It’s All About The Finer Details With Custom Tailoring

When you look at a suit, jacket or overcoat on a hanger, it can sometimes be difficult to entirely appreciate the differences between an off-the-rack suit and one that has been made-to-measure by a bespoke tailoring service.

Some elements, such as material, button placement, lining and adorning features might be more obvious, but a lot of the most critical details when it comes to comfort and fit are much harder to notice.

However, when the time comes to put it on, every single cut, style and adjustment makes a world of difference, transforming a suit from uncomfortable and ill-fitting to an extremely sophisticated second skin.

There are a lot of potential modifications a skilled bespoke tailor can make for you, and the best custom tailoring services will offer a very personal service whether you enter their shop, call them, get in touch via online correspondence or even send a letter with your particular needs.

Whilst practically every single element of a suit can be tweaked to fit every body type and comfort requirement, there are generally three main focuses a tailor has when creating a made-to-measure suit.

Materials

Most off-the-rack suits are made from a relatively limited set of materials, primarily focusing on materials that are easy to work with in mass production and look good enough to last the one or two special occasions they are bought for.

By contrast, a custom tailor will offer a huge range of materials suitable for every occasion, every climate and every use case.

This is particularly important for fieldwear, as shooting jackets and vests need to be able to not only look exceptionally stylish but also survive the rigours of a shooting weekend without being damaged, becoming unsightly or leaving the wearer feeling uncomfortable or hot under the collar.

A custom tailor will not only provide a lot of options and the ability to order a cloth book to experience how certain fabrics feel and look under various light sources but also will provide advice based on your body type, preferences and likely use for which materials will suit you best.

Styles

Whilst the weights of different materials will provide some differences in details, a lot of the detailing that is beautiful in the eye of a discerning beholder is found in the styling options, of which there are a tremendous number.

From different collars, shoulder cuts, pockets, sleeve button placements, sham features, trim lining, suit vents, belts for overcoats, button styles, fly styles, lapels and monograms, amongst so many other additional features that a tailor can add.

What makes a custom tailor different is that they will not only add any features you want, but will provide advice on which features will suit which types of styles and additions will look best with your suit, and which might not have the effect you intend.

Sizing

The most important part of a made-to-measure custom tailoring operation is sizing. With off-the-rack suits, you are extremely limited in how much you can let it out or adjust it to fit, meaning that your only option is going up a size.

This is not the best option given the huge gulf in different sizes in mass-produced suits, so a custom tailor can offer the best advice and walk you through the process of measuring and sizing.