The Good Life.

Byline: Alex McRae, Tracy McNicoll, Kris Anderson, Karla Bruning, Paul Tolme

If the Suit Fits ...

By Alex McRae

Bespoke tailoring used to be a luxury just for the guys. Now chic women are discovering that wearing a custom suit designed to conceal their flaws and flaunt their assets can make them look more soignee than a month of sweating in the gym. "You've only got to look at Marlene Dietrich to know how glamorous a woman looks in a well-cut suit," says Henry

Rose, who runs Stella McCartney's luxurious bespoke salon in Mayfair and counts Madonna among his clients. He works closely with McCartney to create slim, sexy pieces--often in vintage fabrics--featuring the designer's signature pink buttonhole (from [pounds sterling]2,250; stellamccartney.com).

Intricate details are common. At veteran British fashion designer Paul Smith's bespoke atelier in west London, women can choose to have their suits lined with sumptuous Indian sari fabric or edged with colorful hand stitching (from [pounds sterling]1,800; paulsmith.co.uk). Across town in fashionable Spitalfields, hip tailor Timothy Everest makes elegant bespoke suits discreetly embroidered with his trademark flower design (from [pounds sterling]2,100; timothyeverest.co.uk).

Even in London's menswear mecca, Savile Row, tailors are inching open their doors to female customers. "There's definitely been more demand," says Ray Stowers, head of bespoke at Gieves & Hawkes, which makes suits for the royal family. The company employs an expert female cutter, who can put women at ease during the intimate fitting process (from [pounds sterling]3,000; gievesandhawkes.com). And at Huntsman, established in the 19th century to make breeches for sportsmen, women can choose from 7,000 types of fabric. After attending four or five fittings, clients are rewarded with a flawless suit (from [pounds sterling]3,657; h-huntsman.com).