With school formal season fast approaching, there’s one thing every parent of a formal-age student will soon be hearing about — the outfit. For many tweens and teenagers, their school formal is their first black-tie event and choosing to wear a suit is no longer just for the guys. Each year, we see more students of all identities come in hoping to find a suit they feel great in. And why not? School formal is a milestone worth dressing for, and at Rundle Tailoring, we make the process as easy and enjoyable as possible. It’s why we’re the go-to destination for school formal suits in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
Whether you’re looking to hire, buy or create something completely custom, we offer a range of suiting options to suit your budget and their personal style — all fitted with the expertise of our team.
Whether you choose to hire, buy off-the-rack or order a Made-to-Measure suit, we’ll ensure they look and feel their best.
Expertly Fitted Suit Hire
The most popular choice for formals, if you’re looking for great value and zero fuss, suit hire is the way to go. If you’re planning to hire a suit for formal season, it’s essential you book a fitting early to secure a suit and avoid disappointment.
Rundle Tailoring offers the most extensive and affordable formal hire range in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley, with premium-quality, Australian-made suits available in a variety of sizes and colours.
In our hire department, you can select from a classic black dinner suit with satin shawl lapel or browse our 2- and 3-piece lounge suit options, which come in shades of black, charcoal, navy and mid blue. Feeling extra bold? The metallic gold Hollywood jacket is bound to turn heads.
We’re a full-service destination, which means they can hire a complete look from a limited selection of shirts, ties, pocket squares, vests, shoes, cufflinks and even a top hat. We’ll also alter the sleeves and leg lengths to suit their measurements ensure the suit fits just right.
Many students choose to hire their suit but purchase a shirt and accessories to show off their unique aesthetic. Our range of shirts — from brands such as Brooksfield, Abelard, R.M. Williams, Joe Black and Uberstone — and personality-filled ties and pocket squares — from Otaa, James Harper, Buckle and Peggy and Finn — ensure they’ll have a one-of-a-kind outfit.
SEE MORE: Browse our suit hire collection here.
Ready-to-Wear For Every Body
If your child has more than one formal or event coming up — perhaps they’re also attending a family wedding, an awards night or even starting their first corporate job after graduation — purchasing a ready-to-wear suit might make more sense than hiring.
We offer a wide selection of top fashion brands — Gibson, Savile Row, Daniel Hechter, Cambridge, Uberstone and Joe Black — and our expert in-house team can alter any off-the-rack suit to fit perfectly. It’s a smart, stylish investment they’ll wear again and again.
You might hear the term “off-the-rack” mentioned while you’re looking for a formal suit. It means the same thing as “ready-to-wear”. Though we’re famous for our Made-to-Measure experience, our shop carries a huge range of new season, ready-to-wear styles.
This option is especially popular with girls who want to wear a suit to their school formal, as we’re able to tailor their choice to perfectly fit them. Beyond just altering the sleeves and hems, we can adjust the side seams for a more fitted silhouette, shorten the jacket length, alter the shoulders and more. Plus, we offer competitive alteration rates for our purchase suits.
SEE MORE: Our edit of top fashion brands ensures they’ll find a suit they love.
Made-to-Measure Means One-of-a-Kind
For a standout school formal moment — and a suit they’ll cherish long after the last dance — our made-to-measure service is the ultimate experience.
From the fabric and lining to the lapel and buttons, every detail is customisable, and every suit is made to fit your child’s exact measurements and personal style. It’s perfect for those with non-standard sizing or anyone looking for something that feels truly unique.
LEARN MORE: Discover our Made-to-Measure service.
Rundle Tailoring is the preferred destination for school formal suits in Newcastle and the Hunter Valley.
Book Early for Peace of Mind
No matter which path you choose, our friendly team is here to help with expert advice, fittings and styling tips and our store — located in Newcastle West — is the best place to start.
New season styles are arriving daily, so visit us in store and let us walk you through the options. Whether it’s hire, ready-to-wear or made-to-measure, we’ll make sure they look and feel confident on the night.