Creating your Signature Look with Tailor Made Suits & Shirts

There’s more to great style than following the trends; actually, it’s the deviations, the details and the personal touches that really say “This is me.” It’s easy to wear a cookie-cutter look that was styled for you and an off-rack suit or generically sized button up.  The challenge is finding your own, signature style - which is why many men don’t even try.

But building your signature look doesn’t have to be complicated; it’s simply about knowing which staple pieces to have in your closet and where to embellish. While it may seem like men’s suits and shirts don’t have much room to get creative in, the truth is, there’s a whole lot of way to add your own mark. A signature look is crucial for anyone who wants to stand out from the crowd. The idea is to collect pieces that will compliment you best and display who you are without saying a word.

Size Matters

You may have heard this before in other conversations, but in reference to your dress style, size is everything. Knowing your measurements can make the difference between looking like you just inherited your suit from an NBA basketball player who was clearly much bigger than you - or like you just came from a photoshoot for GQ Magazine. Get measured and know your sizes! You can have a friend or girlfriend measure you, but the best way to go is with an expert; you can go find a tailor or you can actually hire a travelling tailor to come to you!

When you are ready to have a made to measure suit created for you by expert tailors, you’ll see and feel the difference. Why is a precise fit so important in both tailored suits and custom dress shirts? Because a dress shirt is the closest layer to your body (with the exception of the undershirt.) If this is too big or too small, it will affect all the outer layers. With the tailored suit, this is the shell of your outfit. It’s the silhouette that everyone sees. If this isn’t fitted to your body correctly, there’s simply no way to hide bulkiness or blazer buttons that are bulging.

Trends aren't Bible 

Think of trends as guidelines, not rules. If the season is calling for darker tones, rock that dark grey, blue or black suit - but add a pop of color with a brightly colored or printed handkerchief, bow-tie or tie; switch up the vest color underneath, or lose the vest and go for a printed dress shirt. There are plenty of other details you can make your own; from custom cufflinks to etched initials on the inner fold of your suit jacket. If your style tends to be more vintage, add a an old school fedora and pocket watch.  The combinations are truly limitless, make your suit entirely your own by getting creative with the pops and flairs, don’t stick to the pre-determined looks you’ve seen online!

Colors and Fabrics

The 4 basic colors that tend to look good on most are black, grey, blues and khaki or white.When it comes to choosing a suit color that is a bit more adventurous, you’ll want to choose something that compliments your skin tone, hair color, eye color and overall look. Lighter shades tend to stand out on darker complexions and vice versa.

The last important factor of a signature look is the fabrics you choose. Having good taste in fabrics goes beyond just your look; you’ll want your dress shirts, blazers, dress pants and bespoke vests to last you. When choosing you cottons, Italian cotton is a highly reputable choice, featuring stronger, longer fibers. That means your dress shirt will retain its strength longer than those made from lesser grades of cotton. For a breathable yet durable suit, optimal for warmer weather, high quality linen is a great choice. Bottom line: whether purchasing wool, cotton, linen or silk dress shirts or suits, quality is key.