Fall & Winter Men's Wardrobe Checklist

Do you have all your Fall & Winter menswear wardrobe essentials?   Here is a basic checklist to ensure you're ready to Live Dapper during the colder months.  Add or subtract items for a custom fit wardrobe for your lifestyle.

• 1 Overcoat in grey or navy, add a second custom camel overcoat for variety
• 2 Suits: 1 flannel & 1 bright slate (the new “it” color), try a custom three piece suit in thick chalk stripe and wear the vest with jeans for a warmer, dressed up look
• 2 Sport Coats: 1 textured solid in a blue, grey, or charcoal & 1 subtle pattern like a glenplaid or herringbone
• 5 Dress shirts, 10 if needed the full work week:  white, blue, lavender and 2 fun patterns (try a dot, paisley, or chambray this season), try all custom shirts to ensure a consistent fit
• 3 Trousers: blue, grey, and tan plus 2 flannel pairs in any color
• 1 Long sleeve polo, perfect for casual Fridays or weekends, and can easily be worn with a sport coat
• A cardigan, v-neck, or shawl lapel sweater, try the latter for a more updated look
• 2 belts, one black, one brown; Try a custom belt for fun in suede or a with a contrast stitch
• 5 patterned socks in subtle colors, too bold is too last year
• 5 ties in smaller patterns to make matching easy: 1 of each base color- 2 blue, purple, green,  and red, try wool for an updated look
• Pocket squares: 2 white, 1 blue, and 2 fun prints, be sure they match your suits and sport coats

Nicholas Joseph joins the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Companies

Nicholas Joseph joins the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Companies

We're honored and excited to be part of the 2016 Inc. Magazine 5000 fastest growing companies in America. 

The 2016 Inc. 5000 are the superheroes of the U.S. economy. America’s fastest-growing private companies wield powers like strategy, service, and innovation. On this list you’ll find businesses that exercise the body and the mind, push the boundaries of virtual reality and 3-D printing, and delight fans with rock concerts and (in the case of the No. 1 company, LootCrate) superheroes. Thrill to these companies' amazing exploits--and learn a thing or two about the hard, real work.  See the full article here, Introducing the Inc. 5000 List of America's Fastest-Growing Companies  See our listing here, Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors - Chicago, IL

Congrats to all Chicago companies that made the list! See Chicago's other Inc 5000 companies here: http://www.inc.com/inc5000/list/2016/metro/chicago/

Nicholas Joseph Anniversary Event

Chicago's best dressed gentlemen were invited to join in celebrating the 10th anniversary of Nicholas Joseph Custom Tailors. Guests enjoyed lite bites and classic cocktails provided by Fulton Market Kitchen while mingling with fellow impeccably dressed friends and learning more about Nicholas Joseph’s custom tailor shop in their River North showroom. Party-goers were also able to enjoy the store's 15% off Sport Coat Sale and had the chance to win fabulous giveaways including free custom shirts and a custom sport coat throughout the evening.

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Read more: Modern Luxury | Nicholas Joseph Anniversary Event

How long does it take for a custom suit to be made?

A custom suit can take anywhere from a couple of weeks up to a couple of months to make, depending on whether fabrics are in stock, where the suit is actually made, if your suit is true bespoke with a basted fitting, and how busy the tailors are.

If you are a new client, the general process should be to select fabrics, styling details, and be measured during your first visit. If your custom suit is made locally, you should expect to return for a basted fitting within the first 1-2 weeks, then return for a final fitting and slight adjustments 1-2 weeks after that. Overall, expect about 2-4 weeks total when the suit is made locally. For custom suits made overseas, the whole process can take up to 4-8 weeks total. Certain custom suit shops may also offer rush service for a fee.

For a custom wedding tuxedo or custom wedding suit, we recommend placing your custom tuxedo or custom wedding suit a minimum of 3 months prior to the wedding so that all fittings can be completed with weeks to spare.

At Nicholas Joseph, we offer two distinct custom suit makes:

The Made in Chicago Bespoke Suit

Fully handmade in Chicago with true bespoke finishes and basted fitting service, when preferred. This service generally takes 2-4 weeks, depending on client availability for fittings.  See pricing and package savings.

Fully Custom Suit

Fully custom suit made with fabric from the best Italian and English mills and client appointed styling details. This service generally takes 4-6 weeks, depending on client availability for fittings.  See pricing and package savings.

How much does a Custom Shirt cost?

Custom Shirt display at Nicholas Joseph in Chicago

How Much Does a Custom Shirt Cost?

Like custom suits & other custom clothing, the cost of a custom shirt varies depending upon fabric and craftmanship (labor & materials). When purchasing custom clothing, the adage, "You get what you pay for", certainly applies, but there are a full range of cost options available.

Who is Measuring, Cutting, Sewing, & Fitting?

If you are serious about your shirting, you'll quickly realize that it's about more than just the fabric and craftsmanship, it's also about the measurements, discussion about fit preference, and shirt tailor doing the cutting. After all, you could pay a thousand dollars for several custom shirts, but if the original measurements, the fit allowance, and the shirt tailor cutting the fabric doesn't have the experience, you will likely end up very frustrated - we hear these stories all the time from new clients' previous experiences with online, discount, or single salesperson custom shirt sellers.

Are they True Custom Shirts or factory made to measure?

There is a huge difference.  True custom shirts have specific measurements taken and a paper pattern is made specifically for each client.  Over time, multiple paper patterns are made a single client, for either different fit preferences or body change.  True custom shirts are hand cut by a shirt tailor, the fabric's design or pattern is lined up at the seams, and you'll notice by the small bump in the collar tip that they are folded, not cut, to create a luxurious appearance.  Made to measure is simply an existing size pattern that has small changes applied to it when the shirt is made in the factory.  All of our clients have noticed a huge difference between our True Custom Shirts and any factory made to measure shirts they have had in the past.

Are the Custom Shirts made with 100% cotton or better?

If you pay for a shirt to be custom made for you, it should be two ply 100% cotton at the very least - be sure to ask about fabric quality. Additionally, beware of many discount 'custom shirts' that are actually factory made to measure with poly-cotton blends or single ply cotton - they will look thin and inexpensive.  You can also tell the difference by checking the collars and cuffs for strong seams created by folded collar tips and strong interlining.

How much does a Custom Shirt cost?  Or how much should a Custom Shirt cost?

Our custom shirts start at $119 and go up to $450, depending on fabric selected. We have a dedicated family of shirt tailors that create individual paper patterns, cut the fabric, and sew exclusively for Nicholas Joseph custom shirts, and our clients come from around the world because they notice the difference - and value. Our custom shirts each require 12 hours of shirt tailor bench time, so in our opinion, a custom shirt that is decent should not cost less than $119 - and that's a tremendous value.

How can I learn more about Custom Shirts?

The best way to learn more is to make an appointment with a local custom tailor, or if you're in the Chicago area, Request an Appointment and meet with one of our Designers who will show you all finished shirts, fabrics, and design options.