Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/696195
The Art of Manliness Continued JOBS for TEAMS | 14 www.jobsfor teams.com them truly customized. A lot of in- house tailors at ready-to-wear mens- wear stores aren't really making custom adjustments even if they do take your measurements — they're just trimming to pre-determined lengths and widths. Look for local, independent shops and take the time to build a rapport with the tailors you find. The extra time is worth it in the long run.. 4. Sew Your Own Buttons and Make Other Small Repairs Minor repairs don't take much time to learn. Anyone can become proficient at sewing buttons onto clothes in a day, and closing up small rips or applying patches isn't that much more complicated. The next time you need some- thing minor fixed on a piece of clothing, look up how to do it your- self. Not all repairs will be worth the effort, but you can save a lot of money if you don't depend on tai- lors' shops for the really basic stuff. 5. Make Your Own Alterations Taking the DIY approach one step further, a dedicated hobbyist can get nearly as good as a professional at minor clothing alterations. As old shirts and trousers wear out, practice hemming them to dif- ferent lengths. See if you can make an old shirt of yours fit a family member with a slightly different build, at least in the sleeves. If it turns out to be something you're good at, you can move on to more challenging adjustments like taking in darts. Not everyone has the knack or the inclination, but someone who can take a thrift store shirt home and hem it to fit without a tailor's help can both save money and enjoy a wider thrift-store selection. 6. Raid the Family Closets Clothes handed down from father to son are as traditional as it gets. If you don't have a father with a suitable build (or wardrobe), check around with broth- ers, uncles, cousins — any male relative in about your size. This dove- tails especially nicely with the self-taught repairs and adjustments we've mentioned. It's one thing to ask for charity cast-offs out of the blue, but it's quite an- other when your relatives know that "fixing up old clothes" is a hobby of yours. Of course, you do have to be careful. Once word gets out that you're a dab hand with a needle, they'll probably want you to start working on their clothes, too. But that's not a bad trade if you're get- ting a good supply of lightly-worn pieces for your own wardrobe.