Suits and the city: Europe’s best tailors for business travelers

Suits and the City: Europe’s best tailors for business travelers

Modern business styles are evolving, fast. Gone are the days of mandatory ties, in is the quarter-zip, knit sweater, chunky work-from-home overshirt. However, when you’re in the boardroom or meeting new clients, it pays to look the part. Should you find yourself in need of a suit with extra oomph to get your deal over the line in Europe, then head to a tailor. Getting a suit fitted at a boutique makes all the difference, and where better than the Old World? Here are Europe’s best tailors for business travelers seeking to elevate their style.

London, England

Savile Row in Mayfair is the go-to spot for British finesse. It is here you will find custom tailoring, often by a gentleman in a fitted three-piece with a pocket watch attached. 

Dinner jacket inventor Henry Poole & Co provides the best of the boutique London experience. Want a tuxedo, tweed for a game shoot or a burgundy velvet smoking jacket for a night at a members’ club? Experienced ‘cutters’ will work with you to create the suit of your dreams. 

Jermyn Street is a good option for lesser known tailors. Meanwhile, nearby Soho is home to Scandi-minimal brands, edgier streetwear choices and interesting off-the-rack styles.

Henry Poole & Co, 15 Savile Row, W1S 3PJ

Naples, Italy

The Neapolitan style of tailoring is known for its soft, unstructured shoulders and lightweight fabrics, making it perfect for warm weather. 

Naples’ Spaccanapoli district, or Old Town, is lined with heritage tailors. Established in 1932, Rubinacci offers suits that encapsulate Neapolitan style. For a more modern take, the family-run Sartoria Solito specialises in innovative designs that lean towards the tweed-and-pocket-square hipster look.

Rubinacci, Palazzo Cellamare, 149/e Via Chiaia, 80121

Sartoria Solito, 256 Via Toledo, 80132

Paris, France

If you’re on a business trip in the fashion capital of the world then you have no excuse to not look the part. 

For luxurious off-the-rack pieces, look no further than the Champs-Élysées. But if you’re after bespoke tailoring, visit Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré. Founded in 1838, Charvet is the leader of the pack here, offering gorgeous fabrics rendered with impeccable handiwork. It’s garnered such a reputation, its website is merely a single page reminding you of its address and opening times. 

Meanwhile, the Marais site of the chic Officine Generale does a more relaxed take on modern tailoring, ideal for the jacket-no-tie trend that is increasingly common in boardrooms.

Charvet, 28 Place Vendôme, 75001

Officine Generale, 4 Rue du Pont aux Choux, 75003

Madrid, Spain

Madrid’s fashion tastes tilt towards the preppy; you are more likely to see businessmen in sweaters and chinos than suits and ties. But the legacy of the Spanish empire means Madrid’s tailors have access to exquisite fabrics.

Lander Urquijo is a prestigious tailor known for its classic and tasteful designs. For more modern and progressive styles, García Madrid offers that contemporary, preppy Madrid feel.

Lander Urquijo, 69 Calle de Claudio Coello, 28001

García Madrid, 26 Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 28004 

Zurich, Switzerland

The city of watchmakers is also home to tailors with the same fastidious attention to detail. 

Ever since it was established in 1825, Weisbrod-Zürrer has been perfect for occasion-wear or tasteful suits. For a more relaxed look, SuitArt – which is centrally located near the stock exchange – offers an award-winning selection of suits that are just as comfortable over a tee as a dress shirt. 

Weisbrod-Zürrer, 3 Weisbrod-Areal, 8915 Hausen am Albis

SuitArt, Massschneiderei, 1 Selnaustrasse, 8001

Milan, Italy

The world’s home of fashion is, of course, a Mecca for suits and off-the-rack Prada and Gucci. 

However, you are most likely to find quality bespoke tailoring in the Brera neighborhood. For example, Canali suits combine the colour and pop of the Neapolitan style with the more business-focused cuts seen in Paris. For more contemporary styles, head to Boglioli, which offers relaxed jacket-over-tee designs – perfect for socialising at the bar after a big meeting. 

Canali, 1 Via Pietro Verri, 20121

Boglioli, 17 Via San Pietro All’Orto, 20121

Brussels, Belgium

Brussels’ Sablon district is the place to go for luxury brands, although it boasts few boutique tailors to call its own. 

Scabal has long used Belgian fabric and techniques, although it’s actually a British brand, bringing Savile Row experience to the Belgian capital. 

Meanwhile, Cafe Costume in the arty Dansaert neighborhood provides tailoring which, rarely for modern brands, is still centred around the tie. For that ability to blend the classic with the progressive, it was awarded Belgium Fashion Awards Menswear Designer of the Year 2015.

Scabal, 32 Boulevard de Waterloo, 1000

Cafe Costume, 24 Léon Lepagestraat, 1000

Now that you’re familiar with Europe’s best tailors, you’re ready to embark on your business trip to Europe. At Travel Leaders, we understand that a seamless travel experience is essential for professionals. That’s why we offer customized travel solutions designed to make your trip smooth and hassle-free.