There’s broad consensus that one should have a good suit for many occasions. It can be confusing to pick one out, though, especially if you’re looking for an all-purpose garment.
“Good clothing is an investment,” says Leonard Simon, proprietor of downtown Wilmington’s Wright & Simon, a high-end menswear retailer that’s been around for almost a century.
Simon’s father, Morris Simon, started the company with his brother J. Louis Simon and another partner, James H. Wright, in 1935, opening on West Ninth Street and later relocating to the current spot at 911 N. Market St. in 1952. Leonard Simon began working at the shop in the mid-1960s, leaving briefly for a stint in the Army.
Over the years, he’s seen the suit business change considerably, he says, noting that it’s transitioned from a largely made-to-measure business to an off-the-rack one with premade suits and mass-produced materials. Wright & Simon prides itself by adhering to traditional trade practices.
“People don’t buy suits as much as they used to, but if they come into a shop like ours, they want to [find] a nice one,” Simon says. He describes the experience as an interactive process. Typically, customers set up an hour-long appointment to work directly with Simon or one of his associates. Simon says he takes great pleasure in these interactions, with many clients becoming personal friends.

“I educate them and make sure they get into a product that fits them properly,” he notes. Simon typically discusses the manufacturers his store carries (all are American or Canadian), as well as the origin of the garments’ fabric, which comes primarily from Italy.
Simon also informs clients about the importance of color and fit. “Generally, dark blue is a good start,” he points out.
If the store doesn’t have something on the rack, clients can special order or have a suit made to measure. “Then we style it and have it made up,” Simon says. The process takes about four to six weeks.
Suits at Wright & Simon are made in-house and run about $1,000, with services and adjustments included. Custom shirts and a wide range of accessories are also available.

The quality and durability Wright & Simon offer are worth the investment, Simon asserts. “It’s got full lining. It’s the construction of the product. You’re buying a better product that will last a long time. … When you’re buying a suit, you’re buying it based on the reputation of the store where you bought it, the manufacturer who made it, and the mills where it came from.”
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