Black Lapel vs Indochino: Fit Policies and My Earlier Suit Experience

Start with the fit process, then choose the suit

Black Lapel gives a first-time buyer longer to request fit help: its published policy allows 60 days from delivery. Indochino’s process starts within 14 days. I would take those deadlines seriously before spending an evening choosing lapels.

For someone near an Indochino showroom, in-person measuring and a practical route back for alterations may be more useful than the longer window. For an online buyer, Black Lapel’s first-garment fit process deserves a closer look. Neither policy makes ordering a custom suit the same as ordering a returnable ready-made one.

I reviewed a Black Lapel navy suit in 2012 and have a much longer history with Indochino. I have not ordered equivalent new suits from both brands for this comparison. The current policy comparison below is researched; the garment observations are historical.

Black Lapel’s 60 days and Indochino’s 14 days

Black Lapel: first garments need particular attention

Black Lapel’s Flawless Fit Promise covers complimentary fit help for the first garment of each type. It says fit feedback must arrive within 60 days of delivery. The company typically sends one of each garment type first, then releases held items after fit confirmation.

The same page lists local alteration reimbursement up to $75 for the first jacket or outerwear piece and $50 for the first shirt or pair of trousers. Submit a Fit Assessment Request before tailoring, agree the work and allowance, and keep an itemized receipt. Those are the dollar amounts Black Lapel publishes; confirm the currency and your allowance before commissioning work.

Once a fit is confirmed, future changes are not automatically covered by complimentary alterations. A longer deadline does not mean every subsequent order comes with a fresh free-fitting allowance.

Its refund policy requires approval for alterations and remakes. It excludes unapproved tailoring, changes of mind about style, body changes after delivery and final-sale items unless otherwise stated. A remake is a possible response to the assessed problem, not something the buyer can simply demand.

Indochino: check the suit as soon as it arrives

Indochino’s fit-help page gives two routes. Near a showroom, visit within 14 days of receiving the garment, with the swing tags attached. If no appointment is available, contact the branch or Customer Experience promptly. Do not assume an unavailable appointment extends the deadline.

Away from a showroom, contact Customer Experience within 14 days to open a fit claim. The published local-tailor reimbursement route applies to eligible online purchases in the USA, Canada and Australia, with garment-specific caps and a receipt deadline. If a quote exceeds the allowance, contact the company before proceeding.

Indochino’s return policy does not offer ordinary returns or refunds on made-to-measure clothing. These are merchant policies, not a determination of any statutory rights that may apply to a particular purchase.

A fit promise is not a normal return policy

Black Lapel’s FAQ describes returns as rare, after other solutions have been exhausted. Its refund policy says it does not accept traditional returns. I would not read either page as permission to try a suit for a week and send it back for a guaranteed refund.

Before ordering from either company, I would ask what happens if alterations cannot solve the fit, which work needs approval and whether any shipping costs fall to me. Save the answer alongside the order confirmation. A reassuring policy name is less useful than knowing the actual next step.

What I liked about Black Lapel in 2012

Black Lapel sent me the Solid Navy Blue suit for my original 2012 review. It was a review sample, not a purchase. I chose two buttons, two vents, notch lapels and single-pleated trousers with cuffs, and remeasured rather than copying my adjusted Indochino profile.

I liked the fabric, cut and construction. The shoulders were a little too wide because I had got that measurement wrong, and I disliked the strong shoulder padding. The original article later noted a change to natural shoulders. All of that describes the suit and information available then, not Black Lapel’s current range.

The review discussed half-canvas construction and Bemberg lining. Those details are historical too. I have not verified that every current Black Lapel suit uses the same construction or lining, and I would check the particular product rather than carry a 2012 specification into a 2026 buying decision.

The archived review remains available with its photographs. It is not being replaced by this comparison, and its old prices, delivery estimates and discount code are not current offers.

Compare an actual navy suit, not a headline starting price

For a useful price comparison, choose a cloth and suit specification you would genuinely wear from each company. Check the current price, destination, taxes, approved alteration allowance and likely cost of getting the suit to a finished fit. I have not verified matching current products, so there is no cheapest-brand verdict here.

The same applies to construction. Check the cloth composition, lining and canvas specification of the actual jacket. My current Indochino review separates published information from older observations. The original construction article is useful background, but remains an archive article.

Which would I consider?

I would consider Black Lapel for an online first order if its approved correction process suits the way I want to buy. The longer first-garment window is a concrete advantage, although I would settle the fit before releasing additional pieces.

I would consider Indochino if I had a working profile, a nearby showroom and time to return for corrections. That is a practical reason to choose it, rather than a claim that every showroom or every suit will perform the same way.

I cannot give a current hands-on winner without a new comparison. For the next purchase, I would give the finished fit and the route to fixing problems more weight than decorative customization. Check the current Indochino offers only after deciding that the buying process works for you.

Sources and limits

Black Lapel’s official fit promise, refund policy and FAQ were checked on October 10, 2026. The Indochino policies linked above were checked the same day. They describe the companies’ published processes; no claim or remake was submitted for this article.

The firsthand Black Lapel material comes from my March 2012 review. There is no new wear test, current fabric comparison or verified long-term verdict on that sample. Merchant links currently earn no commission. See the editorial disclosure and About Lorenz.