Working in bespoke tailoring means that I often take for granted the benefits of having something made uniquely for you. I’d like to share a personal experience that brought home to me how bespoke might just not be on your radar as an option…
I was out buying shoes and as so often was completely indecisive about the size I should get. I tried a 6, 6 1/2 and a 7, but none of them felt right. Getting frustrated with myself that after decades of buying shoes I still couldn’t decide on my size I asked the sales assistant to measure my feet. To my complete surprise she informed me that my left foot is a size 7, but that my right foot is a size 6. A difference of two sizes! I’ve always known that my left foot is larger I just never imagined that the discrepancy was so vast. In a strange way I was relieved, because this told me I wasn’t going mad and that trying to find a fitting pair of shoes is nigh impossible for me – unless I go bespoke. I must say that having shoes made for me never really crossed my mind – I was so used to shopping on the high street and making do with what I could find. And then I had a lightbulb moment: this is exactly how many of my customers feel about clothes. Trying to find a dress that fits well (especially a tailored one) when you are a size 12 on top and a size 16 on the bottom is equally as impossible as buying shoes is for me.
Luckily with clothes there are two options:
You can buy the size 16 dress and have the top taken in to fit you better at a reasonable cost. Sadly taking in a shoe is not really an option for me though I suppose I could buy two pairs and wear the fitting size for each foot.
Or you can go to a tailor / dressmaker and have the perfect dress made for you. This extends far beyond achieving a good fit. It includes being able to make choices about fabrics, linings, trimmings and most of all quality of materials and construction that mean your investment will last longer than anything you can buy off the rack.
If you would like to find out more about whether bespoke is the right choice for you please get in touch or leave me a comment – I’d love to hear from you.
