Posted on July 21, 2022.

People still think of bespoke in terms of the old-fashion two-piece, but there’s a new class of designers making custom clothing more contemporary.

Bosses want bodies back in their cubicles, but that doesn’t mean things will look the same as they did before the 2020 exodus. The most notable aesthetic change may be the workplace suit—or the lack of it. The fusty old two-piece was already in decline before the pandemic, destabilized by casual Fridays, defied by Silicon Valley’s power vest, and upstaged by the popularity of streetwear.

Covid-19 was just another nail in its coffin. A 2022 forecast from personal-styling service Stitch Fix found that half of millennials say they never plan to wear a suit again, preferring to search instead for categories such as “business comfort.” Sales at clothing curator Thread actually went up in the past year, despite “significant declines” in the sales of suits, ties, and Oxford shoes.

So, if not a suit, what then? According to the global shopping search engine Lyst, big trends coming in 2022 are NASA-inspired jackets and … moon boots.

OK, so you don’t need to go to outer space to get some attention. For that, all you’ll need is a look that’s utterly your own—as in, tailored just for you. We’re not talking about getting your initials etched onto a wallet or asking the guy at the dry cleaners to let out your pants as an adjustment for those pandemic pounds. No, to obtain a signature style, you’ll need to take a leap into the realm of custom craftsmanship, where you can have something entirely unique made to your specific tastes. And think outside the office! A whole new generation of artisans is applying old-world techniques to make modern clothing, whether it’s a leather jacket or a tracksuit.

“Custom becomes more and more important as people become more discerning about what they love,” says Tony Parrotti of Maine-based Tony Shirtmakers.

Dressing up can feel good, too. Designer Patrick Henry, who runs the luxury label Richfresh, sees custom clothes as an act of validation after two years of reevaluating our priorities in and out of the office: “If you work hard and you have the financial means to have the best of things, you should have clothes that look beautiful on you regardless of your height, weight, size, or race.”

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