Made to measure beachwear is built from your measurements and brief. Ready-to-wear drop pieces use a named design on a standard block, then are tailored to your numbers before dispatch. Every 3LATO piece is handmade; the difference is how the pattern starts.
Choosing between the two is a timeline and occasion decision, not a quality tier. Custom order when the trip or event is the brief; browse drops when you need cloth in hand quickly.
What is the fit difference between made to measure and ready to wear?
Drop pieces start from a design block shared across the edition, then are adjusted to your bust, waist, hip, and height before shipping. Custom commissions start from a pattern mapped to your brief and body with no shared block. Both paths are bench-made, not factory rack stock.
When your proportions sit far from the block, even pre-dispatch tailoring on a drop cannot fix every line. That is when a commission wins.
How long does each path take?
Drop pieces ship within the same week after purchase, including measurement tailoring before dispatch. Custom orders confirm a production slot against your deadline at enquiry. There is no fixed public week count for commissions; see the custom order FAQ.
When should you choose made to measure beachwear?
Choose custom for exact shade, length, and support; when the occasion is the trip itself; or when mall blocks consistently fail your ratio. Start with a drop when the timeline is tight and you want to test fit and cloth first.
Does made to measure cost more than ready to wear?
There is no public price table. Custom work is quoted case by case with deposit and balance before ship. Custom colour on cotton and elastic pieces is included at no extra cost per the custom order FAQ.
Fit is the product. Cloth and colour follow once the pattern is true.
Who should start with a drop before commissioning?
Clients with tight travel dates often buy in-stock drops first and commission the next trip. Sold-out designs can sometimes be remade as custom with an enquiry. A piece like the Sand Set lets you feel the knit and proportion before committing to a larger brief.
Compare paths side by side on how to commission a honeymoon dress when the occasion is a beach week.
Vacation cluster peers: honeymoon commission, resort capsule, vacation outfit brief.
Submit numbers on sizing even when you start with a drop. Tailoring still applies.
Frequently asked
Can I alter a ready to wear 3LATO piece instead of commissioning? +
Minor adjustments may be possible; major silhouette changes belong in a custom enquiry. Send the design and what you want changed.
Do made to measure and drops use the same fabrics? +
Yes: acrylic yarn and cotton with elastic are the core options for sand dresses and similar knits. Custom colour range is widest on cotton and elastic.
What measurements do I need for made to measure beachwear? +
Bust, waist, low waist, hips, seat, and height. Full guidance lives on the sizing page.