BESPOKE EVENING WEAR FOR MEN
Dinner suits, black-tie tailoring and evening wear. Cut to your measurements in our London showroom.
Most dinner suits are an afterthought. Rented the week before. Borrowed from a friend. Or pulled off a rail in a size that nearly fits. You feel the difference the moment you sit down. The collar lifts. The chest pulls. The trousers bunch at the shoe.
A well-cut dinner suit does the opposite. It sits flat on the shoulder, moves when you move, and looks right without you thinking about it. That is what we make.
Every evening wear order at Fielding and Nicholson starts with a consultation. Come to our Mayfair showroom, have us visit you at home, or set up a video call if you are based further away. We talk through cloth, cut and details, then build the suit to your exact measurements. We also hold fittings in Manchester, Zurich and New York.
TRADITIONAL BLACK-TIE
The single-breasted dinner suit in black or midnight blue. The bedrock of any formal wardrobe.
What Makes a Proper Dinner Suit
A dinner suit is not just a dark suit with a bow tie. The jacket has satin or grosgrain on the lapels, covered buttons, and jetted pockets. The trousers have a silk braid down the outer seam and no belt loops. They are built for braces or side tabs. These details set black-tie apart from a business suit, and they are the first things a sharp room will notice.
Cloth and Colour
We cut most dinner suits in barathea wool. It has a tight weave and a gentle sheen that looks great in evening light. Midnight blue is worth a look if you go to a lot of events. It reads as a richer black under warm lighting, which is why it was the original choice for evening dress. Black works everywhere and remains the safe pick.
For summer or warm weather events, we also work in lighter wools and wool-mohair blends. They hold their shape but sit lighter on the body.
Lapels
Peak lapels give width and shape. They work well on broader frames. Shawl lapels are softer, with a smooth curve that gives a clean line on slimmer builds. Both are right for black-tie. Notch lapels are not. They belong on business suits.
What To Expect
Your first visit covers measurements, posture check, cloth choice and every detail from lapel width to lining. We then build the suit over two to three fittings before final delivery. The whole thing takes about 6 to 8 weeks. If you need it sooner, talk to us. We can often work faster.
VELVET DINNER JACKETS
A statement piece for winter events, awards nights and dinners where the dress code has a bit more room.
When To Wear Velvet
A velvet dinner jacket is not your everyday black-tie pick. It is for nights where you want to stand out without breaking the rules. Winter and Christmas events are the obvious fit, but a good velvet jacket works at summer parties and awards dinners too. It reads as bold, not costume, as long as the fit and colour are right.
Colour and Cloth
We source velvet in deep navy, bottle green, burgundy, claret, and black, along with others. The weight and pile matter a lot. Too thin and it creases and looks cheap. Too heavy and it loses drape. We choose cloths that balance richness with ease of movement, so the jacket sits well and stays put when you take your seat.
How We Build It
A velvet jacket pairs with plain black barathea trousers and the same shirt and bow tie you would wear with a classic dinner suit. The jacket will usually have a shawl collar in satin, which frames the face and sits well against the nap of the velvet. We can also do grosgrain or self-faced collars if you prefer.
Velvet moves and drapes in a different way to wool, so fitting is key. We watch how the cloth falls across the chest and shoulder, and adjust the pattern to get the hang right.
DINNER SUITS FOR WEDDINGS
Built for the venue, the dress code, and the way you want to look in the photos.
Why a Dinner Suit For a Wedding
If your evening is in a country house, hotel, or city venue, a dinner suit is often the right choice. It sets the tone without going all the way to morning dress. And unlike a morning suit, which tends to live in a bag between weddings, a good dinner suit will get plenty of wear over the years.
Groom, Best Man and Groomsmen
We kit out full wedding parties on a regular basis. We start with the groom’s suit and lock in the cloth, cut and key details. Then we build the rest of the group to match. Everyone gets measured and fitted on their own, so the party looks sharp without looking like a uniform. We have handled groups of two up to twelve, and we are used to juggling different diaries and cities.
Fit
We offer three cuts. Classic Fit is roomy and easy. Tailored Fit is cleaner and more shaped. Slim Fit is close and modern. Your tailor will help you pick based on your build, the feel of the day, and what you will be happy wearing for 12 hours or more. Weddings are long. Your suit needs to last from the vows to the last song.
When To Book
We suggest getting in touch at least 10 to 12 weeks before the big day. That gives us time for cloth, cutting, fittings and tweaks. If time is tight, let us know. We have done full suits in under three weeks when we had to.
CUSTOM DESIGNS
For when you want something beyond the standard. Smoking jackets, double-breasted cuts, bold cloth choices and one-off pieces.
What Counts as Custom
This is our full bespoke service turned to evening wear. If you have a clear idea in mind, say a double-breasted dinner jacket, a silk smoking jacket, or a jacket with contrast lapels, this is where we make it happen. Some clients walk in with a mood board. Others just have a rough sense of what they want. We are happy to work either way.
The Design Process
Your first meeting runs a bit longer for custom work. We talk about the event, look at cloths, go over details, and sketch the design before we cut a thing. We will tell you if something will not work, and suggest options you might not have thought of. The aim is something that looks sharp and on purpose, not over the top.
What We Have Made
Past projects include double-breasted shawl-collar jackets in midnight blue, smoking jackets in printed silk, ivory dinner suits for weddings abroad, and jackets with contrast grosgrain trim. If you can picture it, we can most likely build it.
Cloth
For custom pieces, we source from the same mills we use for everything else. That includes Holland and Sherry, Dormeuil, Scabal and more. If you have spotted a cloth you like elsewhere, bring a swatch or a photo and we will track it down or find the closest match.
WHY OUR TAILORED MEN'S EVENING CLOTHES ARE DIFFERENT
It fits as it should
Bespoke evening wear is made to your shape, posture, and proportions, so it sits cleanly and feels comfortable from the moment you put it on.
It is made to last
A well-made evening garment can be worn for years, altered when needed, and kept in good order far longer than most ready-to-wear options.
It reflects your taste
You can choose the cloth, cut, lining, and finishing details, so the final piece feels personal without being overstated.
It helps you feel at ease
When your clothes fit well and feel right, you are not thinking about them all evening. You can relax, move well, and feel more sure of yourself.
START WITH A CONVERSATION
Whether you know exactly what you want or you are still figuring it out, the first step is the same. Book a consultation and we will talk through your options, show you cloths, and help you work out what suits your event and your build. No pressure. Just a proper chat about getting it right.
We see clients in London (Mayfair), Manchester, Zurich and New York. Home visits and video calls are also on the table.
See Our Privacy Policy
