Émily Bégin’s White Suit

Behind the scenes of a head-turning look

Antonio - Quebec

First introduced to Quebec audiences during the inaugural season of Star Académie in 2003, Émily Bégin has since made her mark as a singer, actress and dancer.

After returning to the Academy as a dance instructor in 2025, she continues to take on new projects both on stage and on screen.

When she stepped on stage to host Humour, chansons et paillettes at Just for Laughs Montréal, her performances weren’t the only thing that caught the audience’s attention. Among the artist’s outfits, a white three-piece suit by Surmesur quickly stood out.

Elegant, bold and designed for movement, the look sparked plenty of reactions in the media and on social media. Behind the outfit, however, is a story of collaboration, thoughtful listening and creative exploration.

A conversation, not just an order

The project took shape at Surmesur’s Montreal showroom, where Émily Bégin worked with stylist Mike Rainone. Nothing was set in stone at first. The initial idea was a velvet suit, an elegant choice but not well suited to a performance in the middle of July. A lighter fabric was chosen, and as the conversations unfolded, white emerged as the colour of choice.

This process is at the heart of the Surmesur approach. The starting point isn’t a design to be adjusted, but a conversation that gradually defines what someone wants to wear and why.

Nothing was fully decided before the appointment. We really built the look together.

Mike
 - 
Montréal

The tailcoat: a technical and stylistic challenge

The tailcoat: a technical and stylistic challenge

The look brought together a tailcoat, a five-button vest and trousers with a clean waistband and no belt loops. The tailcoat quickly stood out among the options explored, a piece Mike had never adapted for a female client before.

“It was my first time creating a tailcoat for a woman. Since our patterns provide a defined starting point, we had to get creative with measurements and proportions to achieve the result we wanted,” he explains.

Traditionally associated with menswear, the piece takes on a different character here. Its elongated lines give the silhouette structure, while the fabric’s satin sheen catches the stage lights.

A suit designed to move

A suit designed to move

A stage outfit needs to make an impression, but above all, it needs to allow for movement. Knowing that Émily Bégin would be dancing during the show, Mike paid particular attention to the cut of the trousers, vest and jacket, as well as the overall balance of the suit.

The white fabric, an acetate and polyester blend weighing 275 g/m, was chosen as much for its fluidity as for its lustre. The single-button jacket, featuring notch lapels, straight pockets and double vents, was finished with a warm white lining and personalized with a monogram bearing Émily Bégin’s name.

A second option was even prepared: a more classic double-breasted jacket in the same fabric, in case the tailcoat didn’t deliver the desired result at the fitting. It was never needed.

Why did this look create such a buzz?

Photos shared after the event quickly made the rounds. Several Quebec media outlets highlighted the suit’s elegance, while comments on social media praised both Émily Bégin’s confidence and the originality of her outfits.

For Mike, the look’s success comes down to its distinctiveness. The white creates a strong, luminous presence on stage, while the tailcoat reimagines the conventions of an iconic eveningwear piece. The result is theatrical without feeling like a costume, bold yet carefully balanced.

A lasting place in her wardrobe

The suit drew attention well beyond the evening itself, but what stands out most is what comes next. Émily Bégin told the team she wanted to wear it again at an upcoming event. The outfit becomes more than a reminder of a stage performance: it earns a place in her wardrobe.

Perhaps that is what sets custom clothing apart from a well-chosen outfit: bringing to life an idea that didn’t yet exist on a hanger, then shaping it around a person, how they will wear it and the moment they are about to experience.

Have an idea in mind?

Our stylists are here to guide you, step by step.

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