Eton College tailors

[violetsnowdrops]

Which tailors/outfitters would you recommend for the Eton College uniform? (quality and experience) Hearing lots of good things about W&J but not much about Tom Brown?

P.S. Has anyone's son had a suit made at any of the tailors?

[TonTonMacoute]

Your son's house will have a favourite, because the tailors do all the dry cleaning and repairs throughout your son's time at the school. You don't have to use that tailor, but makes it easier if everyone in the house goes to the same one.

[TonTonMacoute]

W&J were DS's house tailor btw, they are very good. Know nothing about the others.

[peteneras]

When my son started, all new Collegers and their parents were taken straight to Welsh & Jefferies by the Asst. Matron-in-College. They are very professional and obviously very experienced - cutting the uniforms to a fast growing teenager. They take care of what they sell throughout the five years of the boy's time at Eton - altering or mending them when required. Looking back at some old photographs, I'm still very impressed with how smart DS looked with the uniform on throughout his career at Eton - even with the extra gown on which Collegers wear but most hate to do because they see it as an extra baggage.

W&J also stocks a large range of used items. I fully recommend them.

[violetsnowdrops]

Did any boys get suits or blazers made at W&J? Heard that having a suit is handy during times at school.

[Xiaoxiong]

They will need something to wear for formal change, usually a suit (doesn't have to be tailor made though!) or smart trousers plus blazer. Drop your dame a line, she's best placed to advise!

[TonTonMacoute]

Normally your dame will invite you in for a 'housekeeping' meeting. All this will be discussed then, you will be handed lists of stuff to buy, what things to bring for his room, if you need an ottoman etc.

Give your dame a call.

The only one of DSs friends who had anything tailored was a house colours blazer in B block, and a very few of the fabulously wealthy had tails custom made, but you really don't need to.

[Michaelahpurple]

There is t usually a pattern of which tailor boys in a house go to and matrons aren't meant to in my experience won't recommend. It doesn't mattter at all which tailor the hosue used for dry cleaning - one doesn't have to match it

My son's main kit was welsh and J and I have been pretty happy. New and Ling are much seater than the others. As my son has grown and spent too long working out we had problems getting him replacement trousers at W and J so tried N and J which fitted him better - good for large thighs and butt but small waist, it seems. But much dearer! We got his new tails from W and J as usual.

His blazer is from W and J and very happy with it. About the same price as a good M&S one. Didn't get their chinos as don't like pleated fronts.

They size them well - he wore his first set for 8 terms.

[Michaelahpurple]

We didn't use Tom J because of general dark mustering but I don't really recall that detail , just suggestions that they were disorganised, but how that would actually manifest I don't know. And not Billjngs for the really daft reason that his prep school uniform came from their Chiswick branch and they were always going out of stock and finally several friends rated W and J

I don't think it matters much and few people have experience of more than one so few can really give compare them.

Random tips - don't leave it too late. They won't grow out of it during August and you don't want to be caught short. And do blazer and chinos , not suit or flannels for formal change - this is what pretty much they all go for. Get more winter sports socks than they suggest unless your boy is happy to rewear dirty ones - mine wasn't

[violetsnowdrops]

Very helpful! Thank you all.

[FiveofUs123]

Since I suspect some reading this thread may be interested in other factors than purely "quality and experience", which I would hope all Eton tailors have (they've been at it long enough), some tips would be:

• No need to buy anything other than the formal uniform from the Eton tailors if you don't want to - unless you need guidance from the tailors. Get chinos, blazers, shoes, etc from wherever you want.
  
• Used/worn/oversized uniform is not a big problem (although maybe to have one outfit that is not totally outsized or shot to bits would be nice). However, having a slightly "different" pattern of weave on the coat than is the standard, could be a source of embarrassment - in the first year.
  
• A good Dame will tip the House tailor off if the budget is important to you (ie if you are getting reduction in fees as so many Eton parents are), and the tailors will miraculously find secondhand uniform that is not offered to others.
  
• As to the different tailors, I don't know, but I haven't heard anything other than good things about Welsh and Jefferies.

[nolanscrack]

W & J every time