Up Your Suit Game with a Little Help From Indochino

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

The first West Coast showroom for bespoke menswear brand Indochino is up and running at 61 Post Street. The tailors are armed with measuring tape, and ready to help you build your custom suit. Basics —like this Essential Navy Suit ($449)— are always a good place to start, but Indochino's Director of Merchandising, Tom Kearnan has a few suggestions for the holidays if you're looking for more options.

"This season, Indochino is presenting a contemporary take on classic styles," Tom tells Racked SF. "Think indulgent fabrics, opulent colors, beautifully woven patterns, unique linings and playful accessories that encourage the wearer to inject his personality into his wardrobe and have fun with fashion." He suggests deep, wintry shades like charcoal and black and rich jewel tones like navy, plum, and hunter green as the coming months' palette. And picks out the Birdseye Suit in Espresso ($649) and the Burgundy Exploded Plaid Shirt ($99) as an ideal combo.

Now that the company has showrooms in NYC and SF, Tom says that the brand is keeping a close eye on which styles will do best in the two cities. "It will be interesting for us to see how the seasonal fabrics fare with the more casual tech scene in San Francisco," he says. "As a company, we're very nimble so we'll be watching both coasts closely and adjusting as necessary."

San Francisco guys will have a few showroom exclusives, like the Natural Basketweave Jacket, Midnight Shadow Checkerboard Luxury Suit, Midnight Split Stripe Twill Luxury Suit, and the Midnight Tonal Twill Luxury Shirt. "We're testing different fabrics in each market and will be adjusting exclusives specific to each showroom accordingly," Tom explains.

But what to wear for those holiday parties? "This year's holiday season heralds the return of the shawl collar on a dinner jacket," Tom reveals. Plus, the wide peak lapel as a customization option will continue to grow in popularity, he foresees.

If you're planning to procure something fancy, remember to order a minimum of six weeks in advance— each suit is made-to-measure and delivered within four weeks, but Indochino recommends allowing extra time for second fittings. It may feel too soon to be thinking spiked eggnog and mistletoe, but your future dapper self will thank you.
· Indochino [Official Site]
· Indochino Is Opening Its SF Showroom This Week [Racked SF]