mlb

mlb (styled "mlb stores for men" on its site) is a menswear store at Rue du Seyon 7 in Neuchâtel, run by Gianni Melis with a small team. It sells ready-to-wear from established brands, offers made-to-measure and half-measure suits and shirts, and has its own sewing workshop for alterations. Its wedding page, "mariage & cérémonies", is written for the groom, the best man and wedding guests alike.

The wedding offer

The page's promise is "Nous saurons vous conseiller dans le choix du costume pour le plus beau des mariages" (we will advise you on choosing the suit for the most beautiful of weddings). It says the team listens to what the customer expects and advises "depuis le premier essayage jusqu'aux dernières retouches" (from the first fitting to the final alterations), and that the Neuchâtel store offers a very wide choice of outfits. Whether the customer is "le marié, le témoin ou un invité" (the groom, the best man or a guest), the team helps him choose a style that reflects his personality: "formel, décontracté, ou simplement sobre" (formal, relaxed, or simply understated).

For those who want more, the page offers "tenues entièrement personnalisées" (fully personalized outfits), with every detail controlled through the store's partners and made-to-measure workshops. It invites customers to discover its "large assortiment de costumes, gilets, chemises, chaussures et accessoires" (large range of suits, waistcoats, shirts, shoes and accessories) and says it welcomes them by appointment.

Below the text, the page shows a long gallery of groom's outfits, numbered one after another, including several labeled as outfits for a gay wedding. That is a small but useful signal for a same-sex couple looking for a store whose wedding gallery already includes outfits for weddings like theirs. The page closes with warm wishes to the couple and a line saying the store is proud to be part of such an intense moment.

Ready-to-wear, made-to-measure and half-measure

The team page puts the range in one line: "Du prêt à porter au sur-mesure et demi-mesure" (from ready-to-wear to made-to-measure and half-measure), with collections for work, leisure and weddings, and a wide range of shoes and accessories. The same page says "Notre atelier de couture vous assurera toute sorte de retouches et modifications" (our sewing workshop will take care of all kinds of alterations and modifications). A groom can therefore buy off the rack and have it adjusted in-house, or order a suit built to his measurements.

The "Gentlemen wear" collection page describes a "sélection fine et rigoureuse" (careful and rigorous selection) among models from major recognized brands. The brands shown in its autumn-winter 2024/25 gallery include Alberto, Alessandro Gilles, BOB, Colours & Sons, Hackett, Milestone, Pepe Jeans, Twentyone and the store's own MLB line. The accessories page covers ties, pocket squares, belts (including the La Boucle brand), scarves, cufflinks and socks, and notes that an accessory is often what finishes the outfit.

Planning a visit

The wedding page ends with two buttons, one to book an appointment ("Je prends rendez-vous") and one to come to the store ("Je me rends en boutique!"), which opens directions. For a wedding outfit, the appointment is the better route: the page says the team welcomes wedding customers by appointment, and a booked slot means time with an advisor for the groom and whoever he brings. The store's own description of its everyday collections, relaxed fashion "avec ce zeste chic" (with that touch of chic), suits a groom who wants an outfit he will wear again after the wedding, and the shoes section in the menu means the whole outfit, down to shoes and belt, can be chosen in one visit. A newsletter announces promotions and sales, which may matter for guests buying a suit for the occasion.

A price reference

The site publishes one set of prices, for its "Business program" of ready-to-wear suit sets, with prices including VAT and basic alterations (sleeve length and trouser hems): the Business Set 111 at CHF 679 (1 jacket, 1 pair of trousers, 1 shirt, 1 tie), the Business Set 222 at CHF 1298 and the Business Set 333 at CHF 1898. The page states that this service is currently not available. It is not a wedding offer, but it gives a sense of the store's ready-to-wear price level; wedding outfits and made-to-measure are not priced.

The team and the store

The team page names Gianni Melis (CEO), Leila (store manager), Julia (staff member) and Ginger, listed as the official MLB mascot. The store's motto, repeated on several pages, is "Notre philosophie est le service, notre but vous satisfaire!" (our philosophy is service, our aim is your satisfaction).

The contact page gives the opening hours: Monday 13:30 to 19:00, Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 12:00 and 13:30 to 19:00, and Saturday 09:00 to 17:30 without a break. The phone number is 032 725 02 82, and a contact form asks for name, email, phone and the request. The site also sells gift vouchers ("Bon cadeau"), which work as a thank-you for best men.

For the bride, the wedding page says "Et pour elle ... découvrez notre partenaire!" (and for her, discover our partner). Among the partners listed at the foot of every page is Gueule d'Ange, where Isabelle Melis designs her own creations.

What the site does not settle

The site publishes no prices for wedding outfits or made-to-measure, and no lead times for made-to-measure or alterations. It does not say how many fittings are needed, or which brands are in stock in which sizes at a given time. There is no online shop. The site is in French only and does not say whether the team advises in English, so a couple from abroad should ask when booking the appointment. A groom who lives abroad should also ask how the made-to-measure timeline fits the number of trips he can make to Neuchâtel.

Who it suits

mlb suits a groom marrying in or near Neuchâtel who wants to dress himself, his best men and male guests in one place, choosing between branded ready-to-wear and made-to-measure, with alterations done in-house. The wedding gallery shows a broad range of looks, and the store's explicit inclusion of same-sex weddings is worth noting. It suits less well a groom who wants to compare prices online before visiting or to deal in English from the start.