Tips on Going Tailor-Made

Posted on 3rd August, by Michael in Miscellaneous. No Comments

It’s a representation of intelligence, high status, and wealth. It symbolizes that you mean business and know what you’re talking about. No, I don’t mean your Yale Law degree on the wall. I’m talking about a tailor-made suit. And even though business attire is changing, a tailor-made suit is still reputable for events like meetings with clients or out-of-office events like weddings.

Why go tailor-made? So you end up like the man on the right, not the boy on the left. Photo courtesy of FineStitch.com.

1. Find a Tailor

This is the most important step in buying a tailor-made suit because quite literally, the tailor makes the suit. To find a skillful tailor, the best thing to do is ask around. Go to business colleagues, friends, or family members who you know have a tailored suit and ask them who makes their suits. Also, according to AskMen.com, most reputable tailors can be found in major department stores or have shops in high-end shopping districts.

The tailor puts “tailor” in “tailor-made.” Be sure to find a reputable one by asking your friends or coworkers. Photo courtesy of BeyondBespoke.com.

2. Choosing a Fabric

It’s important to know the difference between an 80 thread count and a super 180. And if you didn’t know, I’m sure you can guess that a super 180 is higher in quality than an 80; the higher the number, the better the quality. Likewise, the higher the number, the more expensive. As put by AskMen.com, “Popular designers use fabrics with a grade of 100s or 110s to cut costs and increase markups.” So, getting a tailor-made suit can mean a higher thread count for a cheaper price than a name-brand suit.

3. Communicate

The measuring portion is when communicating how you like your suits to fit is key. A tailor isn’t a mind reader; if you don’t tell him or her how you like your suits to fit, then they’ll make what he or she thinks is best. So speak up and be clear, but also genuine. There’s no use in arguing with the person who is making your suit.

4. Keep Style in Mind

Finally, in most circumstances, you don’t want to look outdated. Before you go into the store, you should have something in mind, such as two or three buttons or how you’d like the lapels. If you think you’ll have trouble communicating your ideas, take in a picture from a men’s fashion magazine. Also, if you’re not sure about what’s in, talk to the tailor; he’ll tell you what he’s stitched recently or what his other clients have been buying.

Those are the most important steps to keep in mind when going tailor-made. So find a tailor and SUIT UP!

Image sources: Finestitch & Co. , Beyond Bespoke