In recent years, menswear has experienced a significant revival, and this revival has been spurred on by films, enthusiasts, and innovative companies focusing on proper menswear. You definitely have a lot more options today if you are looking to buy a suit, but sometimes, all these options can be quite confusing. For instance, which do you go for: bespoke, made to measure, or ready to wear? The differences among the three can be vast, so knowing what makes each type of suit different from the other can help contribute to your final decision. So what do you need to know about bespoke, made to measure, and ready to wear suits? More importantly, which is best? Let’s find out.
More on RTW
Ready to wear, or RTW, has always been popular, primarily because of its price. You can buy this suit off the rack, and its style and cut are determined by its designer. It’s true that RTW comes with some pros, such as the fact that you don’t have to wait for it to be made, and it is also pretty affordable compared to made to measure and bespoke. But RTW suits don’t come with your measurements – you will have to adhere to the pre-set measurements of the designers and makers of the suit. What this means, then, is that while your RTW suit may fit and look good in various areas (such as the shoulders, length of the sleeves, chest, and so on), it may not look good in other areas or be too short or long, too loose, or too tight.
More on made to measure
Made to measure suits have some similarities to RTW suits in that they come with a block pattern, but you have the choice of altering it before you buy it. With a made to measure suit, you submit your measurements and make choices in fabric and style, and the suit is then sent off to a factory. After a few weeks, your suit, which is made according to your personal choices and dimensions, will arrive. The suit’s waist, chest, trouser waist and length and sleeve length are your own.
The benefits and advantages of made to measure suits are noteworthy indeed. First of all, you have greater freedom to express yourself with your suit, especially with style and trimmings, and the fabric is often more original than RTW suits. A made to measure suit can give you the best of both worlds: it’s not as generic as a ready to wear suit, but it’s not as expensive and laborious to make as a bespoke suit.
More on bespoke
A bespoke suit is often handmade by only a few tailors, and it can take any shape, form, or material. The tailor takes your measurements, and you can discuss your preferences and needs, and the tailor takes note of any details you want and comes up with patterns. Once you choose the cloth, the pattern is cut, and the process can take several fittings. Of course, bespoke suits can offer the best fit of all three, but they can be quite expensive, and there is always the risk of not having a truly perfect suit, especially if you are having it made for the first time.
