It is not all closures on the high street. Two menswear chains have opened new stores this month, one in the United States and one here in England.
Men’s Wearhouse passes 640 stores
Men’s Wearhouse opened another store in Corvallis, Oregon, on 7 October. The new shop takes the American chain past 640 stores across the country.
Men’s Wearhouse is one of the biggest names in American menswear. It sells suits, shirts and shoes, and it is especially well known for suit hire, which makes it a regular stop for grooms, best men and students heading to their first formal dance. Corvallis is a university town, home to Oregon State University, so a steady supply of graduations, interviews and weddings makes it a natural place for a suit shop.
Suit Direct opens in Basingstoke
In England, Suit Direct has opened a new store in Basingstoke, Hampshire. Suit Direct sells ready-to-wear suits and formalwear from a range of brands at high-street prices, and like Men’s Wearhouse it does a lot of business with weddings and other big occasions.
Why chains are still opening suit shops
Many people now buy their everyday clothes online. Suits are different. Fit matters so much that most people still want to try one on, and for a wedding or a job interview they want to be sure it is right on the day. That is why suit shops can still make a physical store pay when other clothing shops are closing.
Ready-to-wear or bespoke?
Ready-to-wear and hire are a good answer when you need a suit quickly and only for one day. A bespoke suit is a different thing. It is cut from a pattern made just for you, fitted on your body over several appointments and made to last for many years.
If you have a wedding or a big event coming up next year, it is worth thinking about now. Book an appointment to talk through the options.
