Non-binary-friendly suiting around Boston
November 25, 2019 5:16 AM Subscribe
One of my bridespeople is non-binary and would prefer to wear a suit to my wedding. Unfortunately, they don't already have one. Can you recommend a welcoming place to shop near Boston, or tips if you have them?
Would a women's suit be ok? There are plenty of pants suits sold in the women's section that are basically binary. Macy's is a very generic place to shop, with decent prices, where I don't think anyone would pay much attention at all on the floor. If they don't feel comfortable about the dressing rooms, could always buy a bunch and try them on at home, and then return. And don't forget the real key - a good tailor!
posted by schwinggg! at 5:47 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by schwinggg! at 5:47 AM on November 25, 2019
Not sure if you get out to Western Mass at all, but Jackson & Connor in Northampton is excellent with trans and non-binary people. I have bought a suit from them and found them easy and comfortable to work with and the tailoring itself excellent. Suit fits like a dream.
posted by carrioncomfort at 5:51 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by carrioncomfort at 5:51 AM on November 25, 2019
On the mid- to low end of the price continuum, I’ve read that Indochino is NB (as well as trans* and GNC) welcoming as a company policy. I’ve also had varying experiences based on the suit fitter I happen to get, so ymmv. Never bad or uncomfortable— just that they can get out of their element and take a little longer not measuring the middle part of the bell curve of masculine-ish bodies.
posted by supercres at 6:04 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by supercres at 6:04 AM on November 25, 2019
For my own wedding, I went to NYC (from Boston) and got a suit at MySuit because it was my best option cost-wise. They were very welcoming and helpful.
For a friend's wedding, I got a (men's) linen suit at JCrew and had it tailored. I went to the JCrew in Back Bay.
I've also bought formalwear at Keezer's and had it tailored. This is an affordable option and they're super nice. They're over by Porter Sq after leaving Central Sq a couple years ago.
If your friend has the time and cash, Bindle and Keep in NYC is awesome, too.
posted by jdl at 6:49 AM on November 25, 2019
For a friend's wedding, I got a (men's) linen suit at JCrew and had it tailored. I went to the JCrew in Back Bay.
I've also bought formalwear at Keezer's and had it tailored. This is an affordable option and they're super nice. They're over by Porter Sq after leaving Central Sq a couple years ago.
If your friend has the time and cash, Bindle and Keep in NYC is awesome, too.
posted by jdl at 6:49 AM on November 25, 2019
Just a nice suit, or a tux? If the former, I think you'll be surprised how many places no longer bat an eye at a person who might not have male anatomy buying or renting a man's suit. My FtoM trans child has gotten them at JC Penney's and Kohl's, and rented more formal stuff from Men's Warehouse, without the slightest bit of fuss. Staff were helpful and courteous at all three places. We live in Baltimore, not Boston, but I wouldn't think it would make much of a difference.
posted by ubiquity at 7:45 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by ubiquity at 7:45 AM on November 25, 2019
In all honetsy I bought the suit I wore to my wedding from H&M. The key for me was finding a life changing tailor. Maybe help your friend look for a great queer friendly tailor. Mine did a ton of high end custom suits, but didn't even bat an eye when I brought my off the rack suit in. The tailoring cost more than the suit but was worth every penny (you can have sleeves shortened!!!!) and now I have a suit I can wear for a long time. Even simple things like swapping out buttons can make a simple suit look fantastic.
posted by carnivoregiraffe at 8:07 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by carnivoregiraffe at 8:07 AM on November 25, 2019
9Tailors is probably the friendliest place I know of for this, but the suits are custom and take a couple of months. Depending on your brideperson's interest in having a long-term suit and the time until the wedding, it could work. I haven't used them myself (yet), but actively follow them and when I was scoping a custom suit for myself, they were who I was leaning toward. Another person to check out is Robin Chaflin, at Toolkit. She's a (former-ish?) costume designer who moved into suiting and dress tailoring some years ago.
Having bought suits for my two sons over the years, I don't foresee a lot of success at Men's Warehouse for anything but a "traditionally masculine" body.
posted by cocoagirl at 8:08 AM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
Having bought suits for my two sons over the years, I don't foresee a lot of success at Men's Warehouse for anything but a "traditionally masculine" body.
posted by cocoagirl at 8:08 AM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
Drinkwaters in Cambridge is a little pricey, but Gary is an excellent guy and I’ve been in the shop when he’s helped out non-cis-men find shirts and suits. I’d give him a call and explain what you need; he also takes appointments.
posted by backseatpilot at 8:40 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by backseatpilot at 8:40 AM on November 25, 2019
Seconding cocoagirl: I'm a cis male who's had a good experience with 9Tailors (I bought my wedding suite there), and I know they do tailoring for female bodied persons.
posted by serathen at 8:49 AM on November 25, 2019
posted by serathen at 8:49 AM on November 25, 2019
Tazzy Cole is a very good nonbinary tailor in Somerville who's done alterations for me and for friends of various shapes and sizes, and who also does suit patterning and tailoring from scratch.
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:55 AM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by nebulawindphone at 10:55 AM on November 25, 2019 [1 favorite]
If the bridesperson is rocking a body type other than narrow-hipped/wide-shouldered and looking to spend...
Upwards of $1K: Bindle & Keep in Brooklyn made my wedding suit, and it was a fantastic experience. It is definitely an investment piece, and you do probably need to go in person for the initial measurements / fabric selection session, so add in travel fees to NYC, though they did give me the option to do the fitting session remotely over Skype.
Around $2-300: Wildfang's suiting section includes both conservative (black/gray) and fun (colors and prints) options.
Under $100: My go-to is a vest / dress shirt / pants combo, since I've found it's a bit easier to find a vest that fits off the rack than a blazer or jacket. For one wedding in which I was a bridesperson, I managed to find a vest in the mens' section at Macy's that worked for me, and the sales associate didn't blink an eye when I said I did not want to shop from the womens' section. Pants were from H&M, which had some fairly non-femme suiting options in the womens' section.
posted by fifthpocket at 10:55 AM on November 25, 2019
Upwards of $1K: Bindle & Keep in Brooklyn made my wedding suit, and it was a fantastic experience. It is definitely an investment piece, and you do probably need to go in person for the initial measurements / fabric selection session, so add in travel fees to NYC, though they did give me the option to do the fitting session remotely over Skype.
Around $2-300: Wildfang's suiting section includes both conservative (black/gray) and fun (colors and prints) options.
Under $100: My go-to is a vest / dress shirt / pants combo, since I've found it's a bit easier to find a vest that fits off the rack than a blazer or jacket. For one wedding in which I was a bridesperson, I managed to find a vest in the mens' section at Macy's that worked for me, and the sales associate didn't blink an eye when I said I did not want to shop from the womens' section. Pants were from H&M, which had some fairly non-femme suiting options in the womens' section.
posted by fifthpocket at 10:55 AM on November 25, 2019
You might find this recent Ask about trans-friendly tailors in Boston helpful.
posted by zeusianfog at 1:51 PM on November 26, 2019
posted by zeusianfog at 1:51 PM on November 26, 2019
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posted by larthegreat at 5:44 AM on November 25, 2019