| Ready-to-wear apparel is great. You can walk in a | | | | So who should consider having her clothes custom |
| store, try it on, and if it fits your body and | | | | made? I suggest you try a custom clothier if you: |
| budget, you can take it home right then. It sure | | | | *Routinely have to have your clothes altered to |
| beats the heck out of taking the time to make it | | | | fit correctly. |
| yourself or hiring someone to custom-make | | | | *Have trouble getting certain types of garments |
| something, right? | | | | to fit, like tops, skirts, or slacks. |
| Maybe, maybe not. | | | | *Have special requirements, like fabric allergies, |
| If clothes shopping for you is an ongoing exercise | | | | medical issues (wheelchair bound, arthritis/can't |
| in frustration because of your too-long legs, an | | | | fasten buttons), or post-surgical needs. |
| odd fabric allergy, size-defiant proportions or | | | | *Need a special occasion ensemble, gown, or |
| whatever, maybe it's time to pass the mall and | | | | costume. |
| head to a custom clothier instead. For not only will | | | | *Want beautifully made, one-of-a-kind clothes. |
| you get to choose your own fabrics and trims, | | | | The best place to find a custom clothier near you |
| you'll also get clothes that fit correctly regardless | | | | is through associations like: |
| of whatever figure challenge you present. | | | | The Custom Tailors and Designers Association of |
| Now I know what you may be thinking: "That's | | | | America |
| too expensive." | | | | The Professional Association of Custom Clothiers |
| But chances are, it's not. If you add up the cost | | | | Or you can try various custom clothing sites |
| of buying clothes and paying to have them | | | | online where you input your measurements and |
| altered, or buying a special size by mail order and | | | | they customize their selections for you. Popular |
| paying to have it shipped, or even burning time | | | | sites include: |
| and gas to run all over town looking for | | | | *Baron Boutique |
| something that fits, you may find that you'll spend | | | | Classic silk suits, coats, and dresses from Nepal. |
| less time and money having something custom | | | | *Dockers |
| made. I encourage you to do the math. | | | | *Lands' End |
| Now if you still think that custom apparel is a bit | | | | Custom order jeans, chinos, blouses, and |
| extravagant, consider this: men's ready-to-wear | | | | outerwear from this venerable mail order house. |
| clothing has been around for nearly two hundred | | | | *Nick's Collections |
| years - since before the sewing machine came | | | | Get skirts, suits, dresses, and more from this |
| along in the 1850's -- but women's ready-to-wear | | | | popular Hong Kong tailor. |
| has only been widely available since the 1920's. | | | | *Ravis Tailor |
| Why? Because back when women wore corsets, | | | | Get beautiful custom classics from this 3rd |
| manufacturers had trouble creating clothes that | | | | generation Thai clothier. |
| fit! It wasn't until the loose-fitting straight | | | | Getting properly fitting clothes shouldn't be |
| silhouettes became popular in the 20's that | | | | stressful, even if your body defies standard |
| manufacturers could profit from selling women's | | | | ready-to-wear sizing. If you don't sew, find a |
| ready-to-wear clothes. So what did women do | | | | clothier that can customize clothes for you. Not |
| before that? They either sewed their own clothes | | | | only will it be money well spent, you'll look great |
| or had them custom made. | | | | THE FIRST TIME. |
| See how this comes full circle? | | | | And wouldn't that be a nice change of pace? |