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Made-to-Measure Clothing Online
Good or Bad Idea?

Buying online

Whenever menswear, elegance, trends or style are discussed, sizing and measurements soon come into the conversation. Online made-to-measure is often part of that debate, particularly the made-to-measure shirt online. Online made-to-measure first appeared in the 2000s and became a more established offering a decade later. Today, it is part of the lively debate on forums, in bars, at dinner parties and in gentlemen's clubs.

Where to buy online?

Prefer websites that also have a physical store

There is a clear difference between online-only made-to-measure brands and those that also have a physical store. With a real address to visit, you can have your measurements taken in person before placing your next online order, or seek help if a problem arises. It is far more reassuring to know who you are dealing with, where the company selling these made-to-measure, personalised garments is based and, quite simply, who you are buying your clothes from. It is a strong sign of reliability and a real comfort in your relationship with your tailor.

Made-to-measure shirt collars

Made-to-measure online

Save time and money

For some, made-to-measure tailoring is close at hand: they live in a large city such as Paris, London, Brussels, Geneva or New York. Others live in smaller towns or the countryside, where there may be no tailor nearby, yet still want to dress well. They have little choice but to order online, unless they make the most of a trip to visit a tailor. Few people can justify booking a train or plane ticket every time they want to place an order. Quite apart from the cost, it simply is not practical.

Online measurement page

Online made-to-measure: an excellent alternative to ready-to-wear

For all the people mentioned above, and many others, made-to-measure clothing online is an excellent alternative to ready-to-wear which, let us be honest, no longer suits many people in terms of cut or value for money.

You then have two ways of ordering a made-to-measure garment:

  • I place my first order online, following the video tutorials offered by the website I have chosen. I take care, and I keep in mind that most made-to-measure websites offer a guarantee on the first purchase. If I get something wrong, I can send the garment back for alterations or for the shirt or suit to be remade entirely, at no cost to me.

  • I make the most of a trip to order my first made-to-measure garment directly in the brand's physical store. Being shrewd, I choose a brand that also has a website, so that I can reorder online afterwards, finding in my account my measurements and the options (fabrics, collars, buttons and so on) I chose for my made-to-measure shirt or suit. Reordering then takes just a few clicks.

The second option is of course the best, because it guarantees the best final result, and therefore the best fit.

Why?

  1. You have almost nothing to do.
  2. Because taking measurements is a trade in its own right, and with experience and knowledge of patterns, a tailor or a sales adviser will always do it better than you, who are an expert in your own field but not in made-to-measure.
  3. Because more measurements are taken in store than a website will ever ask you for. Some measurements are judged by eye rather than with a tape.
  4. Because you can touch the fabrics, note the references of those you like and order them yourself online later.
  5. Because the choice of options and fabrics is often wider in store than on a website.
  6. Because you know who you are dealing with and who you are buying from.
Choosing the fabric

What are the drawbacks?

Because a website is not quite a traditional store

The main drawback of ordering online is that you cannot handle the cloth. Even when you can see it clearly, judging its quality is more difficult. There is also a risk of seeing a colour wrongly in a photo, as screen settings vary from one computer or tablet to another. Even so, most websites will offer to send you samples of the fabrics you have picked out.

What are the advantages?

Ordering a made-to-measure jacket, suit or shirt online can still be an excellent choice, provided you choose a reputable house. A good website should offer:

  • Delivery that is often quicker when you order your made-to-measure garment online. Allow between three weeks and a month, depending on the workshops.
  • Advice to help you make your choices.
  • Fabrics that are shown and described so you can judge them as well as possible and avoid unpleasant surprises on arrival.
  • Options (collars, cuffs, buttons, pleats and so on) that are explained in context, to help you know whether they suit your build and the occasions you want to wear the garment for.
  • Online help, as a rule, to answer your questions.
  • A way to reach them by phone, or at least by email, if you have a doubt about your measurements or want advice. You then get the same kind of exchange you would have with a sales adviser in store.
  • Entry-level prices that are not always offered in store.
  • An order that is normally checked by hand to verify the measurements you have sent. If in doubt, the website may contact you to go over certain measurements with you.
  • Quite a lot of time saved, since you do not have to go from shop to shop.
  • Your partner can take care of it once your measurements are validated, without needing you there to try the garment on ;)
Made-to-measure guarantee page

A few things to keep in mind

What you need to know...

You will sometimes find better prices and offers online than in stores. Make sure the website offers a made-to-measure guarantee in case of a fit problem when the garment arrives. Ask where the garment is made, so you can judge whether its price is fair. You can keep several patterns to switch between different cuts, depending on how you want to wear the garment. Once it has been cut, an order can generally no longer be changed.

Made-to-measure online: yes or no?

In short, ordering your suit or shirt in store, at least the first time, is a good idea, but not a necessity, especially if there is no such store near you.

The priority is to choose an online made-to-measure clothing website:

  • With a good reputation.
  • With good customer service, and people who answer your questions when needed. To be sure of this, read the customer reviews of made-to-measure shirt brands to get a sense of the experience of those who have already taken the plunge. Look at the websites with positive reviews, but not only those. The experience of customers who have had problems says a lot about how a brand will handle them. Nobody is immune to a mistake; what matters most is how it is dealt with.
  • Offering a made-to-measure guarantee in case of an error in your measurements.
  • Making their garments in France, or at least in Europe.
  • Offering quality fabrics. The quality of a made-to-measure garment lies mainly in the quality of its fabric and of its making.
Made-to-measure shirt and suit

Order a made-to-measure garment