You are finding heaps of information, tips and guides for men on the internet when it comes to tailoring, fashion and style. There is however quite a lack of articles and useful information when it comes to the female readers on blogs and forums around the internet. Why is that? Are females in general better at finding inspiration themselves? Do they just know what is in style and know each and every detail they’d like to include in their custom-tailored garments, is there just no market for the female audience, or is it simply a field that is getting neglected?

To be fair, we do a lot of writing for gents too (stay tuned – many more articles in the pipeline, waiting to be published), but that is mainly because we feel that gents tend to have more questions prior to their orders, so we try to accommodate them by including their inquiries in articles about the different subjects. We find that quite a lot of females are following our website, but they don’t make a fraction of those inquiries compared to men. There’s a huge market for the female audience, but it is just not being catered to enough – sadly.

We’ll try to change that by writing articles targeted towards women, from evening dresses, wedding dresses, do’s and dont’s and of course about the centrepiece of tailoring – the work suits. We do that in hope for our female readership to take it in and use it as an inspiration for their next orders – so they are educated about every single detail that goes into a custom-tailored garment – no matter the choice of clothing. Habits however will more often than not guide you to the topic we know most about – and those are suits and dresses, whether it’s for formal or casual wear. This one will be all about formal wear – let’s get into it.

What makes a well-fitted suit

Knowing what makes a well-fitted suit is important in order to look good and also helps you to determine what you want when you’re having a tailor-made suit crafted for yourself. Every good tailor will make sure that you’re suited and fitted well, but knowing what makes a well-fitted suit will offer you that extra self-assurance that you’re really looking your absolute best.

We’ve looked at how each element of a suit should sit to form a perfect look for any formal occasion.

The Blazer

Among the fundamentals of the suit, the blazer takes a big part of the look and impression. The blazer in fact is the key element of the suit, so getting it right will define how your look is being perceived and how well-complimented your body shape is in your overall look. If it’s oversized, it will make your body look out of proportions and if it is too small you’ll be making the garment look like it is gasping for air. Getting it right, in the right proportions is therefore crucial in order to achieve a perfect look.
Out of the key points on a blazer is that the shoulders are not wider than they need to be. If the shoulders on the blazer extend too far in width, they’ll have you look broader than you actually are – and that seldom is an something you’d want.
While ensuring your shoulders are snug, make sure you also allow for room to manoeuvre your arms, a well fitted blazer should also allow for comfort so make sure you don’t feel restricted.
Talking about arm length, the guide lines are clear for the men, but for women however, you have more freedom with anywhere between the wrist and the top knuckle of the thumb being seen as suitable.
If your choice
Another area that women need to consider is the area around their bust. When dressing for a formal occasion then you’ll ideally want your blazer able to be buttoned, which means that it will need to be able close comfortably.
If it’s at a strain as a result of your bust it will not only look untidy, but also draw the wrong kind of attention on that area. Just bear in mind that it is widely accepted to just close the top button of your blazer.

The trousers

The length of your trousers right can be very tricky, in particular if you are planning to wear them paired with shoes of different heights. That is something that is somewhat an unique issue for women, when trying to find the right trousers for their suited look. Many women choose trousers that reach up to an inch off the floor and it’s fine when you’re wearing high-heels, it can also lead to the trousers “catching” the floor when you choose to wear them with flat shoes, which leads to worn out trousers on the back of your trousers. This certainly won’t impress anyone at a formal event.

You therefore have a bit of limits about your choice of footwear when it comes to suit trousers. A good way to get around this is to have the trousers cropped just above the ankles, allowing them to look good with both heels and flat shoes.

Last, but not least – the skirt

Well, the good old skirt is, similar to with your blazer arm length, important in helping to maintain a formal look, which is appropriate for most formal events. If you need a general rule to abide to, then ensure that the skirt is long enough to reach your knees. We definitely would recommend something that sits just the knees, just to play it safe.

When it comes to formal wear, there is always a need to be more reserved with your dress compared to your everyday work- or leisurewear. That goes for both the colors you choose to the fit of your suit.

At Exclusive Tailor we can help you with all your inquiries and questions you may have, before and after your purchase. See us as a style-guide, not “just” a tailor-shop. We’ll gladly help you to choose the right design, make sure that the measurements are correct and your up to speed when it comes to the latest fashion trends.

If you are looking for the perfect look for the next formal event, please feel free to get in touch with us!

Imagine yourself being in this situation. You meet up for a business meeting in a conference room full of sharp suits and ties. You of course prepared carefully and came to the meeting wearing a suit as well, but why is it that you can’t get rid of the feeling that you’re being watched and people are smiling a bit mockingly at you?
You’re looking down at yourself to make a quick check-up, but you don’t notice anything out of the norm – so why are they smiling? It probably makes you uncomfortable, right? Maybe it is because your suit is a little too big or small for you, maybe it is because of the tie that is out of proportions, or maybe it is the way you chose to match your dress shirt with your suit this morning – who knows. Maybe it is also a piece of toilet paper that is attached to your shoes. There are countless of ways to mess up your look (and presentation) by choosing the wrong dresscode for the day.
First impressions are really crucial for any given event that you’re attending to. It can often lead to people developing an opinion of you before you’ve even spoken the first word. Much of our first impression stems from the way we walk, what we wear and how we present ourselves. That is why it is so important that you dress well, and look the part in order to ensure that nothing but positive impressions are drawn from you, from the very first sight.

We’ve looked at a few things that you can do in order to make a right first impression for a range of occasions.
Dress the part
It goes without saying really, but you need to ensure that you’re not only dressed well, but exceptionally well, whilst of course dress appropriate for the event you’re attending to. If you’re invited for a formal networking event, like we often are invited to, business attire is a mist, just like when you’re going on a first date in a fine dining restaurant – the sharp outfit should be the first thing she’ll notice.
To add to that, dressing well is really not only what you wear and how you pair it with other items, but moreover about how it fits you. You could be de dressed in top notch designer clothing made from the finest fabrics there exists, but if it fits like a bag of potatoes, then you’ll find yourself at odds trying to look good (very few can pull off a good look in a sack of potatoes).
This is often the case, for those people that don’t have what may be classified as a “regular” body shape (that’s most of us). For instance, men who are slim and have long limbs can really struggle buying off-the-rack jackets, which are fitted around the torso, while also being a good fit in length on the arms and shoulders.

Custom-tailored garments can really help you overcome this hurdle, and offer you the perfect solution in order to ensure that your clothes not solely provide the best possible fit, but also flatter your body more than the ready-made alternatives are able to.

Accessorise wisely

When it comes to accessories, you need to think thoroughly about what you match it with. Too little make it drown, too much will make you look like a Christmas tree. When teaming up accessories with formal outfits, they to be suited to the event you’re attending to. There isn’t a one-rule fits all for this, but in many cases the best look will be determined by what you wear and the occasion itself. Which pieces of accessories should you consider, you’re asking? The range is quite elaborate, from ties and cufflinks to watches, belts and even dress shoes. If you choose to attend to a business dinner, wear a nice watch and a pair of nice dress shoes for instance, or for a networking event, wear a subtle watch together with a nice tie that fits to your plain-colored shirt and dark suit. If you’re in for the business meeting, don’t over-accessorise, but instead wear nice striped tie, a pair of cufflinks and perhaps your most shiny dress shoes that you have in your wardrobe.

Confinde does the trick

Your parents have probably taught you this, and it is true, confidence and charisma are priceless traits to have, when it comes to polishing off your look. You can wear even the best fitting suit made from only the best materials, but if you enter the room with a body language that screams “is this the right room?”, then it is to no use. Enter the room, own the room. You’re one of a kind, a king of your own, so show others what you already know – show them what you’re made of.

This is a trait that comes natural to some, yet is a big challenge for others. It is something that you can practice, maybe even fake, if you know what to do. Walking with a straight posture, making eye contact and greeting your counterparts with a firm handshake, you’ll help make a good first impression.

It’s always good to keep in mind that you’ll be wanting to come off as being confident and approachable as opposed to being cocky. There’s a fine line between these two, especially when you’re dressed to impress.
Final note

Those are a few pointers to have in mind when trying to make a good first impression. A good rule to have in the back of your mind is also that if you believe that you look good, then chances are that you’ll also feel good, which naturally should give you a better stance. Next thing is to say the right things, but that is not something your clothes can help you with – that depends on the right preparation, but we’re sure that you’ve got that under control already.

Good luck with your upcoming events and meetings, Gents!

For all your tailoring needs, quotations and questions, please do get in touch with us here: Contact Us