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If you say you don’t enjoy coming home after a long day, changing into your comfy clothes and binge-watching your favorite Netflix show, then you clearly don’t know what relaxing is. While this may be the perfect recipe for a night in, you can’t go to a business meeting or a wedding in your pajamas. (Well, maybe you can, but you’ll definitely get some weird looks.)

Every man needs a professional, proper suit for those days when you have an important meeting or your best buddy’s big day. If you want your suit to look right, it needs to fit in all of the right places. That’s where a men’s suit tailor comes in. Here’s how to find one.

1. Be a Tailor Sleuth

If you want to find the best, you need to be the best- at research, that is. If you want to find a top men’s tailor in NJ or the tri-state area that knows the ins and outs of professional suit tailoring, then you have to do your research and be a tailor sleuth. Dig deep into those Yelp reviews, scour through social media comments on the tailor’s website and pay attention to testimonials. People talk, and it’s important that you listen.

When people are unhappy with a service, they’re often more likely to voice their opinions. But, also pay attention to the things about the tailor that really shine through in a positive light. Do customers know they can expect a professional suit that is always ready by the deadline? Are they happy with the tailor’s craftsmanship?

Not to brag or anything, but you can check out Sal Lauretta’s social media accounts on Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. You’ll find a community commenting, liking and sharing images of their favorite products, ideas and experiences of the professional tailoring services. That’s the kind of stuff you want to see.

2. Pay a Visit (and Make a Call)

If you think you’ve struck gold with a men’s tailor in northern NJ that you found online, you should still visit the store before making your final decision. A store visit provides you with a sample of the experience of working with the professional tailor you’re considering. Take notice of how the tailor interacts with other customers in the store. That’s always key. Pay attention to the tailor’s craftsmanship, too. Notice the details of the alterations, including the hemlines.

You’re going to be interacting a lot with the tailor you choose, so make sure you choose one that you’re comfortable with since he’ll be your go-to for frequent alterations. Build a solid relationship, you know? Get a feel of your tailor’s and his team’s customer service by giving him a call. Pay attention to how they handle customer inquiries. Nobody wants to work with a tailor who’s not a people person.

3. Ask Your Friends

You trust your friends’ opinions on everything, so why not ask them about the tailor they use? If you have an especially stylish friend who’s always decked out in the best clothes and finest suits, he definitely has an expert tailor up his sleeve. Well, not literally, but you get the point. Your friends and co-workers are clutch resources that can help you gain some valuable insight into their personal experiences with tailors in Northern NJ.

4. Ask the Right Questions

Don’t be afraid to ask your tailor questions to ensure that you get the fit that you want. Your style is at stake, after all. Here are some important questions to consider when searching for a professional tailor:

  • How long does tailoring take? Get a sense of the timeline of when to expect your finished suit.
  • How much can a suit jacket be taken in? Your tailor will know the answer to this question, but sometimes it’s best to see the suit jacket in person to really see what can be done. Consider bringing your suit jacket into the consultation for an accurate estimate.
  • What measurements do you take? Measuring is a core part of the tailoring process, obviously, and a professional tailor will know how to measure men’s chest, arms, waist and other areas that impact the fit of your suit.
  • When are you available? Get to know when your men’s suit tailor is available so you can ensure his store is open when you need him. Once you get your first custom fitting, you’ll never want to wear an untailored suit again. So, you and your tailor will get pretty close.

So, the next time you’re watching Game of Thrones in your pajamas and suddenly realize that you need a suit tailored for that big event that you forgot about, don’t stress. If you use this guide to help you find the right tailor, you’ll be looking like a stud in no time.

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Ralph Lauretta

Ralph is a co-owner of Sal Lauretta for Men. His areas of expertise include custom clothing as well as being the primary clothing buyer for the store. When not at work you can find him hanging out with his family, reorganizing his garage or watching a Denver Broncos game.