Custom-made and bespoke dress shirts are better investments than off-the-peg ones in the long run - here's why

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It comes as no surprise then, that at the end of the day, investing in a great dress shirt will have more of an impact on your style than your wallet.

Bespoke and custom-made shirts, in particular, are sure investments for the fashionable guy.

James Cook, bespoke manager at renowned tailoring company Turnbull and Asser's Mayfair branch, shares our views. During a recent interview, we asked what the difference between a bespoke or custom-made piece was compared to an off-the-peg shirt:

"Quite simply, a cheaper item is a false economy, as you will need to replace it sooner," Cook told Business Insider. "[Turnbull and Asser has] built a reputation on the fact that our shirts last."

Turnbull and Asser has built its reputation on creating high-quality dress shirts, as well as other garbs, for respected world leaders such as Winston Churchill, as well as for the James Bond movies, and even the royal family. The 130-year-old tailoring company actually holds the much-coveted Royal Warrant, which was thrust upon it by the Prince of Wales back in 1980.

The difference between an off-the-peg, mass-retail shirt and a bespoke shirt is massive. Sure, one might be just £30 and the other two roughly 10 times the price upfront, but the custom-made or bespoke product will last 10 times as long, which ultimately makes it better value in the long run.

To make it easier for you to put the hefty one-off price into perspective, we crunched the numbers. According to Cook, Turnbull and Asser shirts will last four to six years on average. Assuming that its shirts will last six years and not longer, the custom-made ones that retail online from £185 will set you back around £30 a year, while the bespoke shirts that start from £245 will roughly cost £40 a year.

In other words, the shirts bought from Turnbull and Asser will be much cheaper than the shirts you buy at your local departments store, as you won't have to replace them nearly as often. In addition to that, they will actually fit a guy's individual body type. Most of us can thus agree that bespoke and custom-made just make more economical sense.

For those who don't know about Turnbull and Asser, the company is mostly known for its bespoke services. Bespoke gives the opportunity for the customer to create their own individual design from scratch with the help of an expert and as James Cook put it: "In a world where fashion decides what the consumer will wear, the individual can assert their own characteristics."

A luxury that is well worth the cost, most would say. At Turnbull and Asser, guys who want to create their bespoke shirt can decide anything from colour to fit to fabric. Guys who want bespoke shirts will have to pop into one of Turnbull and Asser's branches to get about 20 measurements to create the template, but you'll end up with a product that is sure to become a staple in your wardrobe. As a bonus, all bespoke shirts are fitted with ecologically sustainable mother-of-pearl buttons.

Custom-made is also a great investment for any guy who either wants a slightly cheaper alternative to bespoke, or who simply doesn't have the time to go to one of the three London branches, but still wants a shirt exclusively made for him.

The only real downside for ordering bespoke or custom-made is the time it takes for your shirts to get to you. That being said, quality takes time, and patience is key. After the designs are sent to the factory, it will take around three to four weeks for anyone to get their custom-made or bespoke shirt through the mail.

You can browse Turnbull and Asser's custom-made shirts, including the shirts worn in the James Bond movies, by following this link. Alternatively, you can find more information about the company's bespoke services here.