Every man should have at least one tailored suit. For a long time, suits have been taken away from us and we have lost our gentlemanly ways. All those number crunchers that were forced into wearing suits have created this unjustified animosity towards suits.
The suit shouldn’t be uncomfortable or a burden, it should be a part of you and an extension of your personality.
Luckily, things have returned to normal a couple of years ago and we are seeing the resurfacing of suits, especially the tailored ones.
To celebrate the return of the suit, we’ve decided to create a short guide to all the important things about custom-tailored suits. So, let’s not waste any more time and jump to the most interesting part.
Difference between bespoke and made-to-measure suits
When it comes to custom suits, you will first need to learn the difference between bespoke and made-to-measure suits.
Bespoke suits are completely unique and one of a kind. The tailor will take your measurements and create patterns from scratch. In most cases, suits are hand-cut and sewn.
For this reason, the production time is a lot longer than for made-to-measure suits. Additionally, they cost more, but you will get complete freedom to choose buttons, patterns, and styles.
As for the made-to-measure suits, they are a lot cheaper. This is mainly because they are made in factories. Your measurements will be taken by the salesperson or a company representative, instead of the tailor.
Also, you will have the option to choose from a limited selection of buttons, patterns, and styles. Made-to-measure suits are a bit less comfortable, but they are also easier to produce.
Measure twice, cut once
This is an age-old saying and it’s perfectly applicable to custom-tailored suits. Regardless if you are buying a bespoke or a made-to-measure suit, you will have to nail down your measurements to an inch.
Now, we know that this is not your job, but even if you find a trusted tailor, make sure that all the numbers are right. The whole point of custom suits is to fit you perfectly and if they are off even by an inch, trust us, you will feel it.
Choosing the fabric
When choosing the fabric for your suit, all you need to think about is what season you are buying the suit. For hot summer days, the best fabrics are cotton and linen.
They are lightweight and they will allow your skin to breathe under all those layers. For winter weather, you will need to use a thicker fabric like flannel or thick wool. Put a coat over it and you will be warm, even on the harshest winter days.
Additionally, if you want to get a suit that can be worn both in the winter and summer, then lightweight wool is a perfect solution.
Adding details
Lastly, let’s talk about giving your custom suit a truly unique look. There is a lot to tweak and change on a suit, but the most common parts are buttons, stitching, and patterns.
Talk to your tailor and see what they are able to pull off. You can get a unique-looking suit just by changing the stitching patterns and getting custom-made buttons.
And that brings us to the end. We hope that you learned something new from our guide.
Buying your own custom-tailored suit is the first step to becoming a gentleman, so be thorough and careful with the purchase. If you get everything right, the suit can last you for a long time.
