How to build an inspiration board for a custom outfit

Stage 1: collect without judging

For a week or two, save anything that catches your eye. Keep it in one place, such as a phone album or a private online board, so nothing gets lost.

• Whole outfits you would wear as they are.
• Single details: a cuff, a neckline, a border, a way of draping a dupatta.
• Colours and textures: a photo of a flower, a tile or a fabric shop shelf can say more about colour than any outfit.
• Your own wardrobe: photos of clothes you own and love, and a note on why.
• Things you dislike: a few “not this” images are surprisingly useful.

Stage 2: look for what repeats

Lay everything out and look for patterns. Perhaps every sleeve you saved is flared, or every neckline sits high, or the colours are all soft and dusty. Those repeats are your real preferences, and they matter more than any single picture. Write them down as plain statements: “I like long, loose sleeves”, “I prefer a straight cut to a flared one”, “I keep choosing muted greens and greys”.

If colour keeps coming up, our gentle guide to choosing colours that suit you can help you narrow it down. If shapes keep coming up, the styles library helps you put names to them.

Stage 3: edit to a brief board

Now cut down to the pictures that actually describe the outfit. Three to six is plenty: one for the overall shape and length, one or two close-ups of the details you want, and perhaps one for colour or mood. If two pictures say the same thing, keep the clearer one.

Number each image and write one line for it: what to take from it and what to ignore. Our guide to briefing a tailor with screenshots shows how to crop and label. Add your list of repeats at the top, because it tells the maker how to fill any gaps in your style.

Add the practical facts

A board shows taste; it does not show how you live. Add a few lines on:

• The occasion: everyday, work, Eid, a dinner or a family gathering.
• Climate: a humid summer, an air-conditioned office or a cold winter all change the fabric and lining.
• Comfort needs: sitting on the floor, cycling, nursing, or simply hating anything tight at the waist.
• Modesty preferences: sleeve length, neckline depth and whether sheer areas need lining.
• Fabric: whether you want us to supply it, or have your own to send once we have confirmed it.

Sending your board

Upload the edited images on the custom quote form and paste your notes into the design box, with your measurements. Our Send Your Design service explains how we turn the board into a written design, and we tell you before you pay if anything on it will not work in your fabric or size.

Building a board for Eid in Sydney or Melbourne? The Australia custom design page explains how delivery and the quote currency work from there. Everything is made in Pakistan, agreed in writing first, and made in 5 to 7 working days once paid in full.