A Beginner’s Guide for Made to Measure Shirts in London

If you are someone who likes to look fashionable, made to measure, also called tailored shirts, shirts are your best choice. They fit you perfectly, look great, and help you to accentuate your looks and style.

For a while, it seemed like tailored shirts went out of fashion. People were too busy to visit a tailor and get a shirt stitched, so they opted for ready-to-wear shirts, which are available in every nook and corner and can be bought in bulk whenever you need them. The trend, however, seems to have changed these days and made to measure shirts are back in vogue big time. Particularly, in cities like London, where the art of tailoring is still respected a great deal by people, tailored shirts have become fashionable again.

In terms of made to measure shirts London offers you a tremendous range of options, which makes it easier for you to find what you need without exceeding your budget. First, let us find out why exactly tailored shirts are considered the better choice than ready to wear shirts.

Off-the-Peg Shirts vs. Tailored Shirts


There are a few reasons why even the best of off-the-peg shirts will never measure up to tailored shirts.

Poor Fit
This is the number one reason why many people prefer tailored shirts over off-the-peg shirts. The makers of ready to wear shirts usually have a ‘one size fits all’ mentality, so you are not likely to find a great variety in terms of size and sleeve length. The shirts are created based on standard industry patterns, which in turn are based on the body type of the average male model.

Needless to say, not all of us are built like the male models that you see on TV and in magazines. So, if you are slightly on the thinner side or thicker side, you might find the shirt a little too loose or tight for your comfort.

Generic Look:


There is nothing unique about ready to wear shirts at all. You can only choose from a set number of patterns and designs. You have no say whatsoever regarding any aspect of the shirt. The shirt that you pick out is no different than the one that a thousand others are wearing.

Short Lifespan

An off-the-peg shirt, by definition, is created for quick consumption. You are meant to wear it for a while and then throw it away. So, you have to keep buying a new shirt quite regularly. In other words, whatever money you initially saved by opting for a ready-to-wear shirt instead of a tailored shirt, you will end up spending on new shirts anyway.

Now, let us take a look at the benefits of made to measure shirts and how they compare against ready to wear shirts.

Fit

Tailored shirts are the very definition of the term ‘snug fit’. Before stitching a shirt, the tailor usually takes a number of measurements to make sure it fits you well. This is the reason why a tailored shirt is very comfortable to wear and fits you much better than an off-the-peg shirt ever could.

Customization

A tailored shirt can be customized to the core. You have a say in every single aspect of the shirt – right from the fabric to color, collar design, cuff shape, pocket shape, stripe patterns, sleeve length, and many, many more. You can even get your initials monogrammed on the shirt cuffs. The shirt is unique in every sense of the word and is created only for you. This is the most important reason behind the popularity of made to measure shirts.

Durability

Tailored shirts are made from quality materials and are stitched to perfection by experienced tailors. So, they last much longer than any off-the-peg shirt ever could and give you excellent value for your money. Even though you have to spend a little more on a tailored shirt than compared to a prepackaged shirt, you will still end up saving money in the long run as you no longer have to run to the nearest clothing store to buy a new shirt every six months or so.

As you can see, tailored shirts are an excellent choice if you want to wear something that makes you look better and fits you perfectly. If you need high quality made to measure shirts London is your best bet as you can find a number of tailors who can stitch a great looking, great fitting shirt well within your budget.

In Search of Tailor Made Suits in London

When it comes to tailor made suits, London is the undisputed capital of the world. Though many countries have their own suiting tradition, none comes close to the storied English suiting tradition in terms of historicity, style, and aesthetics. The British love to suit up and London is the place where suit connoisseurs go in search of the perfect suit.

History of English Suiting Tradition

The suiting tradition in London city goes way back in time to the 19th century. It was during this period that the idea of the suit as we know now was born. It was the brain child of Beau Brummell, who improved upon the suiting style introduced and popularized by Charles II back in the 17th century. Brummell thought of different ways to improve the looks and fit of the suit and introduced the concept of wearing well cut, finely tailored suits, which looked and fit much better than the earlier version worn by Englishmen back in the old days.


From then on, men in England, particularly those from aristocratic and rich families that formed the elite of the society, took great care to wear tailored suits and matching neckties to improve their personal appearance. Today, the suit has become the choice of clothing for people from all walks of life, not just the social elite. In terms of tailor made suits London offers the greatest range of choices, which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Men love to wear suits for formal business meets and on special occasions like weddings, anniversaries, dinner parties, and various public and private events, to attend which you have to adhere to a formal dress code.

Tailoring in London

If you are in need of a tailored suit London is quite simply the place to be. The city has so many tailoring shops where you can shop for the suit of your choice. The tailors here are greatly experienced and have mastered the art of stitching the perfect suit. For many of them, making suits is the family business, one in which their families have been in for generations. In fact, it is not at all an uncommon sight along the streets of London to find a second generation, third generation, or even a fourth generation tailor. Such is the rich tradition of tailoring in the city!

Why Wear Tailor Made Suits?

If you are someone who has never felt the need for a tailored suit and have always stuck to buying off-the-peg suits, you are missing out on all that is good about the English suiting tradition.

An off-the-peg suit is neither comfortable to wear nor does it fit you perfectly. In most cases, it is either slightly tight or slightly loose, depending on your physical frame. If it is the former, it will most likely restrict your range of motion and make you feel stiff and constricted. If it is the latter, it will make you look bigger than you actually are. 

Moreover, a readymade suit does not last longer, as it is not stitched, but glued together. You might have to keep spending your money on buying new suits on a regular basis.

With tailor made suits, you have no such problems. A tailored suit fits you snugly, as it is made specifically for you. London tailors usually take multiple measurements to make sure the suit fits you like a glove, so you need not worry about the suit being too tight or loose at all.

A tailored suit is stitched from scratch and not glued together. It lasts much longer than an off-the-peg suit. So, even though you might have to spend more money on a tailored suit initially, it gives great value for your money as you can wear it for a long time.

Finding a Tailor

If you are in need of tailor made suits London tailors should not be hard to find. They can be found all across the city – from the famous Savile Row to numerous other streets that are equally known for their suiting tradition. Once you find a good tailor, you just need to tell him what kind of suit you need. You can leave the rest in his capable hands and wait for him to deliver a suit that is stitched to perfection.