Bespoke Menswear from Knot Standard

Bespoke or custom menswear from online retailers is nothing new in the world of men's fashion. In fact, I have tried some of these companies and additionally have seen presentations from companies in this area of the menswear market. 

In a time of men's fashion trends where silhouettes are becoming ever more tailored and refined, I think the need for affordable custom or bespoke products that are easily accessible is ever increasing. I know that I have a challenge finding shirts that do not balloon or pants that fit at both the waist and legs appropriately. While high-end designers tend to have superb fits, sometimes we are not always looking to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars on a new piece for our wardrobe. 

I was introduced to one of the fastest growing custom menswear brands, Knot Standard, and thanks to them, was able to experience their product and experience firsthand. Let me start by simply saying, if you are in the market for affordable, quality menswear, whether for work or play, and a great fit, Knot Standard meets all of these needs!

 The company was founded in 2010, and I love the entrepreneurial spirit behind it. It has evolved to one of the fastest growing companies as ranked by Inc. Magazine, with showrooms in New York, Washington D.C.,  Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Dubai. Additionally, spaces are slated to open in Chicago and Los Angeles in the coming months. 

Personal designers are on-hand in the showrooms to assist with fittings and selections, but the product is also available online. With that being said, what is the online experience like? In one word, I would sum up my experience as effortless. 

There are two major aspects of the online experience, namely selecting your garment and inputting your measurements to ensure the perfect fit. I, of course, find the first part to  be the hardest as I want everything! In the end, I opted for a classic blazer in an iconic herringbone pattern. 

After selecting your piece, there are two choices for getting your measurements into the Knot Standard system- building a 3D body scan using the computer's camera, or following a guided process of taking key measurements of your body so the computer can generate an image of your body, and as a result your pieces will be made to fit your exact measurements. I opted for the latter, and must say that the measurement process was very simple!

I really enjoyed the customization options Knot Standard gives you. For $375 you would not expect to be given the option to select the lining color, have a monogram, or working buttonholes; however, these are all options during the online customization process!

I received my blazer a few weeks after placing my order. It arrived in a nice garment bag, and when I opened the package to try on the piece, I was shocked. I have to be in honest in saying that I was a little skeptical of inputting various measurements and ending up with a blazer at this price point that would fit appropriately. Needless to say, when I slipped on the blazer, it fit like a glove! The fit truly rivals some of my $1,495 sport coats. 

With that being said, I encourage to move at a fast pace to check out Knot Standard!

The Regatta Stripe

Navy and white is always a summer essential in my wardrobe, but combine the two into a stripe and you have what seems to be the perfect summer shirt. I am talking about the regatta stripe. I made a summer look that has nautical touches and details- the perfect outfit whether you are strolling the Riviera or lunching at the country club.

I love the hue of this blue, a bright navy/cobalt, paired with a stark white pant. Additionally, the pant connects back to the white cuffs and collar I had put on my shirt. The regatta stripe shirt is by John Byron. Men- if you have not tried them, you must! The custom shirting is awesome. 

For me, this look is quintessentially preppy, and as with any outfit, details are everything. I played up the nautical style with a rope belt by Ralph Lauren. Details can also be found in my custom made cuffs with a cutout and my inspirational quote that I selected to placed on the inside collar of the shirt.

Overall, this outfit is easy but looks very sophisticated. Stripes are always a great option as opposed to a solid, however, make sure you always opt for vertical stripes as opposed to horizontal! Are you embracing the navy/white combination this summer?

Custom Shirting Featuring John Byron

Custom made clothing seems to be the ultimate in menswear, whether it be a dress shirt, sport shirt, or suit. The custom segment, once viewed as unattainable, is making a come back in a strong way in the marketplace for menswear. I never experienced custom made clothing before meeting the John Byron brand, and now I can fully say I know why men love custom shirting!

If, like me, you find yourself looking like a "bubble" in an off the rack dress or sport shirt, custom shirting will fix all your problems of excess fabric and ill fit. It is important to state that the custom tailored, made in the USA options from John Byron are highly attainable with some styles of sport shirts starting as low as $133. Why pay upwards up $300 for a designer shirt off the rack that may not fit perfectly when you can get a custom tailored shirt for less?

I felt like a little kid on Christmas when I received my package of custom shirts after about a month wait (keep in mind, these shirts are cut to your specifics when you place an order so allow some extra time!). The presentation was beautiful, with sets of shirts in white boxes and tissue and a card specifying "Specifically tailored for" with my name hand written. I was highly impressed with the quality, as most of the shirts I selected are made from Italian fabrics that the John Byron brand tailors and makes here in the United States.

Perhaps what I had so much fun with was selecting my options for customization. The possibilities seem endless and truly do make the shirts very detailed. I, of course, love the options for monograms which are available in a myriad of colors, fonts, and placements, as well as the unique option to add quotes from famous individuals to the inside of the collar. Additionally, the brand offers up-to-date menswear trends for tailoring options such as Cut Away Collars and hidden button plackets. 

One of my favorite pieces that I ordered, a linen sport shirt, which I customized to have a 4-button placket and white collar and cuffs got me thinking about an upcoming trip to East Hampton. I am loving this new "pull over" style of sport shirt, and in the linen fabric I thought it would be the perfect piece for a casual summer look. 

The cut away collar makes it right on trend in terms of menswear details while the palazzi cuff adds interest as well. I envision the light blue color of the linen pairing well with a nantucket red pant or white pant as well. The perfect casual summer hamptons look would be completed with a colorful sandal for a pop of color.

Stay tuned for more looks with custom shirting by John Byron!