| If you are a tailored clothing aficionado then at some | | | | when you are shopping for a tailor online is to be |
| point you have done a search on line for custom suit | | | | specific in what you are looking for and ask A LOT |
| tailors and one thing is for sure there are a lot of | | | | of questions. The biggest tell tale sign is that the |
| companies out there and they are all claiming to be | | | | custom suit maker you are dealing with is really made |
| the best. There has been a big shift in the way | | | | to measure- They offer very limited and generic |
| custom suits are marketed and sold, like everything | | | | custom cut options. i.e. British cut, Italian cut or |
| else the Internet has turned the custom suiting | | | | American cut or Slim fit, Regular fit, Comfort fit. A |
| market upside down and put it on its head. | | | | true custom tailor will either specialize in one cut (try |
| Time was when you wanted a custom suit you | | | | ordering an Milanese cut suit from a Savile Row tailor) |
| headed to the local tailor. Once in the confines of his | | | | or will be able to understand the design cues from |
| shop he would take your measurements, pick out a | | | | different design movements. (Milanese, Neapolitan, |
| piece of fabric from his wall and on his own, cut you | | | | and Roman cut s are all Italian yet drastically |
| a custom made suit. This would some times take | | | | different) |
| weeks if not months. The end result was a | | | | Myth 2- All custom suits are made the same- |
| personalized fabric that was unique to you made by | | | | This one can be tricky. If you compare any two |
| one artisan. Things are much different now. | | | | websites for custom suits online you will see that |
| Today's custom suit makers operate at a much | | | | they both offer the same things, yet one is much |
| larger scale. What was once built by one artisan is | | | | more expensive. Its easy to assume that since both |
| more likely assembled in a factory by a group of | | | | are seemingly made with the same process and |
| tailors. What was once a limited and pricey item has | | | | "standard features" that it would be a great idea to |
| now become readily available. The question inevitably | | | | go with the cheaper maker. |
| comes- how do you know if the custom suit maker | | | | What is the difference- Short cuts. Plenty of |
| you are ordering from is really worth the investment? | | | | companies online seem cheaper than their brick and |
| Here are some common myths to help clear through | | | | mortar counter parts but what it comes down to is |
| all the clutter. | | | | that some take large short cuts in their construction |
| Myth 1- All custom suits are made to fit you | | | | process. |
| This is simply not the case. There are plenty of | | | | Why does it matter- Even the lesser price tailors |
| custom suit makers that claim to be custom suits | | | | online are not cheap. A well made suit will hold it |
| when in reality they are made to measure. | | | | shape better and last longer than one that has "short |
| What is the difference- Made to measure means that | | | | cuts" built in to it. Bottom line is integrity. if there are |
| they will start from a set pattern and modify it to fit | | | | short cuts it should be said up front. |
| you. Custom suits are made from scratch. | | | | How you can tell them apart- The little details. a suit |
| Why does it matter- Made to measure suits have | | | | with short cuts will skip the little visible details. Look |
| their limitations as the end suit is dictated by the | | | | for reinforcement on the pockets. Pleating inside the |
| pattern it starts from. In other words if you like a | | | | waist band. curved welt pockets. There are literally |
| certain cut or fit that is drastically different from the | | | | too many to list but if you keep a keen eye a short |
| starting pattern, a made to measure custom suit will | | | | cutted suit is easy to spot. Before you buy ask to |
| never be able to create the look you are paying for. | | | | see a ready mad sample and examine thoroughly. |
| How you can tell them apart-The best thing to do | | | | |