These days, itโs easier than ever before to get a custom, made-to-measure suit without breaking the bank.
By this point, youโre probably aware that made-to-measure suits are readily available from a bunch of different brands. And youโve probably heard of what is arguably the most popular custom brand, Indochino.
Iโm a huge fan of custom formalwear, mostly because 90% of dress shirts and suits that I find off the rack donโt fit me properly. #shortmanproblems
See Also: Suits for Shorter Men (In-Depth Guide)
For that reason, all of my suits and dress shirts are made-to-measure. This is my second suit from Indochino, and after making a few small tweaks to my measurement profile, Iโm really happy with how it fits.
If youโve been on the fence about giving MTM suiting a try, I want to give you my top five reasons why it might be a good idea.
Reason #1: Get the Perfect Length
The biggest fit problem I have with off the rack suits is the length. Iโm not just talking about the length of the pants. After all, itโs pretty easy to get a pair of trousers hemmed.
Iโm also talking about the length of the sleeves and the jacket. If your jacket and sleeves are too long, itโs going to be expensive and difficult (maybe even impossible) to have them shortened.
The problem is, if your sleeves and jacket arenโt the right length, it ruins the whole look. It makes you look shorter you actually are, and it makes you look like you donโt know what youโre doing. Remember, style is all about the details!
But when your sleeves, jacket and pants are the proper length, you look like pure class – like youโre going to have a lunch martini (or three) with Don Draper.
Plus, proper length makes you look taller, leaner and more competent. If you donโt have a lucky โoff the rackโ build, going custom is one of the best ways to ensure proper length.
Reason #2: Control the Proportions
The second reason I love custom suits is the fact that they allow you to control the proportions. Hereโs what I mean:
Every little detail of your suit should fit your individual build. If youโre a really big guy – wide chest, huge calves and feet – youโre going to look great with wider lapels, spread collars and a very little taper below the knee.
If youโre a smaller guy like me, youโre better off with narrow lapels, a point collar and more aggressive tapering through the leg.
Combine these details with a small tie knot (like a four-in-hand) and tastefully sized watch (36mm), and I look like a million bucks.
Reason #3: Fabric Selection
With online made-to-measure, you not only get to specify your measurements, but also your fabrics.
You can pick from a wide variety of fabrics, and Iโm not just talking about colors. You can also choose a specific weight and quality, depending on where you live and how โhardโ youโre going to wear your suit (certain fabrics are more luxurious, but also more delicate).
Since I often feel too hot in a suit – like at a summer wedding – I stayed away from heavy fabrics like winter weight wool, flannel and tweed, and instead opted for a medium/light weight wool.
I went with medium grey because itโs one of the most versatile suits youโll ever own – perfect for casual and formal occasions.
Reason #4: Customization Options
This is another fun part about buying a made-to-measure suit. You get to pick out all of these small customizations.
For example, I chose the following customizations for this grey suit:
- Pick stitching
- Slanted pockets
- A ticket pocket
- No belt loops
- Side adjusters
- Suspender buttons
- Custom monogram
- Contrast felt
- Floral pattern lining
If youโre like me, youโll probably spend WAY too long trying to pick out the perfect lining for your jacket!
Reason #5: Long-Term Strategy
Iโm not going to lie: going custom isnโt easy, at least not at first. You have to figure out your own measurements, which can be tricky. Your first suit probably wonโt be perfect. It takes some time to dial in the fit.
But once you do, buying a new suit becomes a very simple process. You simply pick the fabric and customizations you want, make any measurement tweaks you might need, click โorderโ and wait for it to show up on your doorstep.
So while going custom takes a bit of effort, in my opinion, itโs totally worth it in the long-run. You just have to have some patience, especially if youโre new to online MTM.
Got questions about going custom? Leave a comment below!
I have been buying custom suits for fifteen years (along with RTW). I am fairly average build (5′-11″), 38R/32 waist, but I like being able to customize the suits with not-too-common features. Always no belt loops, always side button adjusters, interior suspender buttons, and only one back pocket in the pants (the UK look). These days costs are less than RTW designer suits.
Love the website and the content!
I bought a MTM suit from Black Lapel and it is amazing. One of the best purchases Iโve EVER made. I love how it makes me feel. Iโm short and overweight. Clothes do not fit me off the rack. They make me look shorter and fatter than I already am. MTM on the other hand makes me feel like Superman even at 250 lbs. Great post! Itโs important to have clothes that fit and make you feel awesome no matter your size.