About Us

Individually Suited was founded in 2002 by Carol Bentley out of personal frustration in trying to find appropriate clothing to build a business wardrobe. Carol feels that everyone deserves to be able to dress in the most flattering styles and colors and to have beautiful clothes that fit properly. Out of that vision, Individually Suited was born. Today, Individually Suited provides business wear, business casual, resort casual and special occasion clothing for discerning men and women across the US. We are best known for our superb quality, attention to customer needs and our unique Perfect Copy service.

Price vs. Value

Custom clothing is not for everyone. It is for people who value the importance of their image. Our pledge is to deliver the finest value in clothing regardless of price. While the initial price of custom clothes is a bit higher than the average off-the-rack wear, the quality, workmanship and attention to detail means the clothes look better and last longer.

Customer Service

Individually Suited prides itself on providing personal, pampering service to the clients. Our Wardrobe Consultants assist our clients in finding the right colors, styles and fabrics for their individual needs. We go the extra mile to insure that every client is delighted with each garment they purchase.

Our Associations

Individually Suited is an active member of the business community and participates in a number of professional organizations. We are proud members of the prestigious Custom Tailors and Designers Association, a 125 year old guild of the finest custom tailors in the United States.

In 2005, Individually Suited won a blue ribbon at the annual design competition and show at the CTDA Annual Convention in Las Vegas.

We are also members of the Association of Image Consultants International, the largest organization of professional image comsultants in the world. Whenever one of our clients needs the service of an image consultant, we can connect them up with the image consultant that best suits their individual needs.

Recent Press Coverage

The clothes lay a foundation for your success
Sean Meyers Special to the Business Journal
Published: September 26, 2006

The eyes have it when it comes to dressing for success.

Men and women in business should place less importance on current fashion trends and spend more time choosing outfits that flatter their figures and funnel attention to the face, says Carol Bentley, founder of Portland's Individually Suited.

"Eye contact is the foundation of building a business relationship," says Bentley. "If you don't have that, you're not going to be successful. When it comes to getting a job or getting a promotion between two equal candidates, generally the one that looks the best is going to get the job."

Eva Malachowski of Image Enterprises of Portland agrees. "Ninety-three percent of business communication is nonverbal -- your overall appearance of health and fitness, your tone of voice, your clothing, your mannerisms and whether you smile."

Direct attention to your face by removing distractions from your outfit such as loud ties or bright colors worn away from the neckline, says Bentley. Many of the basic rules of dressing for success are based on this principle and are the same for men and women: a conservative suit of solid color, professional hairstyle, neatly trimmed nails, minimal use of cologne or perfume and jewelry and polished shoes. Men should wear dark socks and carefully groom facial hair. Women should wear tan or light hosiery and need to apply makeup correctly, she says.

Want to blow a business deal? Bare your midriff and toss in a belly ring for good measure, says Bentley.

The most common mistakes include choosing business outfits that are unflattering, that don't fit properly, that aren't color-coordinated or that are inadequate or inappropriate for the situation, she says. "Where a women puts the length of her jacket can make a huge difference." A dark suit projects more power for women, as do angles such as pointed or notched lapels.

"The perception is different for men and women," Bentley says. "If a man works in shirtsleeves, it's assumed that he has a jacket hanging somewhere and can put it on any time. If a women isn't wearing a jacket, it's assumed that she's a receptionist or a secretary. A women should always have a jacket that she can put on if the situation arises."

Always purchase the best-quality clothing you can afford and have at least one very high-quality suit, Bentley advises. Make a wardrobe budget and include the cost of tailoring.

The book "Dress for Success" was originally published 30 years ago and many of rules have changed, especially for women, says Malachowski. The skirted suit is still the business uniform of choice for American women, but it's now much more acceptable for women to assert some personality when selecting their wardrobe. "The idea is to fit when standing out," she says. "Noted, but not overly noted."

Malachowski charges $50 per hour for her services. A full makeover for a business client costs about $550 and includes training in four areas of image: skin care and grooming, color analysis, proper fit for body type, and wardrobe. Compared with New York and Los Angeles, getting a makeover in Portland "is fairly inexpensive," she says.

That cost can be quickly recovered in clothing savings alone, she adds. "The average person uses only 20 percent of their wardrobe. The other 80 percent is just hanging in the closet. A lot of people make emotional purchases when it comes to clothing."

She feels that business dress will grow increasingly casual as studies prove that companies with relaxed dress codes can be very productive.

Dress codes are more relaxed in the laid-back Northwest, agrees image Barb Wilson, a Wilsonville image consultant. "People dress down so much in the Portland area that it lowers the expectations. But the fact is, appearance still makes a big difference in a lot of different situations. When you go into a restaurant, you get faster and better service when you're dressed professionally."

Wilson stresses the importance of color when meeting with a new client. She uses a proprietary system that helps match the right colors to the person. "Not everyone looks good in black and white," says Wilson. New clients are stunned when they look in the mirror and realize how some colors can be very unflattering, she adds. "Then you put a flattering color against their face and they can instantly see the difference. They literally gasp. The difference between looking good and looking great can be the color." Pattern size and proper fit can also make a huge difference, she adds. "You can lose 10 or 20 pounds in a matter of minutes."