How To

4 myths about buying custom clothes

By on March 14th, 2014

When I was just a young (although still very well dressed) little boy, I had absolutely no chance of wearing custom clothes. You see, custom was something only for James Bond who would shop on Savile Row as casually as I’d imagine him picking up his dry cleaning. And so I had already begun to believe the myths about buying custom clothes.

Whether it was a cultural roadblock or purely the economics of getting tailored clothes across the Atlantic, men’s custom clothing in the United States just wasn’t popular among folks like you and I.

But in the past 10 years, and really in just the last 5 years I would argue, the scene has dramatically changed.

Bottom line: It has become less expensive to build fine clothing in the USA.

What this means for you, the modern man, is that you can now enjoy wearing a custom dress shirt or suit that fits you and you alone. If you work out and want to show off your physique, then go ahead, show it off. And if you want a fit that’s a little more relaxed yet won’t act as a sail on a windy day and lift you right off the street, you can do that too.

Admittedly, this is a new world for most men who are used to buying off the rack clothing, but frustrated with their store experience and ready to move on. Many guys have questions about the process and what to expect when working with Ron. So, we at BE have taken it upon ourselves to squash some of the more common myths about buying custom clothes.

So here they are, the 4 myths about buying custom clothes:

1) Is my appointment going to take half a day?!

Most appointments are generally in the neighborhood of 1 hour for a custom dress shirt or pair of pants and closer to two hours for a suit.

But it really depends on the individual. There is obviously a lot of opportunity for a guy to have fun and design his own shirt or suit. So the length of an appointment will really be determined by how decisive you are. Do you know what shirt you are looking for? Piece of cake. Schedule an appointment for your lunch hour and let’s make it happen. Or maybe you think you’ll need to take your time? That’s fine too. Ron can help guide you in this process and so can this fine blog :).

Regardless, Ron is here to help. He’s always committed to getting the job done – no matter how long it takes.

2) There are only a couple measurements involved.

The BE measurement process is very thorough and detailed and includes up to 20 measurements for a suit.

“I take photos of each customer for reference and I examine his profile, posture and overall body shape to determine other fit allowances that are important,” says Ron.

Whether it’s a suit, pair of pants or shirt, building an article of clothing isn’t easy. It takes experience and attention to detail. There are no shortcuts. That’s why we are committed to getting your measurements just right.

jacket-lining

3) Ron is just like the salesman at the store, right?

Nope. Ron is not just working with you to sell you a shirt or suit. He’s there to help you look your very best and help you with your own personal brand.

This involves evaluating your sense of style. What kind of fit do you want? Slim and modern (think: Madmen) or more relaxed? It’s entirely up to you. And whether you are looking for something casual or dressed up. There are so many things that go into Ron’s guidance – 37 years worth – that you really need to just dive in to see just how Ron can help you out.

“My passion in menswear has always been getting to know the individual. I have been so fortunate in my career that I have clients from decades ago that still seek me out for my services. That’s something really special,” according to Ron.

shirt-and-square

4) So I get to choose from a couple dozen fabrics?

Not even close. Our shirt fabrics are in the hundreds, but don’t worry, Ron will quickly guide you to what is right for you. For instance, a white shirt is not just a white shirt. We have 42 different styles of white to choose from.

Suit are a another story all their own. Fabrics range from Australian and New Zealand merino wools to linens and superfine cottons. Pretty much every style and weight you can imagine.

cool-shirt

There you have it. Four myths busted.

Before you know it, you’ll be decked out in all custom and look as comfortable as James Bond drinking a mint julep on Kentucky Derby day.

Did we miss something? Myth #5? Send us an email and let us know what’s on your mind. And if you enjoyed reading this, you’ll probably like this article as well.