I needed a new suit for some events I had coming up and saw Nicholas Joseph over on Grand Ave, apparently they have a showroom that opened recently. I had heard of them before but don't wear suits much so I didn't pay too much attention. Anyway, I checked out their website which had some great photos of their stuff, and talked to a really nice girl on the phone to make an appointment. When I arrived, the showroom looked amazing with samples, clothing, and ties everywhere and it was a cool vibe, not stuffy or pretentious. I met with Jodi, who has been there a few years and she walked me through (more like educated me...) what type of fabrics I wanted, how I wanted the style to look, even the color and pattern of the inside lining of the jacket - and I got to put my name in it! She took my measurements, it seemed like 20 or so, confirmed a few things with the master tailor who was in the back, and that was it. They told me 4-6 weeks until I could come back to be fitted. About 4 weeks later they called and we set up a time for a fitting. When I came in the suit was already waiting for me in a fitting room and I could have worn it right out of the store like when you bought shoes when you were a kid! I met with Jodi again and she double checked a few things and told me she wanted to make a few adjustments to the pant length and to the sleeve length to show the right amount of shirt cuff, I didn't even notice but she did. A week after that I went back and tried it on again and it was even better. They gave me a garment bag with the suit in it and I wore it to a close friend's wedding and got compliments all night long. I spent about $1000 and it was well worth it. I even went to Nordstrom right after I ordered the suit just to see how much something like it would be and at Nordstrom it was $1195 and they said to budget up to $200 for alterations as well. To me there is no better way to do it, plus they saved my measurements and I can even call them to order other clothing. I will say that I looked at their reviews here and most seemed like 5 stars but there are a few that are nasty. I certainly didn't have any issue with service and I even showed the suit jacket to some guys at the wedding that wear expensive suits everyday and they thought it was really nice. Those nasty reviewers sound crazy and I'll definitely go back and recommend them. Way to go guys! read more

A World-Class Experience with Jodi at Nicholas Joseph 5/5 Stars When it comes to bespoke tailoring, Jodi at Nicholas Joseph in Chicago is truly in a league of her own. Entrusting her with the creation of my rehearsal dinner suit and wedding tuxedo was one of the best decisions I made during my wedding planning journey. From our first meeting, Jodi's passion for her craft was evident. She listened intently to my ideas and aspirations for both the rehearsal dinner and the wedding day attire, translating them into designs that perfectly captured the essence of each event. Her expertise in fabric selection was remarkable, as she introduced me to textures and colors that not only matched my style but elevated it. The rehearsal dinner suit was a blend of modern elegance and comfort, an outfit that received countless compliments and made me feel at ease throughout the evening. Yet, it was the wedding tuxedo that truly took my breath away. It was expertly tailored with such precision that it felt like a natural extension of myself, exuding a quiet sophistication that was both classic and contemporary. Beyond the garments themselves, what made the experience exceptional was Jodi's dedication and personalized attention. She was always available to provide guidance, allay any concerns, and ensure a seamless process from start to finish. Her calm demeanor and genuine interest in making my vision a reality transformed each fitting session into a memorable experience. Jodi's work at Nicholas Joseph is not just about creating suits and tuxedos; it's about crafting pieces that enhance the special moments in life. For anyone considering bespoke attire, I wholeheartedly recommend Jodi. Her talent, thoughtful service, and commitment to her clients' satisfaction make her an invaluable partner in dressing for life's most important occasions. read more

I finally have a custom suit that makes me look slimmer than I am, I didn't overpay, and they didn't waste my time. I've had several bad experiences with other custom suit shops in Chicago but the attention to detail, suggestions, and measuring here was really the best. Although it was hard to make a Saturday appointment because they were really busy, they stayed later for me and even gave me a glass of scotch before we sat down. During the appointment, Jodi gave me several suggestions, based on my body type that actually made me look better, like a more narrow collar on the jacket to make me look taller and slimmer. After the initial appointment, it took a few weeks to come back and try on the suit, and it fit perfectly except for changing the pant length because I wore gym shoes in the first time. The suit tailoring was the best I've ever seen. I will definitely wear dress shoes next time, but she said they saved the measurements for my next suit which is great. The story about my perfect fitting first custom suit would be over, but a few months later I ripped my pants during a fall and was devastated, thinking I would have to buy a brand-new one. Luckily, I called and Jodi said they can replace the pants for my custom suit, I was beyond thrilled and will go back any time I need a custom shirt or suit. Bottom line, they didn't waste my time, the fit was perfect and like a glove, it didn't take that long and was worth every penny. I feel like I can close any deal in this custom suit and I am going back for the two suit package. Not sure if I'll spring for the bespoke suits that are made in Chicago though. read more

For most of my life I've been jealous of guys who are able to find perfectly fitting shirts at any retailer. Even $150 off-the-rack shirts (looking at you, Hugo) left me either drowning in extra fabric or ripping through elbows. If I'm spending $100+ on a shirt, I would hope that it would fit, dance, and iron itself. After a few tailored-shirt-sporting coworkers complained about the services of their local tailor (pushy, waved off poorly-done fittings, etc.), I decided to bite the bullet and go custom with whatever I could find on Yelp. I came across Nicholas Joseph and had a fantastic experience. I walked in and was greeted by Genna, who was exceedingly helpful with all of my (probably dumb) questions regarding fit, accessories, timing, price, expectations, etc. I'm hypersensitive to pushy salespeople, and Genna made me feel totally at ease in selecting a good mix of fabrics and designs. A few weeks later when the first shirt came in (I ordered a few, they make sure one fits before tailoring the others), it was a touch loose (like I said, I wanted it to fit absolutely perfectly so was very nitpicky), and Genna was the perfect consultant in recommending the best way to get the fit I was looking for (and didn't just try to convince me that it fit as-is). A little under two weeks later, the shirt came back fitting perfectly (though unfortunately it doesn't dance or iron itself, but I think I'll live). Highly recommend Genna and Nicholas Joseph as a whole. Haven't been back yet but my SuitSupply suits have worn out (not that they were that impressive to begin with) and I would love to see what NJ has to offer. read more

I went to Nicholas Joseph to to get a custom suit for my wedding. My experience was exceptional. Katie helped me with a custom suit, a rehearsal dinner blazer and custom shirt to wear with the blazer for my wedding. My experience with Katie was wonderful. This was my first experience with custom suiting, so i really had no idea about the different options that existed. Katie was very knowledgeable about every aspect of the process, and was very informative about every detail involved in getting the custom clothing just right for my tastes. We came in looking for a certain shade of blue for the suit and she helped us find that color. She was very informative when it came to explaining the different Italian fabric options available. We ended up selecting the perfect fabric. She made great recommendations when it came to picking out a shirt pattern to match the Blazer we chose for the rehearsal. She was also very helpful in finding different tie options for us to choose from. The fitting process went very smooth. During the first fitting, Katie was very attentive to every detail, and made recommendations that made the fit of my custom clothing perfect. When I tried everything on during the last fitting, the fit on every piece was perfect. I really enjoyed working with Katie, and I am very appreciative of her help. I was very pleased with my overall experience at Nicholas Joseph, and I plan to come back soon to get some suits for work. read more

I bought my dad a shirt for Christmas. My dad is not much of a fashion guy, he's more of a Kohl's and Walmart shopper. Granted, I am a poor college student so I only splurged for 1 custom $119 shirt as a gift for him. I brought my dad into the store for his appointment and he seemed overwhelmed. He had no idea you could choose the fabric, shape of your cuff, how many buttons, what kind of pleats you liked on the back and the 10 or so collar choices amazed him! I laughed when he was getting measured because he had no idea what to do with his arms... but Nick coached him through everything. Overall the ordering process was fun and eye-opening for him and the customer service was personal and customized to my dad's needs. When the shirt came in for his fitting it was hung up and ready on the fitting room door. I don't think I've seen my dad look at himself in a mirror that long smiling. The shirt was perfect! It looked great tucked in and hanging out and he absolutely loved his initials embroidered on his cuff. Overall, the Nicholas Joseph team helped my dad look great and catered to his specific needs beautifully. I was surpirsed at the service we received when we only bought one shirt... I can't imagine the quality service they give to their suit and package clients! The shirt was great quality and the service was even greater! Thanks Nick! read more

I buy suits and dress clothing from Nordstrom, Bloomingdale's, and Sak's Men's store and then heard about this place and decided to give it a shot. I set up an appointment through their website and had my initial appointment in one of their old studios (they've since moved to a new, bigger, and much better, in my opinion) showroom. When I first met with the designer, they talked to me about who I get in front of, where I buy clothing now, what I have, and gave recommendations on what pieces would help me complete my wardrobe so that I could have fewer great fitting, great looking pieces and make dressing for work and packing for business travel easy. I was actually surprised at the cost of the clothing vs. the off-rack suits I had been buying from Nordstrom and Sak's - but they had to prove it with service and quality, I told myself. After about a month I went in for a fitting and was thrilled. The fit was spot-on, except a few minor adjustments, and the quality compared to my off-rack Zegna suits was comparable, at just half the price and custom made for me. I just placed another package order (they actually keep your measurements on file and track changes) and can't wait to get the clothing. And they also comped me a custom shirt for sending in a buddy to get a suit. I don't think I'll be buying dress clothes anywhere else again! read more

As a novice to the world of bespoke suits I can admit that upon entering Nicholas Joseph I was intimidated. Only in my mind did I have this vague idea of what a custom tailor shop should be a la Seville row in London (from the movies), I can say unequivocally that Nicholas Joseph met and exceeded my expectations. I will put a disclaimer here that if you are looking for a fly by night operation that will get you a suit in a week, this is not the place for you. I decided as a start to building my professional wardrobe to get the 2 custom suits, 5 tailored shirts, 2 tie & 2 pocket square package. From the very beginning Katie let me know that to get my package completed it would take 6-8 weeks. Have that in mind before your first appointment. It was just shy of 8 weeks to get everything. During the first appointment Katie walked me through the entire process. She helped me pick out everything from fabric and colors to cut and fit. Through every step of the process Katie was attentive and kept me informed via email. I cannot speak highly enough of the professionalism she displayed. For everyone looking to invest (and tailored clothing is an investment), I suggest you make an appointment with Nicholas Joseph tailors. If you are lucky enough to work with Katie I can guarantee you will be happy with the outcome. read more

When I first started my research to find the best custom tailor in Chicago, I had no direction. Like most I read a lot of Yelp reviews, and I was pleased with the comments I read on Nicholas Joseph. I went in and met with Jodi, and told her I needed a suit for a family wedding, and I was in a bit of a time crunch. Jodi was able to help me pick out all the great little custom details, and was able to have the suit made in time for the wedding. With my body type, I always found anything off the rack just did not fit me correctly, but when I put my suit on for the first time, I was blown away by how perfect the fit was!!! Every detail was awesome, and there was just a minor tweak to the pant length, which they were able to turn around very quickly. While at the wedding, I received a ton of complements on the suit, and not just from people I knew, strangers would come up and say, 'Excuse me, but I got to say, that suit looks great!' I have since been back for a sport coat, shirt and trousers, and they all fit amazing! If you are looking for great quality clothes, with a stylish, clean fit, I highly recommend visiting Nicholas Joseph. Also, I highly recommend meeting with Jodi, as she has been invaluable to bounce ideas off of, and has great advise on ways to customize each piece a little more! read more

5 stars plus! I had a great experience with Nicholas Joseph Custom Suits for my wedding day. Jodi Leahy has been extremely professional and helpful when it came down to getting my customized suit. Jodi made my first experience my best experience in a safe environment when getting my key attire situated. Jodi and the teams knowledge in fine Italian fabrics was impressive and ensured me a sense on confidence to her and the team of professionals. I had a vision of non-traditional, but subtle color to my dinner jacket. It was the first of its' kind I was told, but Jodi made sure that it fell within the line of my event attire, the classical look. Her attention to detail and craft made this unique look complimentry to my bride, and the bridal party aswell as the context of our wedding venue. Jodi gave the best advice and guidance during this process. She also assisted with suggesting a custom lining with my personals drawings. As an Architect and designer having these drawings tells the story of my academic and professional journey and travels, throughout US, South America, Europe and the Caribbean. I am hoping this custom lining will add to my legacy and inspire my children to come and theirs that follow. Thank you Jodi and your staff/team at Nicholas Joseph for making my vision my best fit! read more

I had the pleasure of working with an amazing stylist to create my custom tuxedo, and I couldn't be happier with the experience and the final result. From the moment I walked into their studio, they made me feel like a valued client. The stylist took the time to listen to my preferences and style goals, and their expertise was evident as they guided me through fabric choices, colors, and design details. They paid meticulous attention to measurements, ensuring a perfect fit. Throughout the process, the communication was exceptional. They kept me informed about the progress of my tuxedo and were responsive to any questions or changes I wanted to make. When I finally tried on the finished tuxedo, I was blown away by the quality of craftsmanship. Every stitch was precise, and the fit was impeccable. I felt like a million bucks wearing it. Not only did this stylist create a custom tuxedo that exceeded my expectations, but they also made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free. I can confidently say that I'll be returning for any future formalwear needs. Highly recommended! read more

I scheduled an appointment with Katie in December to purchase a custom Nicholas Joseph suit for my husband's 30th birthday. Although my husband wears a suit every day for work, this would be his first custom article of clothing! I was a little nervous on how he would react to the surprise appointment since dressing well has never been a top priority for him. But I am thrilled to report that the entire experience was great! Katie is extremely knowledgable, she asked him great questions to get a better feel for his style which instantly made him feel more comfortable. She offered great suggestions and was very thorough with her measurements and explanations. To our surprise, our suit arrived in about a month and Katie kept us well informed every step of the way. After his first fitting, my husband decided to purchase another suit because he was so pleased with the fit. I'm sure it won't be long until we are back! Thank you to Katie and the Nicholas Joseph team for making my husband look and feel great in his new custom suits! read more

9 years ago I found Nicholas Joseph because I needed a suit that fit properly and I wanted to try the custom route. Yes, it was expensive, but it was a very high quality piece of work, and remained a mainstay in my closet. Two years later, I had a sports coat made, because I wanted something to wear with jeans. Both of these garments have held up exceptionally well, and I expect to get many more years out of them. Since then I had custom shirts and a suit made on various business trips to SE Asia. I've been pretty happy with those shirts, but the suit I rarely wear because I'm just not happy with the feel of the fabric. I came back here few weeks ago, because I had to get a navy suit for a wedding I was in, and my experience was just as good as the first time. While I didn't see Nicholas this time, I was in good hands with Katie, who helped me through the process again and answered questions, made recommendations, and got the sizing right. Overall very happy with the suit and have worn it several times since. read more

Over the last few years, I've had 3 suits and 4 dress shirts made by Nicholas Joseph. Specifically, I want to applaud their work on my tuxedo and 3-piece suit which I wore to my wedding and rehearsal dinner respectively. Of course my beautiful wife stole the show, but I was getting compliments left and right all weekend. Nic and his knowledgable staff have taught me how to become extremely particular about my tailoring over the years. Everytime I need a sleeve shortened by an 1/8 of an inch or a pant hem angled to wear with a specific pair of shoes, they're happy to accommodate (even for pieces that I purchased years prior). I've also brought in pieces that were purchased at major department stores, and they made them fit like a glove. I'd challenge you to find this quality or tailoring at major department stores for the price. I've got a grey suit, black 3-piece suit, and a tux in my closet, and I can't wait to go back for navy with a peak lapel and ticket pocket. read more

Although I have never been a custom clothes aficionado, a family member strongly encouraged me to try Nicholas Joseph for a special occasion and I am very glad I did! First of all, Jodi is a consummate professional and her skill-set is quite impressive - she absolutely has this measurement game down pat. The shop is very well organized/well run. They do everything by appointment and on a schedule, which they adhere to in a timely and efficient manner. They created the suit and it was about 95% completed on the first try, just had to be tweaked a bit. The suit fit perfectly as did the shirt they made for me. I was surprised at how much better it fit than my typical suits even though I wear a pretty typical off-the-rack regular size. They have a huge array of options - sky is the limit (although I stayed grounded). The owner Nick has put together quite a team. These are pleasant, honest, very capable people and I will buy there again. read more