Casual wear for women
Blazers, trousers, shirts, knitwear and separates. Cut to your body for the days when a suit is too much but jeans and a top are not enough.
Tailored casual wear for women
Blazers, trousers, shirts, knitwear and separates, cut to your body for the days when a suit is too much but jeans and a top are not enough.
How casual tailoring works
Consultations in our London showroom, at home or by video. Fittings are also available in Manchester, Zurich and New York.
Blazers and unstructured jackets
The piece that pulls everything else together. Fitted to your shoulders, waist and arms, not the nearest size on the rail.
Why a blazer matters
A blazer is the single most useful piece in a smart casual wardrobe. It goes over a T-shirt, a silk top, a roll neck, or a shirt. It works with jeans, tailored trousers, or a skirt. It takes a simple outfit and makes it look finished. But only if it fits.
Off-the-peg blazers for women are sized to cover the widest range of bodies possible. That means the shoulders are guessed, the waist is vague, and the sleeves are averaged. A made-to-measure blazer is cut to your frame, so it sits where it should and moves the way you need it to.
What we make
We make structured blazers with a proper canvas for a sharper look, and softer unstructured jackets with minimal padding for something more relaxed. Single-breasted, double-breasted, or collarless. Cropped, hip-length, or longer. In wool, linen, cotton, or a blend. You choose the shape, the cloth, and every detail.
Tailored trousers and chinos
Wide-leg, slim, straight, cropped or full-length. Cut to your waist, hips and leg, not a size chart.
Why fit matters more for women
Women's trousers are one of the hardest things to buy off the peg. The waist-to-hip ratio varies hugely. The rise is often wrong. The leg length is a guess. You end up with trousers that fit in one place and gap, pull, or bunch everywhere else.
We measure your waist, hips, seat, thigh, and leg length, then build a pattern to your shape. The result is a trouser that sits flat at the waist, follows your body through the hip and thigh, and finishes at the right point on your shoe.
Styles
We make wide-leg, straight-leg, slim, tapered, and cropped trousers. High-waisted, mid-rise, or sitting on the hip. With pleats or without. Side zip, front fly, or a clean elasticated waistband depending on the look. Your tailor will help you pick a shape that suits your body and the rest of your wardrobe.
Cloth
For everyday wear, cotton chinos and lighter wools work well. For something smarter, a wool crepe or a fine worsted gives more polish. For summer, linen and cotton-linen blends keep things cool. We match the cloth to how you plan to wear them.
Shirts and tops
Casual shirts, Oxford cloth button-downs, linen shirts and silk tops. Made to fit your neck, shoulders and body.
Why a made-to-measure casual shirt
A casual shirt or blouse worn without a jacket has nowhere to hide a bad fit. If the shoulders drop, the chest pulls, or the body balloons, it shows. We cut casual shirts to your measurements so they sit clean whether you tuck them in or leave them out.
What we make
Oxford cloth button-downs for a relaxed, preppy feel. Linen shirts for summer. Brushed cotton for cooler months. Silk tops and blouses for something lighter and dressier. You choose the collar, the cuff, the placket, the length, and the fit. Want it cut for wearing untucked? We adjust the hem line for that.
Knitwear and layering pieces
V-necks, crew necks, roll necks and cardigans. Knitted to your measurements in merino, cashmere or cotton.
Why made-to-measure knitwear
Most off-the-peg knitwear is too boxy, too long in the sleeve, or too short in the body. It bunches under a jacket or hangs shapeless on its own. Made-to-measure knitwear is made to your measurements, so it fits the way it should: close enough to look clean, loose enough to layer.
What we make
V-necks, crew necks, roll necks, cardigans, and half-zips. Each one is knitted to your size in merino wool, cashmere, or cotton. You choose the colour, the weight, and the neckline. A fine-gauge merino under a blazer gives you a layered look without bulk. A cashmere roll neck on its own works for weekends, travel, and dinners.
Building a capsule wardrobe
How to start small and build a set of pieces that mix, match and work together every day.
Where to start
Most of our casual wear clients do not order everything at once. They start with one or two pieces and build from there. A good starting point is a blazer and a pair of trousers in complementary cloths. That gives you a base you can dress up or down depending on the day.
From there, add a second trouser in a different cut or colour, a couple of shirts, and a knit. Within five or six pieces, you have a working capsule that covers most smart casual situations without repeating the same outfit.
How we help
Your tailor will help you plan this. We think about what goes with what, what cloths work across pieces, and what fills the gaps in what you already own. You do not need to figure it all out on your own. That is part of what the consultation is for.
Questions about casual pieces?
Fill in the form and we will get back to you. Tell us how you spend your time out of a suit and what you are looking for.
Ask about cloths, cuts, how relaxed it can go or what it costs. If it is easier to talk, leave your number and we will call.
We are in London (Mayfair), Manchester, Zurich and New York. We can also come to you, or start with a video call.
Off duty
How tailoring behaves away from the office, from a blazer with jeans to what actually packs well.
What does smart casual actually mean?
There is no fixed rule, which is why it is so hard to dress for. In practice it means one considered piece worn with relaxed ones. A tailored blazer over a knit and trousers reads smart casual. So does a shirt with cropped trousers and flats. The trick is one structured item, not three.
How do I stop tailored pieces looking like work clothes at the weekend?
Three things change it: structure, texture and colour. Soft shoulders instead of padded ones. Cotton, linen or a textured wool instead of a smooth worsted. Warmer or lighter shades instead of navy and charcoal. Patch pockets on a jacket also read casual straight away.
Can I wear a tailored blazer with jeans?
Yes, and it is the most common way our casual blazers get worn. It works best when the jacket is unstructured and cut in a textured cloth. A sharp worsted blazer over jeans tends to look like a suit jacket that has lost its trousers. Bring the jeans you wear most to your fitting so we can set the length and shape around them.
Should a casual jacket be lined?
Not always. A full lining gives a smoother finish and helps the jacket slide over knitwear. A half lining or no lining at all is lighter and cooler. We usually suggest half lined for spring and autumn, unlined for summer linen, and fully lined if you layer heavily in winter.
Cropped or longline blazer, which one suits me?
It depends on where you want the eye to land, not on your height alone. A cropped jacket finishing at the waist lifts the waistline and works well with a high rise trouser. A longline jacket finishing mid thigh lengthens the whole line and sits well over something slim. We put both shapes on you at the first fitting rather than guess.
Will cropped trousers work on me?
Cropped trousers finish above the ankle, so they shorten the leg a little. That is fine with a high rise and a slim shoe. If you are petite, or want more length, a full length trouser with a small break usually reads better. Again, we try both on your body.
High rise or mid rise?
High rise sits at your natural waist and defines it, which suits tucked in knits and shirts. Mid rise sits a couple of inches lower and feels more relaxed, which is easier if you wear tops loose over the waistband. Most clients end up with one of each.
Is linen worth it if it creases?
Yes, if you accept the creasing as part of the look. Linen is cool, gets softer with wear, and ages beautifully. If you want the feel without the deep creases, a linen and cotton or linen and wool blend holds its shape far better and is a good first step.
What is the difference between merino, cashmere and cotton knitwear?
Merino is fine, warm for its weight, and the easiest to wear under a jacket without bulk. Cashmere is softer and warmer but more delicate, so it is better in pieces worn on their own. Cotton is cooler and good for spring and summer, though it holds less shape over time.
How do I stop knitwear pilling?
Pilling comes from friction, usually under the arms and wherever a bag strap sits. Choose a longer staple yarn, rest the knit between wears, wash it by hand or on a wool cycle, and dry it flat. A comb or de-pilling stone once a season keeps it looking new.
Which pieces travel best?
High twist wool trousers, a soft unstructured jacket and fine merino knitwear. All three fold small, resist creasing and shake out overnight. Cotton shirts pack well too. Save linen for trips where you can hang things properly on arrival.
Can the same trousers work for the office and the weekend?
Often, yes. A mid grey or navy trouser in a smooth cloth leans formal. The same shape in cotton, olive or a soft check leans casual. Choose the cloth carefully and one trouser shape can cover both halves of your week. See our workwear tailoring for women for the other half.
Can you make pieces that work with clothes I already own?
Yes, and we encourage it. Bring in the coat, the jeans or the shoes you wear most, and we will match colour, length and proportion to them. It is one of the most useful things you can do at a first consultation, and it stops you commissioning something that sits awkwardly with everything else.
How often does casual tailoring need cleaning?
Less often than you would think. Brush a jacket after wear and hang it to air. Cotton and linen shirts wash normally. Wool trousers only need cleaning a few times a year if you rotate them. Over-cleaning is what wears these pieces out, not wearing them.
