I worked with Steve and I feel bad it has taken this long for me to make a review. I got married this past April and do not like to dress like everyone else. Aside from that I am 6 4 175 with a 17 inch neck and 34/35 arms but 29 inch waist with broad shoulders and a very narrow torso to put it modest. I already had my tuxedo jacket purchased. However, I must say it took almost a year to find it and had I known about Balani sooner I would have had them make it!!! My jacket was silk and satin Ivory with a round shawl and one button. It is very unique. I had looked online at Anto shirts in California as I did not want just a normal white shirt for my tux. I wanted a Grey/Silver tux shirt in Satin or Silk with French cuffs and French Collars to accent my white mother of pearl cufflink and stud set. Anyways it seemed as though having Anto make my shirt from California and hoping it came out alright was my only option after looking for a shirt close to what I wanted. I stumbled onto a review of Balani after reading reviews written on Anto as I was trying to see if anyone posted a price range for me to see what it was going to cost. A review on there was from a big spender who was from Texas and said that he used to go to Anto but after stumbling upon Balani he would only ever buy another item for dress clothes from there. Actually he claimed to be apprehensive to write the post as he did not want anyone to know about this diamond in the rough. So I set up an appointment with Balani and hoped this post I read was correct. It was more than that!! The staff was so nice and patient helping my wife and I find their store coming from the North Shore. Steve was the exact opposite of what I expected. I was waiting to come in and be greeted by an older gentleman with very formal taste and not be able to make my request understandable. Steve had me bring in my Tux as well as a suit that fit me best. After seeing my Tux and a few shirts of mine as well as suits he knew my taste in a second. He knew exactly what i wanted as far as my shirt went. I explained to him i about the cuffs, color, material and before I could even finish he brought in the exact swatch in the material and color I was thinking of. He helped me choose the perfect shoes, tie, and pants as well. His taste was exactly like mine and it turned our PERFECT!!! I will never ever buy dress clothes elsewhere. They had their own version of the Tom Ford James Bond Dark Blue Tux which is going to be one of my next purchases and I just cannot say enough about their service. Typical groom I left it to the last minute to pick up my shirt which Steve had custom initials, wedding date, and fit absolutely perfect. It was like he read my mind. I have gotten so many comments on the shirt it isn't even funny. I know why the post I read was apprehensive to let the news out about this place. i was running late day before my wedding and Steve was waiting there for me after hours shirt in hand laughing as he knew I was in a rush. I would not have gotten the shirt if it were not for their impeccable customer service. Steve is awesome to work with if you are a younger man especially. He was young like me and tall and lean and had the same taste as me in many ways. He showed me a bunch of shirts we could do in the colors I liked later on down the line in the satin material my Tux shirt was made in. He is the man. I would not want to work with anyone else. And I am sure I am far from their biggest spender but they treated me as if I was their only customer the whole way thru. As I said I will never shop for dress apparel anywhere else again. Balani only from here on out. If I see something I want and it is in a department store I will be having them make it. I have a love for some designers but I think Balani will out do them any day of the week putting their own spin on things. Thanks Steve!!!!!!!!!! Sincerely, Daniel Warren read more

I am 6'5" and 190lbs. I have a long thin frame that is impossible to fit with anything off the rack. Alterations can be done, but they never seem quite right. I have been considering custom shirts for a while, but never had the time to look in to it. But I am glad that I made time to go to Balani. I worked with Ricardo. He is very professional and thorough. Going in, I did not know what to expect. He made it very easy to sift through the thousands (not an exaggeration) of fabric options for their shirts. He asked what I was looking for and how I was going to be using the shirts and was able to provide some great options of fabric. I ended up buying 5 shirts that day. Needless to say, I am now hooked on the custom clothing way of life. It makes me cringe every time I need to pull out one of my old shirts to wear in my rotation. Even the ones I thought fit well enough seem large, baggy, and odd fitting. I will definitely be going back soon, likely to make a purchase of a couple suits. They have some great package deals, so even though you may be spending quite a bit more than you are used to, you certainly get your moneys worth. I am going to be moving to Indy in a short while and will definitely be planning a trip up over a weekend to get fitted for more clothing from Balani. I highly recommend. read more

Before having a suit for my wedding made at Balani, I've had trouble getting clothes that fit for as long as I can remember. Though not an inexpensive suit, I'm confident it was worth every penny; the fit alone is priceless. Balani's Cordt provided all sorts of useful information to help with the process, and was keen to point out all the custom (and included) finishes that come with a Balani suit. There were both personal touches, like embroidering my wedding date on the inside coat pocket, and a technical thoroughness, like having the cuff restitched at the last minute to take care of a barely perceptible unevenness. Though I gave him every opportunity for condescension (I could count on one hand the number of suits I've owned in my life), Cordt seemed honestly interested in making sure I was happy with my decisions and with the suit he sold me. So, as a "regular guy" (not compulsively well-dressed) with a need for a suit but some uncertainty about the value of bespoke, I am pleased to say I intend to return to Balani for quality suits, pants, and shirts that fit like nothing else ever has. read more

This was my second visit to Balani. I ordered shirts from them the first time and have enjoyed the shirts. My review however has to deal with my latest purchase from Balani. I have an overcoat that I love but is falling apart. I went to Balani and saw Cordt who helped me pick out a matching fabric and we made a few adjustments to the coat, some he suggested some I did. I also ordered a couple of suits and 5 shirts. The shirts and the coat came in first. I actually just received them today. I'll be honest I was a little worried about what my coat might look like and how it may feel. It's hard to replace something you love so much. I came in to the store and I was blown away. The overcoat is a masterpiece and I couldn't be happier. I've never written a yelp review but have been so happy since I've received my coat I needed to write it down. Full disclosure my roommate is Cordt and he has been working for Balani for sometime now. I would still recommend Balani to everyone. Thanks so much to everyone at Balani, especially Cordt, Elizabeth and Ric. You've made me a lifelong customer! read more

I reached out to Balani in search of the perfect suit for my wedding in lieu of the Men's Wearhouse option. After sending out a quick e-mail with my interest in a suit and a picture of the general style I was interested in, I received an e-mail from Emily within the next few hours and we set up an appointment. My previous experience of getting a suit is your typical department store (Macy's, Men's Wearhouse, Jos A. Bank) which is very different to the quality and service I got from Emily and the rest of the Balani staff. The consultation took a little bit over an hour but we were able to get through picking out all the fabrics, the details and stitching options, taking all the measurements and trying on a similar sized suit to see how it would compare on my figure. Six weeks later it I went in for my fitting, had a few minor adjustments (i.e.: 1/4 inch pulled on the sleeves, vest needed to be pulled in a little) and it felt great. If you are in the market for a custom suit I would definitely recommend Balani as the place to get one. read more

Having never bought a suit or tux for myself before, I was pretty clueless. Cordt is the man! I have seen this animal go beast mode on the volleyball court and when I went in as a referral to get some options for my wedding this past September I was blown away!! Cordt was beyond professional! Truly a master of his craft! I went in thinking I initially wanted to get a tux and walked out of there with a suit I will wear for years. He made me and my whole party of groomsmen feel right at home, served us up some Basil Hayden to drink while we took measurements and talked about the color scheme for the wedding. We were so impressed with how things were going to look that my entire group of groomsmen decided to get custom suits done for the big day as well! Alterations were made as necessary and the suit was shipped to my house. If I ever need a suit I will go to him first, he knows exactly what will work for his clients. Thanks Cordt, your contribution made my big day that much more special! read more

I worked with William to get a few business suits for my wardrobe. He is very professional and did a great job helping me identify the best suits to meet my needs. One of the best parts of the process is the consultation because you get the opportunity to describe what you are looking for. William was an excellent listener and took what he heard from me and helped me build the ideal shirts and suits. He additionally helped me match the right ties to go with the outfits so I new I had the right combination. William has a good eye for what works and gave me great advice. I like having a "brick and mortar" place to shop, consult, and go back to for tailoring and anything else I need with this type of shopping. It's too large an investment to just do online and I've been disappointed with the traveling suit vendors out there, especially when I needed to have something repaired or redone. I'll definitely be going back to work with William at Balani to continue building my wardrobe. read more

Balani was my first experience with custom clothes, but Cordt, the tailor, made me feel right at home offering different suggestions and showing me different examples of things he thought I would like. The process to get fitted and pick out clothes was fun and easy, and a few weeks later I had the best fitting shirts ever. Since my first experience I moved to St. Louis, however it has been just as easy to get great fitting clothing from Balani from here as it was in Chicago. I talked to Cordt and told him what style shirts I wanted. He then mailed me some sample books, and I emailed him the numbers to the fabrics I liked so he could keep them on file. When I want to order a new shirt, I call him with the number of the fabric that I want, and a few weeks later the shirts show up at my door. Since he already had my measurements, favorite fabrics and the style I liked on file, it really was that easy. I would recommend Balani to anyone who is looking for well-made custom shirts. read more

I have been buying suits and shirts from Balani for a few months now. All of the clothes still look great and fit unlike anything else in my wardrobe. I work in an industry where client interaction and first impressions are important and have received numerous compliments from both clients and senior professionals at my firms since I have started shopping at Balani. John L. has been incredibly helpful throughout this process and made the experience of purchasing custom clothes very enjoyable! The fitting process is meticulous and if there are any issues with the garments when they are finished, Balani quickly makes adjustments. John has also followed up many times to make sure the clothes are still fitting well and that I am happy with the outcome. Having little experience with custom clothing prior to shopping at Balani, John was also very helpful in laying out various options and guiding me through the decision making process. I cannot recommend Balani and John enough. read more

I went to Balani for the 1st time after buying a Groupon for a custom fit suit. Cordt Withum was my salesperson, and he's outstanding. After describing to him the kind of suit and fit I wanted, he showed me numerous fabrics and described in detail the various features of Balani suits. He then took many meticulous measurements to ensure a perfect fit. And to top it all off, he was able to get me my custom made shirts early and in time for a special event. I honestly can say that the Balani suit that Cordt measured for me is the best-fitting suit I've ever had. I paid almost $1000 more for a custom made suit from Paul Stuart, and there's no comparison in fit. Cordt takes the time to get the measurements right, and it shows in the final product. The same goes for the custom made shirts. A month later, I bought 5 more shirts from Cordt, and he got them made for me in only 2 weeks! I'm definitely going back. read more

I've been thinking about having a suit made for awhile, and with my daughter's wedding coming up, it was time to pull the trigger. I did a lot of research -- mostly online -- and a lot of it led me to Balani. I sent an email asking about the process & length of time necessary to make a suit, and received a prompt reply back from Cordt Withum. A few weeks later I was in the Balani showroom @ 55 W. Monroe. Walking in not knowing what to expect, I was promptly put at ease as Cordt walked me through the process. I had lots of choices to make - fabric, lining, vent, pleats/no pleats, etc., and the counsel I received from Cordt was excellent. He knows his stuff -- materials, fit, styling. He guided me through this experience and I couldn't be happier with the results. I have a suit that looks great and that I feel great wearing! Balani provides a great, relaxed atmosphere. I know I'm hooked -- I'll be back! read more

My husband came to Balani to have a suit made that he wore in our wedding late last year. In the past he'd had some relative difficulty in buying suits because he is very thin for his height--suits that he'd bought off the rack hung on him like tents, even after alteration. However, our experience at Balani was beyond exceptional! The sheer amount of measurements taken during the first session gave us a lot of confidence that the suit would fit well, and the sheer amount of choices he was given made our heads spin. Also, Elizabeth called him back shortly after the first round of measurements, because apparently the tailors wanted to make sure some of the vest measurements were right. This was a nice touch. Plus, of course, the finished product is superb--there was no end to the compliments on the big night! In summary, the suit is great, Elizabeth was great, and we'll definitely be back. Great! read more

I have been going to Balani for nearly a year. I bought a suit, blazer, and dress shirts from Balani and I am highly satisfied with my purchases. Nick Saule was my consultant and he has always been very helpful by offering his advice and assistance whenever I was deciding on a purchase. The entire staff has always been very courteous and professional. Being a muscular person, finding clothing for my size has always been tedious. The custom experience at Balani convinced me never to buy "off the rack" clothing again. The tailors measured me with great precision and now I can wear a suit that covers my shoulders well without making me look like I weigh 300lbs in the waist area. The prices are not unreasonable when compared to other shops. I believe that this place is the best one in Chicago. From my interactions with Nick and Ricardo, I highly recommend them to assist you with your inquiries. read more

The quality and professionalism displayed at Balani Custom Clothiers is second to NONE! I was some what adverse to looking into having custom clothing made. I will assure you I will never wear a suit or dress shirt off the rack again!! Cordt was unbelievable with not only his professionalism but his knowledge of different fashion trends, the quality of fabrics and the coordination of colors. He gave me great advice based on my body style (tall and lean) so when I tried on the final product it looked great. The real test was when I showed my wife (had a mini fashion show) and she was so amazed at my taste (thanks again for that help Cordt!!). She was really impressed with the quality and look of everything, and hey, if the wife approves you know you look good! If you have never tried custom clothing I would highly recommend scheduling a visit to Balani and requesting Cordt. read more

Absolutely the best place to purchase a suit. You own a suit to look good for a special occasion or to make a great impression while conducting business. The professionals at Balani are who you want to trust with guiding you in helping you look your best and creating the suit that you are proud to wear. Do not waste your time or money shopping at stores that offer suits off of the rack. If you do, it will be a decision that you quickly regret. You want a custom made suit, that is made of the materials that you choose, and a fit that you design with the clothiers at Balani. A custom made suit will fit and look better for much longer time period and will be a suit that you will be proud to wear forever. I highly recommend Cordt as your clothier. He is who I work with every time at Balani and who you should trust with all of your clothing needs. read more

If you are looking for bespoke clothing, and a bespoke experience, then Balani and Cordt are the perfect fit. I have been working with Cordt for a few years now and each interaction with him has been fantastic. From fitting to follow up, Cordt provides a level of service that is top notch. My suits, sport coat and shirts have been fit with great precision and continue to wear extremely well. Whether in person or virtual (I don't reside in IL where Cordt is located), Cordt delivers highly professional, engaged and knowledgable service to his clients. I recently brought some friends in to work with Cordt and each of them left feeling the same as I... highly impressed. No doubt the fabrics and fit of Balani clothing are great, but what stands out above all is the level of service through each stage of the bespoke process. read more

I recommend Cordt to anyone shopping for a quality suit. He is professional, experienced, and talented. I plan to have him create all my suits and shirts in the future. Cordt made and tailored the suit i wore for my wedding. Rented and off the rack tux's and suits fit me poorly because of my tall and thin build. Cordt's expertise and detailed descriptions guided me into the perfect suit despite my lack of knowledge on the subject. As he took my measurements he inquired how I like my clothes to fit, something no other tailor has asked before. During the second appointment, I tried on the suit and Cordt explained the changes he recommended. I have worn the suit several times and every time I wear it I get a plethora of compliments. Additionally, unlike every suit I have worn before, this suit is very comfortable. read more

I have now been working with Emily Clark at Balani for several years. The clothes are fantastic and Emily is a pleasure to work with and has a very discerning eye. Over the last 2-3 years, I have purchased two suits, two sport coats and two pairs of trousers. All of the pieces have held up wonderfully and I consistently receive compliments from friends and even strangers on the street. Balani has varying qualities of fabrics to choose from at different price points. But regardless of the grade of fabric selected, the tailoring is extremely high-end and the service is second to none. I have purchased custom suits in Hong Kong and Bangkok from reputable tailors; Balani and Emily far exceed my prior overseas purchases. Look no further than Balani (ask for Emily) for your next/first bespoke clothing. David G. read more

As a short guy, having a resource like Balani is really incredible. I can't buy things off the rack and have them fit right away. What's worse, sometimes when I buy something off the rack and I try to have it tailored, it just looks funny. There's only so much a tailor can do with a shirt that's made for someone a with different physique. Enter Balani Custom Clothiers. I've been going to Sonny and his staff for at least 7 years, I think. They are truly amazing, not only for their craftsmanship, but especially for their customer service. I'll pick out a fabric for a shirt, and based on what I like, they will point out two more that I like even better! I couldn't be happier, and I couldn't make a higher recommendation than to try Balani. They are definitely "a cut above the rest." read more