When Dolce & Gabbana launched their menswear in 1990 the thing that really registered was the design duo’s take on tailoring. Here was a sharp, skinny, tailored look that was a welcome alternative to the boxy wideness – lapels, shoulders, trousers – of the previous decade. By channelling a type of chic, Italian elegance rather than a Wall Street power vibe, Dolce & Gabbana announced itself as a new broom for a new era.

Fast-forward a quarter of a century and the new kids on the block have inevitably become part of the fashion establishment. And yet those roots – so deeply attached to Sicily and the Italian south – persist. Even though the label has played – and still does – with some pretty elaborate and decorative designs, Dolce & Gabbana still makes great sartorial menswear for those looking to simply dress well.

And yet the challenge for the designers, as it is for all those whose clothes are now globally available, is how to offer something special for the customer inclined to seek something that little bit – or even more so than that – different and personal. 

It’s pretty obvious that there is something about having things made specifically for you. The knowledge that you are in possession of an item that is yours alone is an unusual feeling in a world of mass production. But when you’ve had a part in creating the thing in question –and particularly when your contribution has rendered it not only more personal but even practically better for you, then the feeling of exclusivity is augmented.

This is why bespoke garments for men have appeal. Not only do they show the wearer’s aesthetic preferences, they also fit him well to make him look his best. But bespoke is an expensive and lengthy business, requiring a commitment to attend multiple fittings, and let’s face it, for many price and time will conspire to make it impractical. So enter, made to measure. It’s the more accessible cousin of bespoke, and can result in something that really is not much less personally tailored to the customer.

Dolce & Gabbana do make bespoke garments – one-off items in its Alta Sartoria (high tailoring) men’s collection that are intricate and finely crafted. But it also has made-to-measure studios in many of its flagship stores around the world where the man in search of something special for that wedding, party or even his daily life, can come and participate in the creation of a wardrobe that fits both his character and his physique.

The difference between bespoke and made to measure really comes down to process – and an understanding that your finished garment will not be created exactly to your dimensions, but to an adaptation of an already existing form. Whereas bespoke requires the creation of a pattern made to your body’s unique measurements, made to measure bypasses this by starting with a selection of ready-made garments already assembled. You try on the jackets, trousers, coats, shirts, whatever, to find the best approximate fit, and then an in-house tailor will pin and chalk the sample and make notes so the team in Milan can make your items fit properly.

Then, having chosen the style that most approximates what you are after – single breasted, double breasted, tailored at the waist or a more relaxed silhouette, for example – you are guided through options. There are multiple cloths to look at, and buttons and linings. Even options of embroidery. Essentially, you start to assemble your dream creation with the aid of a Dolce & Gabbana custom-tailoring expert.

This all takes place in a space that feels very on-brand. Red velvet, gilt chairs, a tailor’s table, mirrors, racks of fabric samples and examples of other garments you might consider – you can have made-to-measure shirts, too, with a choice of collars and cuffs, pockets and buttons – plus custom-made knits, ties and more.

When you’re done, the job is sent to Milan where Dolce & Gabbana’s tailors get to work. Within a few weeks your imagined garment returns to whichever city you are in for a fitting. A tailor on the ground will assess if any final adjustments are needed, and these will be executed.

The result is always Dolce & Gabbana in spirit. The house style has a sartorial Italian look but the specifics are yours. Because of this, you can be confident you have a special piece or outfit that will not only mark you out in terms of its character but also its fit. These garments have literally been tailored for you, and you alone. 

Dolce & Gabbana Made to Measure is available at the London store at 6-8 Bond Street, W1; dolcegabbana.com