Making the right decisions when buying tailor-made clothing

By Cornelia Wolter Dec 29, 2011, 3:06 GMT

Berlin - There are occasions in life - weddings, class reunions and 50th birthdays - when looking good is so important that a tailor-made outfit is the best solution to the problem of what to wear.

It doesn't matter if it's a blazer or a dress, a tailor-made garment should fit perfectly. This is especially true for people who do not have an average size such as women with an A or V shape or men who are exceptionally tall, for example.

'When you don't want to follow a dominant fashion such as skinny jeans, tailor-made clothing can help,' said Silke Gerloff, a fashion consultant in Germany.

'A good tailor must have a feeling for colour and design, but must also be a competent adviser who can see what best fits the client,' said Erika Ortkemper, head of the German association of tailors. It's helpful to bring a photograph clipped from a magazine or catalog to help the tailor understand what the customer wants.

It should provide a basic idea, according to Ortkemper. She advises against copying famous designers because 'when a woman doesn't have the perfect figure or is perhaps short, she won't look like the famous woman or the long-legged supermodel known for wearing the style.'

When a decision is made to order a tailor-made garment, no expense should be spared on material. 'A high quality material is the factor that determines whether the customer will enjoy the garment for a long time,' said Gerloff. Also, when a tailor's prices are low it is often not a good sign about the quality of his or her work.

Manuela Lill, a tailor in the south-western German town of Holzgerlingen, said customers who will have a garment tailored only once or twice in their lifetimes should have a classic item such as an elegant coat or a simple dress sewn to fit them. 'These garments fit perfectly, are unique and they can be enhanced with accessories such as feather trim,' Lill said.

Altering classic garments already hanging in one's closet is another way to have an article of clothing that is at least in part tailor-made. 'Sometimes women come to me with a garment that belonged to a grandmother and they want it made into a beautiful modern blouse as a way to remember her,' said Lill.

A good tailor should be creative and should make his or her own suggestions without forgetting the desires of the customer. Gerloff said when a tailor-made item is ordered, it is wise to have a statement of work that lists the measurements, the type of material, the colour and the cut.

In addition it's a good idea to find out about the tailor's training, said Ortkemper. A master tailor is best, she said because someone who studied design, but never learned the handcraft has a more difficult time transforming his or her own ideas to meet the customer's wishes.

The customer should expect to meet the tailor for at least two fittings, more if the cut is tricky. The garment should be tried on as many times as necessary until it fits properly, said Ortkemper.