the task once in a request. Menswear shops, tailors and craftspeople reply in the chat: ready-made models with photos, the time to make, the price, and whether alterations are included. Each sees where their offer stands among the others and can improve their terms, so the price often comes out better. Personal details are hidden: only the seller you choose gets your contacts.
How to compare offers
- Fabric composition: wool gives shape and breathes, while a large share of synthetic makes a suit cheaper but stiffer.
- Lining and inner finish: whether the jacket is fully lined, how the seams are made, whether there is a double vent.
- Whether alterations to sleeves and trouser legs are included; they are usually a separate service.
- For tailoring: how many fittings, the timing, and whether there is spare time before the event.
- For second-hand: the state of the elbows, collar and lining, and any smell of dry cleaning.
Common mistakes
People take the size from their usual letter without measuring the shoulders: the shoulders of a jacket are the hardest to alter. They leave tailoring to the last two weeks. They forget that trousers and jacket are sometimes sold separately in different sizes.
A shirt goes under a blazer, and in the cold north, a coat or jacket over it. For a less formal look, jeans will do. All the steps are described on the “How it works” page.
Questions and answers
How far ahead should I order a suit for a wedding?
For tailoring, it is better to start several weeks before the event, so there is time for fittings. A ready-made suit with alterations can be sought later, but your size is not always in stock.
Which fabric is best for a suit?
Wool and its blends are the most versatile: they hold their shape and do not crease as much. Linen is good for summer, but it creases.
Can I rent a suit?
Yes, write in your request that you are considering rental, with the date of the event and the city. Sellers will say whether they offer it and on what terms.
How do I find my blazer size?
Measure your chest and the width of your shoulders and compare with the size chart, and your height will help choose the length.
