Bespoke vs Made To Measure & Ready To Wear - Suits, Shirts, Shoes Explained 

The thing about a bespoke suit is that not only do you get a lifetime classic piece of clothing out of the end, you get the experience and the advice from it. Every year for my birthday, for the last few years anyway, I have treated myself to a bespoke suit - the whole process, soup to nuts, is immersive and you really learn a lot about yourself, your sense of style and how you want to carry yourself in the world from the process. It's a living example of how clothes can maketh the man.

I convinced what may actually be the last tailor who makes bespoke suits on the Island of Crete to come out of retirement to make me a suit for the not inconsequential sum of 1200 euros. Amazing what flattery can accomplish. Was just measured three days ago, and the first fitting is scheduled for four days from now. Italian fabric darkish gray in color. Quite honestly, its my second one, but I’m more excited for the first fitting than i was for my high school prom. I’ve seen some of his work and its superb.

I just told some family members of the beauty of bespoke suiting, the quality, details and possibilities for alterations, and they basically laughed at me. They thought styles would constantly change, questioned the quality of fabrics, saying any suit would wear out after less than a decade, completely disregarded the perfect fit and superior comfort (from having high armcyes and such) and basically called it a waste of money. I feel like their ignorance and preconceived notions are an insult to the history and craftmanship of menswear, but who am I to try and change their mind...

Thanks for clarifying that because I have always thought made to measure was bespoke.

There's a site from italy which sells made to measure garments and it's more expensive than bespoke tailor shops in Greece.

Until I can afford bespoke suits from Napoli or Savile Row, I get by on off the rack suits with several alterations to improve their fit. It's become harder to find satisfying options though, since I am gaining a growing appreciation of quality fabrics and like my suits with as little lining as possible.

Great video! I have the same issue that You have. One of my shoulders is slightly lower than the other. Fortunately, I happened to meet a great tailor in my city.

Very informative. Thank you, sir!

Amazing video sir, waiting for a video on monk straps types and history :D

Thanks for your explanation!

Very informative. thanks

Great stuff man!

love the setup @ 2:35 looking boss

Lately I’ve been buying vintage clothing usually from very good labels. Trying to get a mixture leather, , wool, linen, sick and some cotton. Sometimes when I received is great sometimes it’s a dud but never spend much money on most of the garments I’m sorry he’s out fine. I know they’re not gonna be perfect fit some of them are going to have to be all can still won’t be perfect but when I can afford bespoke garments I’ll start investigating map quality.Always enjoy your videos direction

good to know im not the only one with asymetrical shoulder or body. so now i know what mtm is

Hi Sven I really enjoyed your program. Would you mind have a seesion on fabrics please? Would like to know about Dormeuil, Loro piana, VBC etc. Thanks.

I also have a shoulder that's lower--also my right. I got my first suit from Men's Warehouse and the experience was pretty good, but that was before I started watching your videos and others like them. Would you say Men's Warehouse is more if an OTR or MTM store? My jacket and pants were taken off the rack and tailored in-house.

Since you say a bespoke suit requires quite a bit of knowledge on the customer's part, what do you think is the best way to acquire such knowledge? Do you suggest to slowly build it up as you go along and invest in a MTM suit first as to know better what you want in the future? So far, my suits (I only have two) have only been of the RTW category, mostly because I'm a student with limited budgets. However, in the future I might save up to purchase a suit that will last me a lifetime and in the meantime fits pretty close to perfect. I just started to watch your video's by the way and they're really helpful!

You should come to New Delhi India and try Vaish at Rivoli master tailors..u will forget saville row..bespoke suit with 1st fitting of twal i.e. full suit made of cheaper fabric ment to be discarded..dont think anyone in saville row does this now..and at fraction of the prices

Good tailor is the key, can adapt RTW to MTM. Be prepared to pay for it, worth every penny

Ive seen different types of shawl lapels on different tuxedos. Can you choose the type of shawl lapel when getting a MTM tuxedo?

I recently decided to buy a MTM suit because of my athletic body with a small waist and broad shoulders. They had huge problems taking measures to avoid wrinkles and as a result it even got too wide in the shoulder area, so I look like some kind of block. As this was my first suit I was very unhappy about it and don't know if the only solution will be a bespoke one or if I should try another tailor.

How can one really improve ones chances to have a great suit from an online made to order (i.e Suit Supply and Articles of Style)?

It’s sad after I got ripped and buff my suit is hard to fit in.

Nice fitting suit!

Hey Raphael, Do you have any experience with: Tailor4less? If so, what do you think about them?

What's your opinion on MTM sites such as Suitopia?

Hi Raphael, can you recommend an online MTM shop?

Hello Mr Shneider you ABSOLUTELY MUST!!! check out this chap Bespoke Suit, Custom made Suit by Master Tailor Rudolf Popradi (chapter 1); he is one of the only true bespoke tailor in the world who does EVERYTHING from start to finnish ALONE and entirely by hand. I.E One goes to him; he sketchetches the pattern by ahnd for the individual client; cuts the cloth, assemble everyhting and stitches EVERY SINGLE stich by hand (with the same techniques than a 150 years ago). Ergo from skethc to finnish; anything one orders from him NEVER once goes into the hands of some other craftsmen than his own!!! The only other tailor I know who (might) do that is Zack Pinsent who creates historic clothing. Rudolf Popradi is a Hungarian tailor working in Canada; I just discovered his videos on youtube yesterday n I was flabbergasted by the beauty of his crafsmanship; he shows how stitches the entire suit on his youtube videos; he is exactly like one of those artisanal Victorian tailors;! You must definitely give a sentence or two about him in ur next superb videos about suits, history n or, or bespoke tailoring. For hungarian TRUE bespoke tailor is a MUST for any gentlemen who desires to have modern suit made with just the same techniques and overall tailor to customer experience than in the days of old!

I was curious to know if a Brooks Brothers made to measure is worth the money.

#Mandeep Baweja Hey Raphael, Do you have any experience with: Tailor4less? If so, what do you think about them? @Sonny Jacob Lee

waiting for more)

Bespoke is my absolute favorite, but I haven't gotten to experience it quite yet.

you said bespoke has to have at least 50 hours of work on it... what about these bespoke tailors in bangkok that do them in 24 hours or this rajawongse or raja that I have heard Centeno mentioned on his videos a few times (also from bangkok)?

do you have a guide on watches?

I prefer MTM, what do you think about OliverWicks? I am just about to order a suit from them.

What's the point of MTM if it requires tailoring after the fact? Is tailoring usually included in the MTM price?

#Mandeep Baweja It depends on your body shape @Paul Schimmel

Amazing I'm overwhelmed by the difference between of the rack and tailor made, I have 44 regular but my pants waist is smaller and length has to be shortened.

At last you've got a suit that fits you fairly well.

I am looking for a navy suit, for war

Do you have truly bespoke suits?

In INDIA there are so many tailors who were established in early 20th century.....who know the ART of making full canvas suits at VERY LOW PRICES .....they have skills...but...the only thing in which they lack is EDUCATION....they are unaware of the fact that they could charge much more In exchange of there skill and expertise...... u know a full canvas 2 piece suit will cost you around $100 - $350 and more only if the quality of fabric is higher... I know that its not true bespoke but still it is better than made to measure......they charge only $50 as a fee and give amazing Fitting....and I have seen tailors of other country having the same skills and expertise and charging thousands of dollars for it....

??

Don't forget that some "made to measure" is a con. They measure you and then sell you the closest-fitting OTR item.

Great info, bad videography

Hey Raphael, Do you have any experience with: Tailor4less? If so, what do you think about them?