There are but a few garments that have you stop in your tracks and arrest your breath - a suit are one of them. They're a timeless classic that you should be thanking the fashion Gods for. In fact, nothing does justice to suits like bespoke suits - they're made-to-order, made-to-fit and made for you. A bespoke suit is more than just a suit - it's you. And if you haven't gone bespoke already, it's time you go bespoke now. But before you go the bespoke way, dearJulius.com tells you about 7 must-dos that'll ensure you ace your bespoke experience.
1. Who's Going to Sew?
Owning a perfect bespoke suit begins with the right person sewing it for you. Nowadays, brands offer your bespoke services and that's the way to go. Of course, you can scout around and check if a well-recommended tailor does bespoke, too. However, it's safest to go to a reputed, well-established brand because they've been in the business for time enough to know what to do. Additionally, you're assured of good service and a great bespoke suit.
2. Get Ready to Let Go
Once you've narrowed down the brand that offers you bespoke experiences, establish a rapport with the tailor. After all, a part of made-to-order clothes is for the designer and tailor to know you well enough in order to allow them to give you a perfect bespoke suit that personifies your personality. Only when they know you will they recognize what aspects of your personality to highlight in your suit. So strike a conversation, talk, open-up and this should be a little more than exactly what you're looking for in a suit.
3. What's the Occasion?
Where will you be wearing the suit? Will it be an all-purpose suit or are you getting this ordered for a specific occasion? Ensure that you tell your designer and tailor exactly what the purpose the suit should serve. This way, they'll be able to design accordingly and even recommend fabric and colour, too. These things may seem like small details, but in the larger scheme of things, it's the small details that really matter.
In fact, when it comes to choosing your fabric, ensure that your designer gives you at least five options to choose from.
4. The Perfect Fit
There's no fashion crime bigger than an ill-fitting suit and when you're going the bespoke way, ensure that your designer allows your suit to fit you like a glove. It should be fitted perfectly, which means that while it's tight enough for your structure, it should be loose enough to allow arm movements without any restrictions. Additionally, it shouldn't pull anywhere.
5. Made Just For You
All men are made differently and what works beautifully for one could be disastrous for another. It's worse when people talk of body structure in generalities - large men, tall men, short men. Yes, but two large men could be built differently - one could be top-heavy, the other could be bottom-heavy, one could have longer arms, etc. When you're going the bespoke way, you have the option of allowing a design that's specific to just you and it's an option you simply must exercise. While your designer will have blueprints from previous designs, ensure that he starts on a blank canvas for you.
Additionally, inform your designer of any physical quirks you may have - you may stand in a certain way, lean a certain way - whatever it is tell your designer. He has to consider these when designing and sewing especially because once the suit is tailored, all the edges have to fit and look perfect, and of course, your buttons and pockets have to be aligned accordingly too.
6. Make Sure Its Handmade
Now, since this is a bespoke suit, ensure that the small details on your suit are handmade. The button-holes on the body of the suit and the cuffs and the lining at the bottom of the jacket are small details that simply must be handmade. In fact, if you want your initials tailored on the corner of the lapel or the edge of your pocket, you can do that too. You've got to remember that this is a bespoke experience and a bespoke experience demands attention to detail. Also, there is never too much of attention to detail.
7. Have Your Say
Agreed that you've left the designing up to the designer and the sewing up to the tailor, but since this is your suit, make sure that you share your ideas too. Who knows, your designer will be able to take it and refine it even more or it could add another dimension to your suit altogether. While the experts know best, you will be the one wearing it. And the first step to pulling off a great suit is wearing a great suit. So get your thoughts and inputs in as well.
By Nisha Samson
