When you’re in the market for a suit that exudes wealth and success, you’ve likely encountered Oxxford Clothes.
You might have also experienced a touch of sticker shock.
With prices starting at $3,995 and climbing upwards of $5,500, Oxxford suits are a significant investment.
Let’s delve into the factors that justify this hefty price tag and why discerning gentlemen continue to choose these garments.
Oxxford Clothes’ Heritage Factor
Since 1916, Oxxford has been dressing the elite, from Clark Gable to Joe DiMaggio.
When you don an Oxxford suit, you’re wearing a piece of American tailoring history.
As one of the last producers of handmade suits in the United States, Oxxford’s commitment to traditional techniques ensures unparalleled quality at a premium.
The American Craftsmanship
Oxxford maintains its workshop in Chicago, eschewing offshore production.
This commitment to American craftsmanship and fair wages significantly impacts the price of each suit.
The brand’s dedication to maintaining a skilled domestic workforce is admirable but costly.
Each Oxxford suit begins with a unique paper pattern, cut by hand with shears.
The lapels require at least 1,100 individual stitches per side for proper shaping.
A patented hand-sewn ‘chain stitch’ creates the signature armhole, offering unmatched comfort and mobility.
The collar alone involves nine separate steps, while the entire jacket comprises over 160 individual processes.
In total, each suit demands approximately 25 hours of handwork, a level of craftsmanship that inherently drives up the cost.
Oxxford’s Meticulous Attention to Quality, Fit, and Detail
Oxxford sources the finest wools and fabrics, leveraging its parent company’s ownership of Holland & Sherry, a prestigious Savile Row fabric merchant.
The suit’s canvas, a proprietary blend created with an Italian supplier, is line-dried over the Adriatic Sea.
Oxxford’s fabrics often feature a larger weave, adding a unique texture that sets them apart from other luxury suits.
Moreover, every pattern is meticulously hand-matched, even on unseen parts like sleeve inseams.
Hand-sewn buttonholes ensure a sturdier, more elegant finish.
The trousers feature a unique one-piece waistband and pocketing construction, enhancing comfort and fit.
Traditionally, Oxxford used two-hole horn buttons, hand-sewn with waxed linen thread.
Even ready-to-wear Oxxford suits undergo extensive fitting and adjustment.
The custom process involves taking over 36 individual measurements for each client.
Multiple fittings ensure a garment that truly moulds to your body, a level of customisation that commands a premium.
Oxxford’s Suits Exclusivity Factor
Oxxford suits hold the key to an exclusive club of discerning gentlemen.
The rarity of these garments means you’re unlikely to encounter another person wearing the same suit at any gathering.
Each Oxxford suit is a unique creation, even within the same model line. The brand’s bespoke service allows you to create a truly one-of-a-kind garment, tailored not just to your body, but to your personal style.
Oxxford’s limited production runs mean that even their ready-to-wear pieces are far from commonplace.
You’ll find Oxxford suits in the wardrobes of CEOs, political leaders, and discerning professionals who value understated luxury.
The brand’s low profile in mainstream fashion circles adds to its allure among those ‘in the know’.
Owning an Oxxford suit signals not just wealth, but a refined taste and appreciation for true craftsmanship.
The exclusivity of Oxxford extends to its retail presence; you won’t find these suits in every department store.
This limited availability ensures that when you wear Oxxford, you’re making a statement about your status and discernment.
Oxxford vs Other Luxury Tailors
Oxxford’s “Highest Quality” line, including iconic models like the “Onwentsia”, represents the peak of their offerings.
The brand also offers a slightly more accessible “1220” line, though still priced higher than many luxury competitors.
When comparing Oxxford to other luxury tailors, several key differences emerge:
Unlike Brioni, which uses some machine stitching, Oxxford’s lapels and collars are 100% hand-padded.
Kiton, often called the “Oxxford of Italy”, shares a similar commitment to handwork but typically commands even higher prices, starting at around $5,000.
Attolini, known for its soft Neapolitan style, offers a different aesthetic to Oxxford’s more structured American cut.
English tailors like Huntsman of Savile Row start their bespoke services at around $5,000, comparable to Oxxford’s pricing for similar quality.
However, Oxxford distinguishes itself with unique features like its patented hand-sewn armhole and the extensive handwork in its trousers.
For instance, Oxxford’s trouser construction involves a one-piece waistband and pocketing, a labour-intensive process not commonly found in other luxury brands.
Even among American tailors, Oxxford stands out. Competitors like Brooks Brothers’ Golden Fleece line or Hickey Freeman’s Mainline collection, while high-quality, don’t match Oxxford’s level of handwork and customisation.
This commitment to handcraftsmanship places Oxxford in a unique position in the luxury menswear market, justifying its premium pricing.
The Investment Value of Oxxford Suits
An Oxxford suit is built to withstand decades of wear. The timeless style ensures relevance long after purchase.
When considering cost per wear, an Oxxford suit can be more economical than cheaper alternatives requiring frequent replacement.
The brand’s commitment to quality extends to after-sales service, with many customers reporting excellent experiences with repairs and alterations years post-purchase.
Are Oxxford Suits Worth The High Price? Here’s the Verdict
In conclusion, the price of an Oxxford suit reflects its heritage, craftsmanship, materials, attention to detail, domestic production, limited quantities, precision fitting, brand positioning, and long-term value.
If you seek the pinnacle of American tailoring and a garment that truly showcases success, an Oxxford suit may well be worth the investment.
Styling Beyond Oxxford Suits
Before you go, here’s one of the best-kept secrets in men’s styling circles, a secret that only a few expert image consultants know or are willing to share.
First and foremost, professional styling requires knowing your unique body shape and seasonal colour palette, as the main factors in choosing perfectly fitting clothes in colours that complement your skin, eyes, and hair.
Only then you can be styled by occasion, location, season, and time of day, with garments, footwear, and accessories from heritage fashion brands that depict an old-money style gentleman of high confidence and success.
Best part? You can find your body shape, seasonal colour palette, and ideal fashion style, in less than 5 minutes, thanks to our 3 simple steps, below:
1. Find Your Body Shape
Different garments flatter different physiques, so knowing your body shape is the first step in dressing like a confident man – free body shape quiz for men.
Once you know your unique body shape, take the second free quiz to discover your unique colour palette.
2. Find Your Unique Colour Palette
Remember, fashion comes in various colours, but not every hue complements your natural colour.
Take our free seasonal colour quiz for men to find the most suitable colours for you.
3. Find Your Ideal Fashion Style
By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your ideal personal fashion style.
The fastest and simplest way is to take our free fashion style quiz for men; it includes your ideal style, outfit ideas, relevant fashion brands, and much more.
Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
Only now you can style by occasion, location, season, and time of the day – here’s also where our expert image consultants and fashion stylists come in.
Our styling services for men are the most comprehensive and detailed on the market, backed up by leading stylists who will guide you step by step in creating looks that communicate affluence, elegance, and endless accomplishments.
Remember, owning luxury clothes isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful, you must first know your body shape and colour palette and only then style by occasion, location, season, and time of day.
Contact us today and save headaches, time, and money; the first styling assessment is on us!
It’s time to show the world the confident and successful you, a gentleman of exquisite fashion taste.