LAKE MARY, Fla. – Walk into It Suits Me, a custom clothing store in Lake Mary, and you’ll know right away that this is not a one-off situation.
Your first clue? The mannequins are all dressed in bright colors and bold patterns. There are spicy oranges, greens, pinks and purples with accessories to complement it all.
The man behind the color set is Lawrence Mason.
On the day News 6 visited his store at 154 N. 4th Street to talk about his love of suits, Mason said he toned down what he wore for the interview.
Keep in mind: he was wearing a three-piece suit that fit him like a glove.
He said that wherever he goes, he always plans to be the best dressed person in the room.
With a smile, Mason said, “You must have a bit of a joke, we call it, about you.”
He had swag – and then some.
He said that the moment you put on one of his suits, you’ll start to feel a little different.
“You have to have your shoulders back, chest out, head up,” he explained.
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As he showed News 6 around his custom suit shop, he pulled out colorful suits.
He then explained how he would mix and match several colors and patterns.
His vibrant collection of suits, ties, shoes and other accessories are not for the faint of heart.
Men who walk into his suit shop leave with a different attitude.
Mason said there is something about a beautiful suit that elevates the person wearing it.
“Your confidence level increases. Your gait changes. Your conversation changes. Your attitude changes. The level of respect you get varies,” Mason said.
It’s hard to believe that Mason has been dressing the men of Central Florida for just five years.
Before opening his store, he spent nearly 30 years as a firefighter in Lake Mary and ten years as a reserve officer in Sanford.
You would think that a man who wore a uniform almost every day would be excited to suit up when given the chance. No Mason.
He said that for him the uniform was like a suit. And he loved it.
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“I like the fact that when I was a firefighter or a police officer, the uniform was part of it,” he explained. “You know, because when you dress up as a firefighter and you’re in your As class or your B class, you’re just at the top of the ladder. You’re a bit below the military because we’re paramilitary, and that’s where I got my inspiration to become a costume shop.
Now, he’s sharing his inspiration with others. His customers come in knowing they won’t run into anyone else wearing the same thing.
Mason said he stays busy year-round. There’s always some special event where men want to dress to impress—weddings, proms, the Kentucky Derby, you name it—and he has a suit that turns heads when you walk in the room.
He said he loves seeing men transform when they step into something they never imagined they could wear.
Customers said that while his custom tailored suits and rentals get them in the door, it’s the service that keeps them coming back.
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Mason said that’s the way it should be.
“Nobody I know gives that level of service and it just makes you feel so good. My clients, they love it. Just go outside, hang in there, just stick your arms out and we’ll take it from there. When you’re done, you’re all together,” he said.
He also said there is a certain level of confidence, especially for those men who are used to wearing only the basic brown, blue and black suits. Mason said there’s nothing wrong with those kinds of costumes, but if you want to take it to the next level, he’s the man who can help you do it.
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