Why Your Tailor Asks About Your Dominant Hand
Your tailor asks about your dominant hand because your body isn't symmetrical.
Most guys think they're built evenly. Left side mirrors right side, everything balanced. Wrong. Your dominant side—the one you write with, throw with, carry bags with—sits differently. The shoulder drops slightly lower from years of use. That arm swings more freely. Even your posture shifts to accommodate decades of favoring one side.
A good tailor builds this into your jacket from the start.
They'll add a touch more room through the right armhole if you're right-handed. Maybe adjust the shoulder padding to level things out. The button stance might shift a hair to accommodate how you naturally stand. Small tweaks, but they're the difference between a jacket that looks tailored and one that actually fits your specific body.
Here's what most people miss: the jacket's internal construction changes too. The canvas—that floating layer between your fabric and lining—gets shaped differently on each side. Your dominant side needs more give, more flex. Your tailor literally sculpts the jacket's skeleton to match how you move.
Watch someone put on a well-fitted jacket. They don't fight it. The sleeves slide on effortlessly. The shoulders settle into place. That's not accident—that's asymmetric construction done right.
Off-the-rack can't do this. Mass production assumes everyone's built the same. They cut left and right pieces identically, then wonder why jackets never quite sit naturally. Even expensive ready-to-wear misses this fundamental truth about human anatomy.
This is also why you should always tell your tailor about old injuries. Broke your collarbone? Separated your shoulder playing rugby? These things change how you carry yourself. A skilled craftsman factors everything into the build.
Next time someone asks about your dominant hand during a fitting, know they're not making conversation. They're gathering intelligence. Every answer helps them build something that works with your body, not against it.
Your jacket should feel like it knows you.