Men’s Style Guide | Retail Suit vs. Custom Suit

As I go to work in the morning I see men wear suits everyday, where some choose to wear custom while others buy their suits from a retail store. The challenge that men have is which route to go. Should they buy a custom suit? Or just go to a retail store and find the closest fit? I had the opportunity to talk to suit designer Salman Ahmed who runs his own custom suit business and explains the kind of clients that would want each type of suit.

Sal indicated that the most important question you have to ask yourself is: “What do you need this for?” Is it for work where you will be wearing every day? Is it for a wedding? Depending on your answer to this, then you can decide for yourself what is needed.

There are pros and cons to buying a custom suit and we wanted to inform you of this before you made your decision:

Custom Suits – Pros
– You will get a suit that was built with a purpose. Whether it was made for work or for a one day event, it was made to work for you and it was made to last.
– It is not just about making a suit for you but a suit maker like Sal will TELL YOU how to take care of it rather than sending you off. It isn’t just about providing a onetime service; it is about building a long term relationship with each client. To build these long term relationships, the suit tailor will continue to follow up and give suggestions on dry cleaners and the frequency it needs to be taken to them.
– Custom suit tailors make suits that are timeless and will make a suit that age with you. Guaranteed, the suit you are wearing that was designed for you, you will wear ten years down the line.

Custom Suits – Cons
– Realistically, this service does have a price and custom suits from $800-$1,500
– It is quite intimidating. This is an area where most men are not familiar with. When it comes to choosing the colour, style and fit, clients rely 100% on the tailor to decide what is best for them and their needs. Facing the unknown can be a challenge and the tailor is there to help with the transition.

If you have decided that custom suits are not for you, Sal give excellent recommendations on where to buy a suit that may not be made for your specific purpose, but it can come pretty close:

Entry Level Suits
If you are just starting out your career and you are looking for a reasonably priced suit and will last you for the next few years, check out Club Monaco as their grant cut is their most modern silhouette and fits very well. The suits are mass produced however it still has details where the price is max $1,000.

Mid Level – Manager/Senior Analyst
I believe the first thought that some men may have is Hugo Boss however, Ermengildo Zegna is a retail store we would recommend. They have a very old and reputable name as they are just not a manufacturer but they also run a mill where they make some of the best fabrics in the world.

High Level
Tom Ford suits range from $2,500-$10,000 depending on the type of suit you buy. However just like Ernmengildo Zegna, they are known for selling some of the best quality suits out there. You can find them in different locations such as Brooks Brothers and try them out for yourself!

At Designer Swap, we understand that suits are a big investment for a person’s wardrobe. Whatever decision you make, we hope you choose a suit that fits all your needs now as well as your needs for the next few years.

If you are interested in creating a custom suit and would like additional information, Sal is more than happy to advise you. Please email him at info@ooncustom.com.

Good luck with your search!

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What do you prefer custom suit or retail suit? Let us know in the comments!