Clothing brands to get tailored
October 12, 2017 12:56 PM Subscribe
What clothing brands are of made of great materials that will last but not wallet busting (which would make it cost prohibitive to get tailored)?
I am looking for women's clothing brand (I'm 29) but in this thread we can include menswear as well as others may be interested. Feel free to include tailor made clothing brands if you recommend them. My only concern is too spend too much on the piece of clothing and then it would make no sense to get it tailored as it would be too much of an investment, but then on the flip side to get clothes that are too cheap and don't make it worth the investment. Having lost weight and reached my maintenance weight soon I am trying to be strategic in creating my new waredrobe and who doesn't want to make sure clothes fit properly after all the hard work ! ;)
Thanks again!
I am looking for women's clothing brand (I'm 29) but in this thread we can include menswear as well as others may be interested. Feel free to include tailor made clothing brands if you recommend them. My only concern is too spend too much on the piece of clothing and then it would make no sense to get it tailored as it would be too much of an investment, but then on the flip side to get clothes that are too cheap and don't make it worth the investment. Having lost weight and reached my maintenance weight soon I am trying to be strategic in creating my new waredrobe and who doesn't want to make sure clothes fit properly after all the hard work ! ;)
Thanks again!
Is this where I mention eShakti? I have several of their dresses and I love them; their sizing is accurate to the charts they give, and for an extra $10, you can get both sizing done to your exact measurements and adjustments on neckline, sleeve length, and skirt/pants length for most outfits. And they have pockets.
Even for the off-the-rack outfits, they require your height, so no problems with "it says knee-length, but it'll probably be mid-thigh or mid-calf."
Drawback: They're slow. They don't start making the outfit until it's ordered (unless you buy from their overstock), so it takes a few weeks.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:32 PM on October 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
Even for the off-the-rack outfits, they require your height, so no problems with "it says knee-length, but it'll probably be mid-thigh or mid-calf."
Drawback: They're slow. They don't start making the outfit until it's ordered (unless you buy from their overstock), so it takes a few weeks.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 1:32 PM on October 12, 2017 [4 favorites]
My only concern is too spend too much on the piece of clothing and then it would make no sense to get it tailored as it would be too much of an investment.
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this - is it that you want to keep the cost down overall? Defining what "too much" means for you might make it easier for people to identify specific brands.
For example, if you were already spending, say, $80 - $100 on a pair of pants that's made really well, would it make sense to you to pay $15 to take in the waist (or whatever) and think of it as part of the cost of an amazing pair of pants that's still about $100? Or is this already a much higher price point than what you're looking for?
posted by Anita Bath at 4:22 PM on October 12, 2017
I'm not sure I understand what you mean by this - is it that you want to keep the cost down overall? Defining what "too much" means for you might make it easier for people to identify specific brands.
For example, if you were already spending, say, $80 - $100 on a pair of pants that's made really well, would it make sense to you to pay $15 to take in the waist (or whatever) and think of it as part of the cost of an amazing pair of pants that's still about $100? Or is this already a much higher price point than what you're looking for?
posted by Anita Bath at 4:22 PM on October 12, 2017
Best answer: Nordstrom is great for this. They do in-house tailoring and a lot of it is included with a full price purchase. They also do free stylist appointments who can really get you situated with a versatile base wardrobe.
I'm an unusual shape and size and have found that brand name really doesn't mean much. The key is materials and construction. Natural materials like cotton and linen are a good baseline but modern blends can have wonderful durability and drape, as long as the majority of the blend is a natural fiber. Construction is something you learn to look for. Seams that are locked down and finished, hem allowances that are a little generous, strong buttonholes and clean zippers. If you have a friend who can sew or is a bit of a fashion nerd, bring them shopping and have them expound upon clothing construction with lots of examples. If you get something in a great fabric that is well constructed, tailoring is easier for the tailor and it is vastly more durable.
posted by Mizu at 5:50 PM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
I'm an unusual shape and size and have found that brand name really doesn't mean much. The key is materials and construction. Natural materials like cotton and linen are a good baseline but modern blends can have wonderful durability and drape, as long as the majority of the blend is a natural fiber. Construction is something you learn to look for. Seams that are locked down and finished, hem allowances that are a little generous, strong buttonholes and clean zippers. If you have a friend who can sew or is a bit of a fashion nerd, bring them shopping and have them expound upon clothing construction with lots of examples. If you get something in a great fabric that is well constructed, tailoring is easier for the tailor and it is vastly more durable.
posted by Mizu at 5:50 PM on October 12, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Theory makes gorgeous clothing, which I think is worth splurging on and tailoring (and snapping up when you find it secondhand).
Otherwise, agree with other posters who say that if you like any item and it feels durable, tailoring is definitely worthwhile.
Most worthwhile of all is getting a sewing machine and learning easy alterations yourself. Putting darts in a shirt is SUPER easy, takes 15 minutes, and makes the shirt look incredible. Taking in pants waists is wonderful if you have a curvy butt. Hemming is very easy. Then you can do your own easy alterations and only splurge when it's time to alter a more complicated blazer or coat.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:05 PM on October 13, 2017
Otherwise, agree with other posters who say that if you like any item and it feels durable, tailoring is definitely worthwhile.
Most worthwhile of all is getting a sewing machine and learning easy alterations yourself. Putting darts in a shirt is SUPER easy, takes 15 minutes, and makes the shirt look incredible. Taking in pants waists is wonderful if you have a curvy butt. Hemming is very easy. Then you can do your own easy alterations and only splurge when it's time to alter a more complicated blazer or coat.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:05 PM on October 13, 2017
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posted by SaltySalticid at 1:25 PM on October 12, 2017