Custom vs. OTR Suits Which Is Better [0:00:00]
In today’s video, custom versus off-the-rack suits.
Which one do I prefer?
Which one is better?
Which one is right for you?
Find out, gents, in today’s video.
[Music] First off, let’s lay out some definitions.
So, off-the-rack, it’s pre-made at a set size and this is what we see out there in
the majority of the time.
Now, if you get a suit tailored, this is an off-the-rack suit that is adjusted to fit
you better.
Now, in the custom side, you’re going to hear a couple of terms – bespoke and made-to-measure.
The difference is bespoke is more of the artistry, you’ve got a hand-sewn.
This will take months to build.
Now, made-to-measure is where they bring in machines.
This is actually still made for the individual, but it’s much more streamlined.
First up, let’s talk about suit fit.
Off-the-rack versus custom, who’s going to win here?
Guys, easily custom.
But, let me talk about off-the-rack, how can you get a good fit with off-the-rack suit
because that’s most the options out there.
I’m going to say find a brand that suits your body type.
This is difficult, but it’s possible.
So, you got a tailor to adjust it.
Maybe the sleeves are a bit long, maybe it’s too large or too small in the torso area,
so you get it adjusted.
But, there’s always going to be something usually off with an off-the-rack suit.
Most people though they’re going to compromise, but if you don’t want to compromise on fit,
that’s when you want to look at custom because let’s say you’ve got a rounder torso,
you’ve got a bigger stomach, you are a really tall guy, you’re a smaller guy.
In that case, custom is going to suit you better because just simply they’re going
to be able to build that clothing to fit your body type exactly.
So, let’s talk about patterns and colors.
Which one is better off-the-rack or custom?
Guys, easily I have to give this to custom.
But, let’s talk about off-the-rack because sometimes you can find some pretty good options,
you go in there and you don’t know what you’re looking for.
You into a menswear store and you try something on and that’s another advantage, you can
try it on right there in the store.
You can see what this pattern looks on you right there.
The problem is they’ve may be only got ten different patterns and colors and that’s
why custom rules here because what you start with is actually looking at the colors and
the patterns.
You look at the fabric before the suit is even made because you’ve got options to
thousands of different colors and patterns out there.
Quick note.
I do recommend for your first custom suit to go with a simple color and pattern.
A solid navy, a solid charcoal gray.
That is where you want to start.
Now, some of you guys are wondering, Antonio, is that a custom suit?
And the answer is yes.
This one is made by Indochino, the paid sponsor of today’s video.
Guys, I’m going to link to them down in the description with the best discount code
you’re going to find out there.
Use it or lose it, guys.
Go check them out.
I’ve known about them for over ten years when they first got started because I’d
started a clothier as well.
They were a competitor and I was always like – to be honest I was always a little bit
jealous because this company does a great job of providing amazing selection, awesome
fabrics, at an incredible price.
So, guys, this is how it works, you’ve got two options.
Number one, you could actually go see them in person at one of their showrooms and they
will take your measurements.
Or, you can measure yourself at home and basically you can then shop online with your own measurements.
Next up, guys, you want to go onto their website and you want to choose the fabric for your
custom suit.
And, they’ve got these great pictures of all of these men with different complexions
wearing the suits, so that really helps in finding what you’re looking for.
Next up, you want to go in and design your suits.
They give you all types of options, so whatever you want to design, you can do.
Add a ticket pocket, go for some contrast stitching, maybe go for a fun inner lining,
that’s a great place to start.
Now, wrapping things up, you’re going to be submitting your measurements with all of
your choices and your suit is now getting professionally made and it will be mailed
to you in the next couple of weeks.
I’m linking to them down in the description with the best discount code you’re going
to find out there.
This is an awesome deal if you’re looking to get started with a custom suit.
Next up, let’s talk about price.
Off-the-rack versus custom, I think both you can find amazing deals, but I got to give
this one to off-the-rack because off-the-rack, you’re going to see deals for 90% off.
You’re never going to see someone who’s making a suit for you be able to give you
90% off, they’d go out of business.
But, you know, these guys they’ve already made it they got to move the inventory, so
they’ll have these huge discounts.
You’re going to a thrift store, you can find a suit for like $2.
You just can’t beat that.
Now, when it comes to custom, what are you going to see in the range of the price?
You’re going to see anywhere from $100 to $10,000 and above.
You want to be spending at least a few hundred dollars for a good custom suit.
Now, I talked about Indochino.
I think they’re a great deal for what you’re going to get, it is solid.
But, if you want to up – I mean there’s suit you can spend $5,000, $3,000 whatever
you want to spend on custom, you can probably spend.
Next up, let’s talk about convenience.
So, off-the-rack probably would have gotten this years ago, but, now, online custom clothiers
they have made it so easy.
Literally, you can be in your pajamas measure yourself, design your suit right there and,
boom, you’re done.
You don’t have to go anywhere.
So, for that reason I got to give it to them.
But, I would say there are some advantages of off-the-rack.
One, is that suit is there, so if you need a suit right now today for interview, guess
what?
Speed-wise, custom isn’t going to be able to beat that.
So, you can try then maybe that suit doesn’t fit you, but you at least have a suit on for
that interview.
Good luck getting that job though.
Now, if you’re going to go bespoke really high end, understand those guys require like
three to four fittings, they want you to come into the shop.
So, if that’s the case, that could end up taking months before the suit is ready.
[0:05:04] Next up, let’s talk quality of materials,
which are you going to get better with off-the-rack or custom?
I’ve got to give it to custom because custom, again, you just got access to all the best
mills out there whether they’re English, whether they’re Italian.
Now, off-the-rack, you can get some amazing deals.
You’re going to the [Zena?] store, you’d be – it’s beautiful these jackets, but
are they going to actually fit your body?
So, we go back to point number one.
So, you may find a great fabric, but is it going to, you know, fit your body type, is
it going to look good on you?
That’s kind of the issue there and why I have to give good fabrics to custom.
Customer experience, which one is better?
Again, I got to give it to custom because if you’ve ever worked with a custom clothier
with anyone that’s going to build you a suit, you’d be amazed at how they treat
you and how they make you feel.
When you go in to get the fittings, they call you sir, everything is done for you.
Now, this could happen at a great menswear store, there’s a huge difference in the
way that they treat you versus just some box store.
But, oftentimes, you know, they got to tell you, sorry, sir, I don’t have your size,
sorry, sir, that fabric is out of stock.
And that really just – it just takes all the air out of you wanting to get that suit,
you know, really quick or made for you.
Next up, suit personalization, easily custom is the winner here, but there are some nice
things about off-the-rack.
You know you can take it to a tailor and they can do a lot of magic on this.
They can maybe get your name on the inside they can even change out the lining, it will
be expensive.
With custom, it’s being built to how you want it.
So, you want a bright inner lining?
Easily we start that with the base.
You want to go with, you know, five buttons here or a contrasting button like I have here,
that’s very easy.
You want to go with contrasting stitching, you want to go with peak lapels.
Everything is customizable.
So, which one makes you feel better?
Which one is going to make you feel like a million bucks?
I’m going to actually call this a draw because I think that, yes, you can find an off-the-rack
suit that just makes you feel amazing.
Maybe it’s one that was passed on you from your father.
So, when you put this on and it fits you like a glove, it makes you feel amazing.
But, I do think that custom has so many other advantages and one of them is when you put
on that suit, you know it was made for you and no other man.
All right, gents, so the clear winner is custom and I’m biased, guys.
I’ve owned a clothier, I absolutely love custom clothing, but I also like off-the-rack.
And, really it comes down to you, what is going to work best for you, your particular
needs, your budget what you can find, so go out there.
And, guys, whatever it is find something that makes you feel like a million bucks.
All right, gents, so if you want more, I’m linking to a support article down in the description
in which I go into a lot more details than I did in this video.
But, I know that you guys got questions about all the style details all the different colors
the different patterns the different finishes.
I’ve got you covered down in the description of this video.
And, gents, if you’re going to be buying a suit, make sure to check out this other
video as well in which I talk about what mistakes to avoid when going out there to buy a suit.
I see people making mistakes all the time and what I don’t want you to do is go out
there and spend your hard-earned money and get something that you don’t wear that you
don’t like.
Now, guys, if you’re looking at custom, again, check out Indochino.
I’m linking to them down in the description.
Absolutely love what this company is doing.
I’ve known about them for over a decade, I’ve watched them closely grow.
I love how they treat their customers and I love how they made it so easy to buy custom
suits online at an affordable price.
So, go check them out, guys.
I’m putting the best discount code you’re going to find out there down in the description.
All right, gentlemen.
Take care.
I will see you in the next video.
[0:08:19] End of Audio