When you hear “suit store,” you might think menswear — but Rundle Tailoring has dressed women for decades. We’ve recently expanded our women’s Made-to-Measure sample range to meet the evolving needs of our loyal clients. Whether you’re after a wedding suit, workwear, a look that reflects your personal brand, or a garment to mark a milestone, you can start your Made-to-Measure journey for any reason that feels right.
Curious about what Made-to-Measure involves? Read on for our guide to women’s Made-to-Measure at Rundle Tailoring.
How women’s Made-to-Measure works
Start your Made-to-Measure journey by booking an appointment with our head tailor, Andrew Rundle, who brings more than 30 years of experience. He’ll guide you through a personal style session, help you select every garment detail, answer your questions, and get to know your vision for the perfect suit.
Your Made-to-Measure experience begins with our in-store fitting samples, available in sizes 6 to 24. You can see, touch, and try on these garments — they form the foundation for your personalised design. Many other Made-to-Measure tailors don’t offer samples, which makes this part of our process one of the things that sets us apart.
From there, Andrew refines your measurements and helps you make every choice, from fabric and lining to lapels, pockets, and buttons. The process feels highly collaborative and enjoyable, giving you plenty of room for creativity while benefiting from the guidance of an expert who has helped countless clients realise their Made-to-Measure vision.
After your initial consultation, allow four to six weeks for your suit to be made. We’ll then invite you to a second fitting, where Andrew checks the fit and notes any fine-tuning required. Our on-site tailors complete adjustments within a few days. If your suit needs little to no alteration, you can take it home at the end of your fitting. If we need a little more time, we’ll schedule one final appointment to ensure everything is perfect before you take your suit home to enjoy.
INSPIRATION: Discover some of our previous work in our Women’s Made-to-Measure gallery.
The Made-to-Measure process in detail
First fitting
During this initial consultation, you’ll be measured by Andrew and he’ll walk you through the process of designing your garment.
This includes choosing from the world’s finest fabrics, such as Holland and Sherry, Dormeuil, Dino Filarte, Vitale Barberis Canonico and Stylbiella, as well as suit styles, linings, button stitching and embroidery.
What makes Made-to-Measure so coveted is that every element is customisable. Ever purchased a suit you loved, but wish there were just a few things different? The shoulders were sharper, there were side adjusters instead of belt loops, or there were more pockets? With Made-to-Measure, designing the suit of your dreams is up to you.
A closer look at customisation
In addition to choosing the shape and silhouette of your suit, which Andrew will carefully guide you through using our in-store fitting samples, these are just a few more ways you might choose to customise your suit:
- You can add a third piece to your garment by including a matching vest. These are growing in popularity for our female customers, as they expand the styling possibilities. Worn on its own or over a shirt, a vest is a polished but less formal look when you don’t want to wear a jacket.
- You can choose a strong shoulder, for a more traditionally masculine silhouette, or a soft one for everyday sophistication.
- You can customise the suit jacket lining, choosing from our large range of options or designing your own. We’ve seen personal mottos, detailed illustrations, wedding vows and children’s drawings incorporated into suit linings.
- You can choose the number, style and placement of pockets on your jacket, trousers and vest.
- You can select from belt loops for practicality, side adjusters for a sophisticated look or have a clean finish around the waist, depending on how you prefer to wear your trousers.
- You can embroider the inside pocket of your jacket with a special message, like your name, wedding date, business name or some words of inspiration.
Some made-to-measure outlets just wrap a tape measure around you and take your measurements for the cutter to interpret – but with a surprising amount of room for interpretation in suit measurements, you can end up with an ill-fitting investment. At Rundle Tailoring, Andrew will show you exactly how your suit should fit and get you to try on different sample suits to determine the best cut for your body type. This makes it easier for you to visualise how your suit will look before it’s made. This not only gives you confidence in your design decisions, but ensures your expectations are met.
Second fitting
After your suit is cut and stitched, you’ll return to store for a second fitting with Andrew. He’ll inspect everything and note any necessary further adjustments, which our skilled tailors then make on-site. At this stage, we recommend you bring in the shoes or shirt you plan to wear with your suit, so that you can experience the full look. For example, if you only wear heels to work, and that’s mostly where you plan to wear your suit, we can adjust the trouser hems to fall neatly with heels (a leg length that could be different if you tend to wear flats).
If your adjustments are minimal and you don’t live local, enjoy a coffee on us while you wait for the final alterations to be made to your suit. Then you’ll be able to take it home after the second fitting.
Third fitting
In some cases, a third fitting takes place following the on-site alterations. It’s the last step in the process – the quality control to ensure both you and Andrew are satisfied with the cut, fit and finish of your bespoke suit. We’ll also help you select from our range of shoes, men’s and women’s ties, cufflinks and pocket squares to complete your look.
Women’s Made-to-Measure shirts
Beyond suiting, we also offer women’s Made-to-Measure shirts. Our sample range, sized from 6 to 22, showcases 100% silk and 100% cotton shirts in a variety of colours.
You’ll be able to select from hundreds of shirt fabrics – patterned or plain, coloured or neutral, cotton, silk, linen or blend – and customise every design element. Most importantly, Andrew will be able to tailor the shirt to your exact specifications. All women’s bodies are different, so if you’ve ever faced the challenge of finding a well-fitting and comfortable shirt, Made-to-Measure is the a perfect solution.
Some of the design options which you can see and try-on from our range include:
- Fly-front shirts, where the buttons down the front of the shirt are covered by a flap of fabric. This is a popular option for formal suiting or if you prefer a clean look.
- Contrast cuffs and collar, for a cool, retro finish inspired by 90s suiting trends.
- Embroidery. The ultimate mark of a Made-to-Measure shirt, you can get your initials embroidered on the cuff or placket of your garment.
- A modesty button or snap fastening to stop that awkward gaping effect between the front button holes of your shirt.
The service we offer
As a family-owned heritage business in Newcastle, we’ve earned the trust of our community over many decades. Many locals still call us “Rundles”, the name we used for 90 years between 1908 and 1998.
Under Andrew and Bronwyn Rundle’s stewardship, Rundle Tailoring has reached new heights as Newcastle and the Hunter Valley’s go-to for weddings. We’re also trusted by women and men seeking a well-made, great-value suit that fits perfectly. Many of our Made-to-Measure clients are local professionals who expect excellence and five-star service. We also welcome clients travelling from the country and interstate to experience our women’s Made-to-Measure service. We’re proud to uphold the same level of care and quality with every interaction.
We’re an inclusive space, welcoming everyone with warmth and hospitality. If you’re in the market for a suit, our promise is to help you find one that feels just right. Andrew’s relaxed approach makes an often-intimidating process feel easy and enjoyable. Most importantly, we build genuine relationships to make every encounter seamless. Our honest advice is always guaranteed.
We’ve heard so many horror stories about poor fits, shoddy workmanship, and intimidating sales staff — even a “fat tax.” The Rundle Tailoring difference is in what we do.
The benefit of Made-to-Measure
Nothing compares to wearing a suit crafted just for you, and we ensure your individuality shows in every stitch.
Our women’s Made-to-Measure service offers:
Precision fit: We tailor each suit to your exact measurements and style, ensuring comfort and confidence.
Personal design: You choose your fabric, lapel, silhouette, linings, and buttons from our extensive range.
Quality craftsmanship: Our head tailor Andrew applies his deep experience to every measurement, and our expert tailors and seamstresses perform all alterations on-site.
Enduring service: We keep your measurements on file so you can reorder easily and seamlessly.