Made to Measure and Bespoke Suits

Buying a suit can be an intimidating task for any guy. From the confusing tailoring lingo to figuring out which fabrics look best, it’s hard to know where to start. But one thing a lot of guys don’t realise is that there are different options when it comes to suits, including made to measure and bespoke suits.

Made to measure is a process in which a brand adapts their standard pattern to fit your body measurements. It is often less expensive than a fully bespoke suit and can still offer a much better fit than off the rack options.

Many brands do this online, with the likes of Hockerty and Alton Lane letting you input your measurements and toggle menu options to build a suit. This isn’t quite the same as hopping on a plane to Savile Row and going to Gieves and Hawkes, but it should give you a great suit in a couple of weeks.

Once your order is placed, you’ll usually have a fitting (or several) and can then select your fabric. You might choose a heavyweight cloth or something more lightweight depending on what you plan to use it for. You might also want to add pockets, lining or other details.

Once the suit is made, you’ll have another fitting for alterations (you might well put on or lose an inch in this time frame, for example) and to decide on things like sleeve length and cuff width. You’ll then pay the final balance and receive your suit. Made to measure suits