Well-crafted clothing is fundamental when you want to look your best. In fact, dressing up also changes our own psychology, according to a recent study. The research, conducted at California State University, Northridge, found that formal attire goes beyond making us feel more powerful to even allowing to us to think more broadly and holistically.
Surely those sophisticated thought mechanisms make it easier to strategize, prioritize, and manage within business, as well as in personal settings.
What Does Bespoke Mean?
The definition of bespoke has changed over the years, but in the modern day, it is used to refer to something that has been made to order, typically in the realm of clothes.
What is a Bespoke Tailored Suit?
A bespoke tailored suit is a suit that has been specifically made to order – it is truly custom and has been measured and cut from the raw fabric to the exact specifications of the client.
What is Bespoke Tailoring and How Does it Differ from Other Methods?
Formal attire comes in a range of qualities, though, the highest quality of which is bespoke or custom. Perhaps the easiest way to understand the benefits of bespoke clothing is by looking at them in comparison to the two other options: off-the-rack (OTR) and made-to-measure (MTM).
Bespoke vs. off-the-rack: More efficient
Having custom clothes made is more focused and less unwieldy than shopping for mass-produced garments.
When you shop off-the-rack, it can be challenging and tedious to find something that really fits your personality and needs. If you are not someone who enjoys shopping, this process can be painful.
When you have clothing made for you by a tailor, you will have something that is specially crafted for you instead (the clothes fitting you as opposed to you fitting the clothes). With a tailor and the bespoke or custom route, you have a timeline of when your suit will be complete, and then you just go pick it up.
Also, if there are professional expectations in your workplace to prioritize dress, good bespoke suits can be virtually essential. You may be too busy on the weekends running other errands to go to stores, and the value of the suit can be enormous in the right contexts. By making you look exceptional, the choice of a bespoke suit can even improve your credibility and reputation.
To make the best use of a tailor, make sure that you let them know everything you can about what you want and need. Also, be aware that a tailor may have good recommendations since they likely have experience dressing thousands of people (assuming they have been in business for many years).
Bespoke tailoring vs. off-the-rack: Longer lasting
Many off-the-shelf garments will degrade quickly since they are part of a temporary, planned obsolescence market. The intelligent way to shop is to think long-term and not be scared away by the upfront cost.
When you do view clothing from more of an investment perspective, a bespoke suit is clearly the best option since it is made out of better materials and with stronger design. While any suit breaks down over time, the speed will be slower with custom ones.
Bespoke tailoring vs. off-the-rack: Better fit
Since pieces of clothing are objects, it is easy to simply think in terms of the garment itself rather than considering the ultimate priority of its relationship to your body: fit. A custom or bespoke garment is designed specifically to fit your body so the entire look is as flattering as possible.
Fit is very important to those who want to show off the strength and health of their body. However, it is essential to any person, regardless of body type, to have clothes that are handcrafted to best suit their specific measurements.
Bespoke tailoring vs. made-to-measure: Your own pattern
For a made-to-measure suit, standard, previously created patterns are used. For instance, the starting pattern might be for a standard size 42 jacket, and then adjustments are made.
With a bespoke garment, on the other hand, patterns are created for every single suit. Since no pre established patterns are used, the tailor must base measurements directly off your body and its nuances. A custom suit goes beyond simply taking and applying measurements since the complex shape of your body is ultimately the determining factor.
Bespoke tailoring vs. made-to-measure: Additional fitting
There are no fittings during the creation of a made-to-measure suit.
With bespoke, there is an additional fitting: the basted fitting. The basted fitting does more than simply confirm that the measurements taken are completely aligned with the wearer’s body. A strong tailor will use each fitting to make improvements and tweaks.
Bespoke tailoring vs. made-to-measure: Fabric selection
With made-to-measure, you will typically be able to get various offerings from one or two mills.
With a bespoke tailor, you will get more of a library of fabric options, with many different mills represented.
Bespoke tailoring vs. made-to-measure: Potential for customization
Made-to-measure suits will have a list of how you can and cannot adjust the suit. These parameters might include the number of jacket buttons, style of the pockets, cuffs, pant pleats, and vent options.
With a good bespoke suit, you are not constrained by a set of standard options. Your specifications can be extensive.
Your bespoke suit
Do you want a suit that fits impeccably and is truly customized to your body and preferences? Alan David Custom is a pioneer in pattern-making techniques and manufacturer of the best bespoke suits in NYC. See our Fit Guarantee.
About the Author: Alan Horowitz
Alan Horowitz is the owner of Alan David Custom. Having grown up in the custom tailoring business, Alan values taking care of his clients and always going above and beyond to ensure 100% satisfaction. Alan David Custom has become the best custom tailor in New York City. Alan is a 4th generation tailor with an expertise in measuring and pattern-making.
