Dressmaking and Tailoring Professionally at Home

Severe economic recessions can be the impetus for considerable social change and the 2008 credit crunch and ongoing repercussions are said to have led to a revival in home dressmaking.

Two major UK retailers have recently reported massive increases in the sale of sewing machines, one by 50%, the other by 258% in 12 months.

We tend to forget how recent the availability of cheap high street ready-made clothing has actually been.

Historically, the industrial revolution, particularly the invention of power looms, and the two world wars are thought to have paved the way for the retail fashion industry that really began to blossom in the 1960s with the advent of designers like Mary Quant and Biba.

In previous centuries the bulk of the family clothing had been made by the women of the family, unless they were in the income bracket that allowed for fleets of servants to take care of the household sewing or the use of a professional tailor or dressmaker.

The wars led to a simplification of women’s clothing in particular, partly because women were drafted into factories to help the war effort and therefore needed clothes that allowed for ease of movement.  That led to the acceptance of the idea of more women going out to work, which, of course meant that they had far less time for making clothes for the family.

As the ongoing economic crisis continues more and more high street retailers, particularly those involved in retail fashion, are disappearing. This also reflects the change to shopping online to save money and to the resurgence of home dressmaking. To get more guidance from experts check the following Dressmaking.

However, it is unlikely that modern women, however cash strapped, will be able or willing to go back to the days of making all the family’s clothes. There is still the issue of having the time to do so as households continue to depend on two incomes in order to survive.

While home dressmaking can be enjoyable and satisfying not too many women – or even men – are likely to have the confidence or the skill to construct an outfit that is tailored or anything that is made to a more elaborate pattern for a special occasion.

This is where the services of an expert in alterations and in dressmaking will be needed.

The advantage of using a professional dressmaker is that they combine the services of style advisor, pattern maker and designer among their skills and in consultation with their customer can produce a truly stylish, beautifully-made and perfectly- fitted outfit for any occasion. Our previous blog will help you to know about the Importance of well Tailoring clothes for making the right impression.

Consider Either One Bespoke Tailoring or Alterations

Having a bespoke suit made will ensure the fit is perfect for an individual’s shape and size, and tailored to their style and personality.
If a suit is needed for an important occasion or when there is a need to impress in either a business or social setting bespoke tailoring can be more cost effective than going for a ready-made designer label.
It may be that, for example, the tailor can offer a better quality fabric through their extensive network of suppliers and will have a variety of samples to show.
If the budget is tight it is possible, however, to improve the fit and therefore the look of a ready-made suit by using the services of an experienced tailor and using their alterations service.
If the alteration required is extensive it would be wise to contact the company first to arrange an appointment when they ensure you have their full attention.
Choosing the right company will be made easier if the customer has given some thought to their budget, the maximum amount they are willing to spend and how much time they are able to give the tailor.

Many will offer an initial consultation at which questions can be answered.  Once they have an idea of what the customer wants they should be able to advise, based on the amount of work, how long it will take to make or alter the suit. To get more guidance from experts check the following Suit Alterations.

Some tailors are able to deal with urgent cases when a garment can be altered and returned the same day. But to take advantage of the skills of an expert tailor and get value for money it makes sense to allow them the time they need to do a proper job.
It is also advisable to ask whether there are charges for a fitting or for advice. On the whole these are not charged for when the customer goes to the tailor’s studio, although they might be if the customer wants the tailor to visit them or requires a collection and delivery service.

The more the customer can do to help the tailor understand their requirements the better the end result is likely to be, so if there are particular preferences when it comes to style and colour it is helpful to have a list ready for the first consultation.

Single or double breasted, how many buttons on the jacket, whether pockets have flaps or slits, with or without a waistcoat are all matters of personal taste. If a customer is unsure what style will be appropriate for the particular occasion the tailor will be able to offer guidance.

A little preparation will benefit both the customer and the tailor when ordering bespoke tailoring or suit alterations. Our previous blog will help you to know about the Importance of well Tailoring clothes for making the right impression.

Consider Having Something Professionally Made for a Special Event

Special events, like weddings or formal occasions, require an outfit that is a bit special and it may be that a search of the shops has revealed nothing that quite fits the bill.

It may be a better alternative to have something custom-made using a professional dressmaking service.

To get the best out of the experience it is important to give the dressmaker sufficient time to do their job properly and to be prepared for an initial consultation and several fittings. Many get booked up well in advance, particularly if they do a lot of bridal wear.

While using a professional dressmaker is more expensive than buying ready to wear, it is important to have a maximum budget in mind and to be honest about it.  This will give the dressmaker the information they need to advise properly about what can be achieved within the limit and ensure there are no misunderstandings later.

It is likely that the dressmaker will ask for a deposit before beginning work and this is something to be prepared for.

Allow plenty of time – at least an hour – for the first consultation.  This is not a situation for making a hasty decision. If you have any ideas of styles and colours that you like it is worth taking pictures to the first meeting, but not to buy any fabric, not only because the dressmaker may be able to source the right material and colour more affordably but also because they are experienced and will be able to advise on the best type of fabric to use to achieve the look that is wanted. However, taking fabric swatches is fine as it will add to the information the dressmaker needs and they will be able to advise whether a particular textile will work for the design or not.

In the absence of any clear idea of what the client wants the dressmaker will be able to show them pattern books from which to build a picture of the eventual outfit. To get more guidance from experts check the following Dressmaking.

Advice on underwear, support and accessories is part of the services offered by a professional dressmaking service. Also if the client has been trying to lose weight they should be at their ideal weight at the time of the first fitting.  Major changes to measurements throughout the process will add to both fitting time and the cost of subsequent alterations to the outfit.

Once the basics of the outfit’s style and material are established it is important for the dressmaker to be able to carry out fittings properly that client turn up with the shoes they plan to wear and wearing the underwear that will be appropriate to the garment.

Having a special outfit made is the collaboration between client and professional expertise of the dressmaker and the guidance above will help make it a positive experience for all involved. Our previous blog will help you to know about the Importance of well Tailoring clothes for making the right impression.

How Important is Wearing a Suit in the 21st Century

It is often said that dress rules have become more relaxed and casual, especially since the advent of dress down days at work and the widespread opinion that results matter more than appearance, but is this really true for men?

Wearing a suit for formal occasions, interviews and in certain types of profession is still the convention for a number of good reasons.

Clothes have a transformational power not only for the wearer but also for the observer. Wearing a well-cut, stylish suit can give a man confidence when it is necessary.

It is also believed that dressing professionally improves self discipline and this is true not only of those in the military. A suit suggests planning, forethought and being prepared but also sends out the message that the wearer has considered the situation important enough to take some trouble with his appearance.

Seeing a man in a suit also works psychologically on the observer.  It suggests professionalism, someone to be trusted and in whose judgement one can have confidence. It is not surprising, therefore, that a suit is generally the choice for those in the legal and business professions where trust is an issue. It is generally said that people form their impression of someone they are meeting for the first time within the first three seconds.

However, the style of the suit also matters. It is probably best to avoid the extremes of fashion in the more conventional professions, so the current trend for skinny leg trousers and tight fitting jackets that only just button is probably not a wise look for those ambitious for success in their careers in these environments.

Choosing a well-cut suit need not depend on buying a ready-made outfit from a top designer name.  For the same amount of money a man may be able to get a better quality suit by choosing bespoke tailoring. To get more guidance from experts check the following Suit Alterations.

The current “classic” style is one that is not likely to look dated very soon is a suit cut that would appeal to a military officer, one that accents a sense of the masculine through broad shoulders, a slim waist and slim trousers.

It needs to be made of good cloth and fit the wearer well and this is where expert tailoring will make all the difference. For anyone within reach of the UK capital, tailoring in London is still considered to be the best in the world. It is, after all the origin and home of the classic man’s suit. Our previous blog will help you to know about the Importance of well Tailoring clothes for making the right impression.