If you have never worked with a custom tailor before, then the thought of choosing one may seem a little intimidating. However, you needn't be intimidated when it comes to choosing a custom tailor. There are simple guidelines, that if followed will make the process simple and rewarding. Like any other lasting relationship, choosing a custom tailor is about identifying a person that you can work closely with over a prolonged period of time. There are a couple of important factors to consider when choosing the best custom tailor to build your wardrobe. You’d hate to trust someone with your entire look that might bring your suit pant cuffs a little too high, mess up any alterations, do poor work, or over charge you. Your tailor needs to be someone you can trust fully. I’ll admit that finding a tailor use to be relatively easy back in the day. You simply went with your father’s tailor or a recommended tailor in town that worked with most of the town’s men. Now, with the number of companies who sell suits off the rack, it may seem like those tailors from way back when are scarce and rather hide to find, but they aren’t if you are willing to do your research. Before we get into how you can find a good tailor I’d like to give you a few great benefits of having a tailor of your own.
The first reason is pretty obvious, you get a better fit. If you have ever had a hand tailored suit then you know just how good it looks on you compared to your off the rack suits. Fit plays an important role in looking good. A suit bought from your local mall probably fits a little too big or a little too small, and trust me…it shows. You look well put together in a custom tailored suit. The suit is literally custom made for you, it highlights your great features and draws attention away from the not so great parts. The second reason is quality. Custom tailors are meticulous people by nature, they can’t help it. They are able to make the right adjustments quite quickly and spot inconsistencies. They keep to to the right number of stitches per inch – which keeps the fabric durable, this means that your clothing lasts longer. Industrial companies on the other hand could not be less bothered and that the reason why you find yourself constantly having to replace your suits. The third is that custom clothing really allows you to shine and put your personal style out there. There’s a limit to how much “you” is reflected in ready-to-buy clothes. I mean let’s be honest, how many times have you walked in to a store and everything looked pretty much the same, lacking character and favoring trends over style but still claiming to be in fashion? With a custom tailor there really is a good amount of teamwork in which you are involved in creating the final product. These are just a few of many reasons that prove that a tailor is honestly way more worth your hard earned money than a company that produces the same suit in bulk made from cheap fabrics, poor workmanship, and an overcharged price tag. Now, let’s get in to finding that perfect tailor.
Look for Quality Workmanship
Custom clothing is all about using fashion to create a quality fit that you can turn in to a custom wardrobe. Look for an examples of their work that you can examine. Look at the seams of the work that you are shown. Are they straight and finished? Are the cuffs and seams even? Look at the fabrics that are chosen for each garment. Do the fabric choices make sense for the garments that they are chosen for? Look at the buttonholes in the garment. Do they line up perfectly? You can bring in a pair of slacks and a pair of jeans, then a dress shirt and a sport shirt to see if you like his work on you. Do the pants fit right, are they comfortable, are they flattering? Do the shirts fit, are they flattering, is everything in order? When the answers to those questions are yes, then you have found a quality custom tailor.
Carefully Consider Pricing
Fashion really is not something you should lose sleep over and neither is pricing, and it shouldn’t be your primary incentive when looking for a tailor. The facts are pretty simple! Good tailoring is worth paying more for, and bad tailoring is a waste of your hard earned money entirely. One thing you should certainly do is a bit of comparison shopping. You really shouldn’t settle with the first tailor you find. If a tailor is charging four or five times as much as other tailors in your area, it’s worth asking yourself what he or she offers that justifies the price. That said, a truly great tailor who satisfies both your clothing needs and your shopping expectations is a rare treasure, something that many people spend years looking for. If you find one, don’t let the price stop you.
Check Turnaround Times
You should always get an estimate on the time needed by the tailor to perform the alterations that you need done. The truth is that the best tailors are in constant demand for very obvious reasons, expect their schedules to be full most of the time. A sensible expectation for your basic, minor adjustments should be anywhere between 2-3 days to a week, two weeks at the most if the tailor is very busy and they are completely booked up. Larger repairs or any complicated adjustments could take a month or more, so yes, patience is important here. If you are getting constant delays and pushbacks from your tailor, you might need to take your clothing to another tailor.
Look for a Similar Style Portfolio
As you build a relationship with your custom tailor, it is important to look for someone who has a similar style portfolio to yours. Style for style, you should see eye to eye. This person will be your guide on your fashion quest and they must align with what you want in a custom wardrobe. At the end of the day, you are the one who will be wearing the custom wardrobe, so you must ensure that the end result is a reflection of your style and personality.
Look For a Similar Personality Type
The final criteria when it comes to selecting a custom tailor is to consider how well your personality clicks with that of your custom tailor of choice and how that will work for your custom wardrobe in the long run. Working with a custom tailor will be a relationship that requires the two parties to spend a great deal of time together. Therefore, it is important that the custom tailor that you choose is a person that you are able to work with on an ongoing basis. Look for traits like those you gravitate to with your close friends. Your custom tailor needs to have that type of relationship with you. Your custom tailor will be a business associate and mentor, so you must be able to spend a prolonged amount of time with them.
Your custom tailor will be there to help you turn your style dreams into a reality. Look for someone who can create a quality custom fit. Then find someone whose style aligns with yours. Finally, find someone who will mesh with your personality. Your custom tailor will be a person that you work closely with on an ongoing basis. Choose your custom tailor wisely and then focus on bringing out your inner style personality through custom design.