You may have experience with custom clothing at some point in your life.
- Wedding
- Black Tie Event
- Specific Business Event
When it comes to these occasions, there won’t be any greater chance to get your clothes tailored and show up in the best way possible.
But have you ever wonder why do most people limit the custom clothing to these occasions only?
Can’t we, as men, get custom clothing for another occasion?
Obviously, some myths are stopping them from getting their other pieces in wardrobe as sharp as wedding suit or tuxedo.
In this article, I’ll debunk 7 Myths Of Custom Clothing You Might Have And Stop You From Looking Your Best.
Myth #1: Custom Clothing Is Only for Formal Occasions
The most common use cases for customizing your clothes are formal occasions, from wedding attire to black tie events. Most of the time, men like us have to get our clothes specifically made since off-the-rack pieces usually can’t offer what we need.
But let’s see why men have to order custom clothing for these occasions only.
- They usually require a specific ensemble or colour.
- There is typically no garment that you wear in everyday life.
- They need to give you the best look for the day.
The question is, “Do these reasons only apply to formal occasions? Or can it be used in our daily life?”
As you may know, I’m a great advocate of building a timeless classic wardrobe that lasts a lifetime — custom clothing perfectly fits that.
You can get custom casual shirts in a unique fabric like seersucker for your summer attire or jeans that give you a great draper from hip to toe for everyday wear.
Custom clothing allows you to look your best, from your everyday attire to business occasions — not limited to formal or special occasions only.
Myth #2: Custom Clothing is Expensive
I couldn’t 100% disagree with this one — custom clothing requires more processing from the manufacturer than off-the-rack, likely leading to more cost.
Yet, by comparing a custom clothes to off-the-rack clothes from designer brands might lead us closer to the truth behind this myth. Since there’s an ordinary logical idea, men in our community usually say,
“If I have $3000 to get a suit from a designer label like Tom Ford or Armani, I’ll go to my local tailor for made-to-measure or even bespoke instead.”
Well, gents, if this analogy can apply to a suit, blazer, or sports jacket, so does any other garments like dress shirts, trousers, shorts, jeans, and shoes.
Whether it’s your local tailor or an online made-to-measure service, you can get your custom clothing within the same price range with higher quality than many retailer brands in department stores. Making them an excellent long-term investment since cost-per-wear will likely be cheaper than many off-the-rack pieces.
Myth #3: Custom Clothing Is For A Fashion Expert
If you are a long-time reader and follower of Real Men Real Style, you will know this myth is far from the truth. Getting custom clothing doesn’t mean you must be a designer expert or a man who is really into the fashion world — in contrast, it’s the opposite.
There are principles that I always use when I select and buy a garment to make sure that it’s timeless and fits into my lifetime wardrobe: fit, function, and fabric.
By prioritizing fitting, functionality, and the choice of fabric for each piece, you can be sure they will serve you well and stay with you for a very long time — no need to constantly change from time to time like a modern-day fashion enthusiast consumerism.
And what is the best way to get your clothes that align with all these principles? Custom clothing.
Also, tailors are happy to guide you in every step of the making, from choosing fabric and customizing details to measuring your body — making it accessible for you even if you’re not a designer or guru in the fashion industry.
Myth #4: Custom Clothing Takes Too Long to Make
This one probably came from the experience of people trying to get their wedding attire. Due to the high volume, when many people in your hometown or community attend the same wedding, the tailoring house will likely need more time for each custom garment.
Also, authentic Bespoke clothing will usually take a very long time to make — at least 3-6 months and 2-3 fittings are needed to finish the piece.
Nowadays, a made-to-measure program usually requires just 1-2 fittings spanning around a month. With the pre-model from many tailored houses, the workflow of getting a custom garment these days is faster and more effective than ever.
You can find a great tailor and get to know them well by communicating and discussing your style demands and the specific time you need to use. This way, you will likely get the perfect clothes made specifically for you in just one fitting within a month!
Myth #5: Custom Clothing Is Unnecessary If You Fit Into Standard Sizes
“Why do I need to get custom clothes if off-the-rack can give me the ‘perfect’ fit?”
Well, the keyword here is ‘Perfect’ fit — if off-the-rack can offer you that, there’s no need to get custom clothing.
In reality, how often will off-the-rack garments give you that ‘perfect’ fit?
For instance, if you’re a man who works out and lifts weights, there’s a high chance that your shoulder and back will be one size larger than your core body and waist — M or L?, L or XL? A common dilemma, isn’t it?
This is where custom clothing comes into play. Your specific body measurements can guarantee that ‘perfect’ fit you seek, which off-the-rack won’t usually give you.
Custom clothing allows you to adjust many micro details such as specific individual posture, movement, and styling preferences that you can customize. Make it worthwhile to get even if you fit into a regular size from off-the-rack clothes.
Myth #6: Custom Clothing Is Only For Certain Body Types
The primary purpose of custom clothing is to ensure they fit perfectly, enhance your great body attributes, and conceal the area you’re less confident about.
Some men will likely need custom clothing more than others — whether it’s excessive body fat in a specific area, a unique body composition, etc. For these men, custom clothing can serve them well.
Even for men who fit into an ordinary size, these exclusive benefits of custom clothing can still be an excellent reason for you to invest in them.
When you wear clothes that are exclusively made and perfectly fit for you, they can boost confidence and positive self-perception every time you choose to wear them, making them so worthwhile to invest in.
Myth #7: Custom Clothing Doesn’t Make a Big Difference
Gents, close your eyes and imagine yourself wearing your favourite style ensemble and all the garments that are custom-made and perfect for your body — from fitting to fabric.
There will likely be several times that you would love to wear specific garments but can’t find the right size, or they don’t exist in off-the-rack retailers’ brands. That’s when custom clothing matters the most.
Whether it’s a waistcoat with a specific lapel and structure, leather dress shoes with unique colours and materials or a long overcoat with a unique natural blended fabric that optimizes for year-round, you can only find this unique garment by custom-making.
It is not just a way to make pieces that perfectly fit you but rather a statement of who you are that makes a massive differentiation from others.
Is Custom Clothing For You?
Until now, you may realize how common and appropriate it is to get custom clothing beyond a formal occasion or a solution to size fitting.
They are the statement of your style, the symbol of high status, and the shortcut to make you feel good and confident.
Now, the question you might ask is, “Which kind of garments should I get customized and invest in?”
My advice for you is to check these requirements.
- It’s necessary to be perfectly fit.
- It can’t be found in any off-the-rack garments.
- It can be worn more than once.
- It’s aligned with your personal style.
If you tick all these boxes for the garment, you should definitely invest in them — from a linen summer Polo Shirt to a cashmere winter Chesterfield coat, they will serve you well for a long time.
Still curious about how to get the proper custom clothing? Check out our ‘Ultimate Guide To Buying A Custom Suit’.