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The Complete Guide To Bespoke Shirts – Fabrics, Cuts, Collars & Styles
This article has been researched and written by Ariana Amarnani. AI has not been used in producing this article.
What is a Bespoke Shirt?
Unlike off-the-rack shirts, which are mass-produced based on standard measurements, bespoke shirts are made entirely from scratch to fit your exact body. No fabric is cut until your measurements are taken, ensuring precision from the very beginning.
From fabric selection and construction to stitching, buttons, and monogramming, every detail is fully customisable. A bespoke shirt is designed to reflect your personal style while enhancing your natural shape and addressing any fit imperfections. The result is a garment that not only looks exceptional but feels uniquely yours.
How it Works: Initial Consultation
A bespoke shirt is expertly designed, crafted in-house, and made to last much longer than mass-produced shirts. Therefore, the bespoke process is not a rushed one. At Collars & Cuffs, our authentic bespoke shirts are a testament to quality and craftsmanship. Our six-step experience is designed to ensure your order exceeds all of your expectations.
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Bespoke tailoring is about more than the clothes. It’s also about the experience. During this process, you’ll meet with your personal concierge to ensure your bespoke shirt or suit is designed to meet your specific tastes and preferences. Additionally, your concierge will introduce you to the different fabrics and styles to get your order started. Requiring up to 30 hours from start to finish, a bespoke shirt is handmade and will take approximately 2 weeks to complete. During this time, the client will be invited for fittings where he will try on the shirt while it’s being made.
Dress Shirt Patterns
To achieve a perfect fit, our master tailors take a comprehensive set of measurements. These include height, chest, waist, seat, shoulder width, arm length, neck circumference, and more.
These precise measurements are used to create a custom pattern, often tested on a trial shirt before the final fabric is cut. This step ensures that the finished garment sits perfectly on your body, offering both comfort and a clean, tailored silhouette.
How should a dress shirt fit?
Generally speaking, your dress shirt should meet the following in terms of fit:
– Shoulders: The seam where the sleeve attaches to the body of your dress shirt should hit close to the top of your shoulders.
– Collar (Neck): Regardless of the collar type, you should be able to button the collar easily with room for two to three fingers to fit between your collar and neck.
– Chest: A properly tailored shirt should fit comfortably around the upper back, chest, and under the armpits to allow a full range of movement. Any extra bulges or tugging fabric indicate your shirt is too large or too tight (respectively).
– Body/Waist: Dress shirts should taper from the chest to the waist, following the contours of the body to create a clean line with no excess fabric.
– Sleeves: When buttoned, the cuff should fall at the base of the thumb.
– Length: The shirt hem should be long enough for you to comfortably wear your shirt tucked without the fear of it becoming untucked. If the shirt will be untucked the length should be made shorter by about an inch to 2 inches depending on your body size and personal preference.
Styles of Bespoke Shirts
During the design phase of your bespoke experience, you’ll determine all of the features that will enhance your final design. From fabric type, color, cut, to the number of pockets, buttons, threading, and any other embellishments you might like to add to your design, every inch of your tailored shirt is designed and inspired by you.
And of course, we’ll take your exact measurements to ensure the perfect fit!
– Fabric: With over 1,000 of the finest cotton fabrics and style options to choose from, you’re guaranteed to find something that meets your specific tastes.
– Embellishments: Once you’ve selected your fabric and color, you’ll have a host of choices to further customize your shirt, including buttons, thread, monogramming, and much more.
– Collars: With so many choices it can feel overwhelming choosing the right collar for your body and fit. From point collars, narrow point collars, semi cutaway collars, and cutaway collars to tab collars, club collars, wing collars, eyelet collars, band collars, and button-down collars, we’ll help you choose the perfect collar style.
– Cut: Although your bespoke shirt will be hand-crafted to fit perfectly, you’ll have a wide range of styles to choose from, including:
– Classic fit with relaxed armholes, more room in the chest and shoulders, fuller sleeves, and a relaxed waist.
– Modern fit with relaxed arm holes, more room in the chest and shoulders, fuller sleeves, and a tapered waist.
– Slim fit with higher armholes, slim chest, tapered sleeves, and a slim waist.
– Ultra-slim fit with highest armholes, narrow chest, tapered sleeves, and the slimmest waist.
Collars & Cuff Bespoke Experience
At Collars & Cuffs, we combine decades of craftsmanship with a truly immersive, personalised experience. Every bespoke piece reflects our commitment to exceptional quality and attention to detail.
Designed and crafted by master tailors with over twenty years of experience, our bespoke shirts, suits, jackets, and trousers are fully customisable to your taste, body, and lifestyle. The result is a garment that is not only impeccably tailored but also uniquely yours.
For your convenience, we offer both in-store consultations by appointment and a travelling tailor service, allowing you to experience bespoke tailoring from the comfort of your home or office.
Contact a member of our team to schedule your complimentary appointment.
