so this is what we've come to? (Prince Charlie)

[MacLowlife]

That's pretty much how it is here, too, Nathan. Off-the-peg is by far the most common option for day-to-day clothing in my corner of California. Tailors exist here, certainly, but they are SO EXPENSIVE for made-to-measure suits and other garments. Bespoke suits (like Nathan mentioned, at the base model) will easily run way up beyond the means of most men. Highland outfitters are virtually nonexistent here.

Luckily for me, all of the women in my family are decent seamstresses in their spare time. Mum and my aunts (and both of my late grandmothers were) are all talented quilters, too.

A big Aye here, as plenty of people have benefitted from "amateur" sewing. Even those who can't bring themselves to start from scratch can do great things by altering and modifying existing garments. Those of us who don't have access to a sewing relative would do well to learn a few basics. If you start on a garment that cost you a dollar, you can't fall very far.