Well-crafted clothing is fundamental when you want to look your best. In fact, dressing up also changes our own psychology, according to a recent study. The research, conducted at California State University, Northridge, found that formal attire goes beyond making us feel more powerful to even allowing to us to think more broadly and holistically. Surely those sophisticated thought mechanisms make it easier to strategize, prioritize, and manage within business, as well as in personal settings. Formal attire comes in a range of qualities, though, the highest quality of which is bespoke or custom. Perhaps the easiest way to understand why custom suits are the right choice is by looking at them in comparison to the two other options: off-the-rack (OTR) and made-to-measure (MTM). Bespoke vs. off-the-rack: More efficient Having custom clothes made is more focused and less unwieldy than shopping for mass-produced garments. When you shop off-the-rack, it can […]
Tag: suit
Many people look for custom suits and shirts when they are preparing for job interviews, have a similar career advancement meeting, or want to stand out in networking circles. For these scenarios, it helps to know what you might be unintentionally conveying about yourself through the color of your suit. The same basic ideas hold true in any scenario, helping you visually convey a certain message at an important milestone, in a romantic setting, or at any other key event. Why should you care about first impressions? They are tremendously powerful, according to scientific research. A 2011 study on first impressions by Bertram Gawronski et al. found that without a change in context, a first impression would persist despite contradictory information attained thereafter. In other words, first impressions are strong to the point that they are almost rigid. Since those initial readings of you are so difficult to change, anything […]
You want your suit to look its best every time you wear it. It all starts with making sure your jacket is on an appropriately sized hanger. If the hanger is too big, it will push the shoulders out, and they will get more wrinkled. If the hanger is too small, then the shoulders will droop over the edges of the hanger and get wrinkled in that way. If the hanger is “just right,” then it provides protection to the shoulders and prevents wrinkling. What else can you do to spruce up your suit? How do you clean a suit jacket? Let’s first talk about why dry cleaners are problematic. Then we will describe a simple 3-step process to de-wrinkle your suit using steam at home, followed by scenarios in which a dry cleaner does make sense. Dry Cleaning: not to be overused It’s easy to get into a cycle […]
If you are a shorter gentleman, of 5’7” or below, it helps to know that there are some particular concerns related to height when you buy a custom suit. Let’s review advice that can help you when working with a tailor. First, though, let’s briefly look at why this is so important through research on height bias – which you can minimize by getting perfect-fitting clothing that makes you look taller. Study shows the reality of height bias It may sound bizarre to suggest that you could assign a value to every additional inch of a person’s height. However, that is exactly what can be done using the data from research published in the Journal of Applied Psychology in 2004. The landmark study found that every inch over average height corresponded to an additional $789 of annual income. Psychologist Timothy A. Judge, Ph.D. (University of Florida) and management scholar Daniel […]
Think a suit is just a suit? Not if you want to make an impression. And not if you want a suit that fits you. But how to choose a suit that is the right fit? Leave behind the idea that you can properly present yourself with off-the-rack or made-to-measure options. Here is our suit buying guide to pick a bespoke or custom suit. Tips to buy a suit that fits 1. Be confident with your choice. If you are undecided on whether to get a bespoke suit, consider that anything you pull off a rack will not take into account the way the human body is actually built. Notably, 70% of people have one arm that is a quarter-inch longer than the other; your suit should reflect the reality of your body’s dimensions if you want to look your best. 2. Know what you want. You don’t need to […]
The quality of a suit is heavily influenced by its material, style, and the way that it is tailored (the extent to which it is truly fitted to the individual). Related to that last element, let’s look at a few terms used to describe different approaches — particularly definitions of bespoke and made-to-measure (MTM). Other suit descriptors: ready-to-wear, off-the-rack, and custom 5 distinctions between bespoke & made-to-measure Evolution of suit creation Ambiguity & lack of law Getting the right fit Other suit descriptors: ready-to-wear, off-the-rack, and custom Before we get into detail related to bespoke and made-to-measure suits, let’s look at three other ways that suits are described or categorized: Ready-to-wear (RTW) – The designer comes up with cuts and styles for suits, offering ready-to-wear suits directly off the rack. “The development of the RTW suit was pioneered in the 1950s, when manufacturers segmented the male form into different sizes […]
It’s safe to say that having at least one suit isn’t a luxury, but a necessity. Every man will find himself in a situation where he’s going to need a suit, no matter what line of work he’s in. This is especially true in New York City where appearances are just as important as who you know. Competition is the name of the game in New York. There are plenty of qualified people here with impressive resumes and networks. So, more is needed to stand apart. Never underestimate the value of signaling. And, what signals success better than looking good? Not much. Owning custom suits in NYC is one of the best things you can do for yourself professionally and personally. After all, in an increasingly social media dominated world, it’s telling that you’ll find many popular images tagged with the famous phrase “There is nothing like a well-tailored man […]
