This is a detailed review of Vulture Suits, a company that sells affordable made-to-measure suits online.
Buying custom suits online can be a great way to get yourself a suit that fits without breaking the bank.
Note: Big thanks to Vulture Suits for making this review possible. Vulture Suits make super affordable made-to-measure suits for men.
But it can also be a frustrating waste of money, which is why many guys will never try buying a made-to-measure suit. After all, it can be very expensive, and the suit might not fit properly.
These days, there are plenty of MTM brands to choose from, and Vulture Suits is definitely one of the most affordable.
suit | shirt | tie (similar) | shoes | glasses
Which is why, when they inquired about a suit review, I was skeptical.
I get a lot of emails from new MTM brands who try to set themselves apart in some way – price, body scanning technology, fabrics, etc.
Vulture Suits is competing on value (quality for price). They said they could make a well-fitting, high quality suit for $359, so I had to try it out for myself.
About Vulture Suits
Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Vulture Suits does all of its manufacturing in Shanghai, China.
It's not exactly a unique business model. Plenty of custom clothiers are taking orders and measurements online, then producing their garments in China.
Founder Cecil Lau says Vulture Suits is unique because they work with an “old-fashioned tailor shop” run by Mr. Hu, a master tailor with over 30 years of experience.
The fabrics are from Chinese mills, and you can find specs (weight, composition, etc.) listed on each product page.
Vulture Suits offers free shipping for orders over $149, up to $50 toward alterations and a 14 day satisfaction guarantee (this won't cover self-measuring errors).
Suit Review
I got a one button, single breasted charcoal herringbone suit made from a lighter “all season” fabric (280 gsm / super 120). The pattern is subtle, and the fabric has a bit of sheen to it.
The double-vented jacket has slim notch lapels and slanted flap pockets.
This suit isn't actually available on their website. I originally ordered the dark grey herringbone, but it was out of stock, and this was the closest available substitute.
So how does it fit? See for yourself:
For out of the box MTM, it's pretty good, although there are definitely some problem areas:
- Wrinkling under right shoulder blade (likely caused by my right shoulder being slightly lower than my left)
- Bunching at back of thighs (could need more back rise…)
- Sleeves slightly too long (although my custom shirt has extra short sleeves)
Also, and this is nit-picky, I'd probably tweak the front/back balance to make the back of the jacket slightly longer.
It's also worth noting that I requested side adjusters in place of belt loops, but Vulture Suits doesn't offer this feature right now. At $359 shipped, I'm not surprised or upset.
Overall, this is still one of the better MTM experiences I've had, and it's definitely the most affordable.
Let's see some more pics…
belt | watch | phone case
This will be a great suit for formal events like interviews and funerals (both of which I hope not to attend anytime soon).
My Recommendation
Here's the deal, my friend: I've tried out lots of MTM clothiers, and I learned that what works for me won't necessarily work for someone else.
After all, even though these suits are custom, they're still created from a set of patterns. And these patterns will inherently flatter certain builds more than others.
Plus, the way you measure yourself can make or break the fit.
So I can't say with 100% confidence that Vulture Suits will work for you. But I can say that it worked out pretty well for me, and you really can't beat the price.
If a lack of funds has been holding you back from going custom, this might be your chance.
Would you try Vulture Suits? Leave a comment below!
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What type of interfacing in jacket?
You referring to the lining or construction? It’s half canvas.
Years ago, At 5’7″, 145lbs, I went to the shop of a close personal friend (who was also a custom tailor), and asked him to make me a custom suit, since I had never owned one. He said he’d be happy to, but told me I would be wasting my money, since a guy with my slim physique could buy off-the-rack and simply get custom alterations at a fraction of the cost.
So he helped me choose an off-the-rack, which he then altered for me. It cost me under $100, but looked and fit as well as one of his four-figure custom made suits.
Thanks Brock for the detailed review and your feedback regarding our suits – you look great in this suit! We do try to encourage customers to follow our online guide to measure themselves. We have found that those who asked a local tailor to do their measurements almost always needed local alteration while those who ask a friend to measure, following our instructions precisely, rarely do. We vigorously cross-check all of our customers’ measurements, usually spending an average of six to eight email exchanges notifying which measurements our master tailor believes don’t seem right. We are a relatively new company, so if anyone has any good idea for us to do/improve, please don’t hesitate to let me know!
Just wanted to add my 2 cents – purchased a suit for my husband from here after reading this review (plus the discount code :D) The suit fits well and the fabrics feel nice. We’re no suit experts and not sure how to judge its quality other than those two factors, but this definitely seems like a good value for a custom suit. Thanks!
Glad to hear that, Kate! Thanks for adding your feedback.
Hey Brock, Wondering if you can comment on the quality of the construction of the jacket. How are the button holes? Any fraying? How’s the mobility and arm movement in the jacket?