Most people have seen ready to wear suits. These mass produced off the rack garments are waiting to be purchased and taken home. On the other hand a made to measure suit is made to order following the customer’s specifications. It is created by using a basic pattern which can be modified to adapt to the unique measurements of the customer.

While it is not designed from scratch for every individual, made to measure does allow for quite a bit of customization. The customer can choose the suit style they want and select their prefered fabrics. Details such as the lapel, buttons, and pockets can be altered and the client can choose between single or double breasted.

The ready to wear suit simply can’t compete with a made to measure suit and there are several reasons why. While off the rack suits may have their place, anyone who wears a suit on more than just special occasions needs a made to measure suit in their closet. Here is a simple breakdown of the pros and cons of your suit options.

Pros Of A Ready To Wear Suit

Just about the only real advantage of a ready to wear suit is that you can take it home right away. True, your off the rack suit will more than likely need some alterations for a decent fit, but those can generally be accomplished relatively quickly. If you need a suit right away, ready to wear is probably your only option.

Another advantage of the ready made suit is that you know exactly what you’re getting. It’s right there on the rack for you to see and touch. You can instantly assess the quality, look, and feel of the garment before you buy. The price is likely to be lower too, at least at first glance.

Cons Of A Ready To Wear Suit

The most obvious disadvantage of a ready to wear suit is that the garment can’t be customized. You must choose your suit from available styles in standard sizes. In order to fit properly, your suit will require alterations which are not included in the price. If your need multiple alterations the cost might be driven up beyond the cost of a custom suit.

Ready to wear suits are not made the same way. These mass produced suits are crafted by machines with what are usually inferior fabrics. These suits are made to keep costs low and tend to be fused or have a half canvas. This means that they don’t sit as nicely as the made to measure version.

Pros Of A Made To Measure Suit

The great thing about a made to measure suit is that you can customize it to fit your body and your taste. You get to choose the style, fabrics, and details of your suit. Whatever look you decide on, the suit will be made to fit your body perfectly based on your unique measurements.

A made to measure suit is a great value when considering appearance and price. You get a much better product at a comparable price when taking into account alterations and fabric quality. Since the suit is made to fit your specific measurements, the full price of your outfit is set up front and you know there won’t be any surprises.

Cons Of A Made To Measure Suit

If you need a suit urgently a made to measure suit won’t do as you can’t wear it right away. The higher level of craftsmanship and custom sizing and materials make it impossible to create a suit within a day. It takes several weeks to craft a suit from scratch.

Will you ever buy an off the rack suit again?

Sierra E is a Los-Angeles based trial lawyer and entrepreneur. She became partner at her law firm in 2015 and has made numerous appearances as a guest legal correspondent on CNN. In 2018, Sierra launched SuitKits, an online shopping service that allows women to custom design suits and separates to fit their exact measurements, style, color and cut. Through her career, her writings, and her company, Sierra hopes to help women from all backgrounds achieve both personal and professional success for the benefit of themselves and their families. You can find her on Twitter/Facebook/IG @SuitKits

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