Is Savile Row living in the past?

[Monkeynuts]

if I was to want to get a nice, bespoke suit, but couldn't afford 3 grand plus (maybe more about 4 - 500 quid)... where would I go????

You don't need £3000 for Savile Row. £1500 shouold get you some serious quality and personal attention.

In London your choice at lower prices is more limited than in "the provinces" where you can often find some old-fashioned place to knock you up a nice suit at a very reasonable cost but you could try the likes of:

John Lewis
Austin Reed

or better still

Redwood & Feller (http://www.redwoodandfeller.co.uk/) who should be able to help you at not too much more than that price. This is a proper place where they know what they are doing. For that price you would be talking "made to measure" rather than bespoke - think the difference is in the number of fittings and amount of hand finishing but I'm no expert on this. Everyone's favourite socialist grandpa Tony Benn gets his suits there I believe but I don't think you'd be obliged to have your waistband under your armpits if that was not your wish.

 

[H.Dot]

His shop is on Savile Row, innit? Or just off it opposite Gieves and Hawkes?

lol!!

I didn't know he had a shop there, I've only seen his stuff in Selfridges anyway

Back to Matalan it is, then.

 

[butterfly child]

Not true. Whilst it's nice to have the above they won't compensate for a shit suit.

That doesn't mean you have to spend a lot though. You can get good suits for £100 (in the sales that is) - £200, especially if you know what you are looking for.

Reg didn't say a shit suit, he said a humble off the peg suit.

As any self respecting woman knows, the best way to shop is to buy one quality item, and wear it with your standard high street stuff. Then, as your high street stuff wears out, replace it with a quality item.

Accessories make an outfit, that's why a clever woman will go for nice shoes, bag, jewellery, to wear with her little black dress.

 

[behemoth]

Just bought my first ever suit for £30 from Tesco. Jacket £23 and trousers £7. Perfect fit.

 

[dogmatique]

Just bought my first ever suit for £30 from Tesco. Jacket £23 and trousers £7. Perfect fit.

Don't stand near any naked flames; they melt you know.

 

[Andy the Don]

This thread reminds me for my fortieth birthday I have promised myself a hat from James Lock & Co in Saville Row (well actually its St James, but close)..

What do we think..?? (honest opinions now..)

 

[Monkeynuts]

Reg didn't say a shit suit, he said a humble off the peg suit.

As any self respecting woman knows, the best way to shop is to buy one quality item, and wear it with your standard high street stuff. Then, as your high street stuff wears out, replace it with a quality item.

Accessories make an outfit, that's why a clever woman will go for nice shoes, bag, jewellery, to wear with her little black dress.

"Even the humblest" implies "no matter how shit".

You can't just apply the same lessons from women's clothes to men's. A suit has to fit properly; you can get away with an OK fit on a dress. A dress is simply constructed; a suit takes a lot of work around the shoulders and if poorly made will look shit. A suit is a large garment that is worn outermost and dominates one's appearance.

There is no point at all in wearing a Hermes tie and a pair of Churches with an £80 washable polyester suit with wrinkly shoulders. A £170 or £200 wool one from M&S yes; as I say no need to spend a fortune - but that there's no redeeming something made badly out of poor materials.

 

[Reg in slippers]

*told*

 

[Louloubelle]

if I was to want to get a nice, bespoke suit, but couldn't afford 3 grand plus (maybe more about 4 - 500 quid)... where would I go????

try to get a cheap flight to Hong Kong and go here
http://www.raja-fashions.com/005.html
suit and a nice trip away for £500

 

[Louloubelle]

BTW the oxfam shop in Camden High Street sells very expensiive designer suits for arounfd the £20- £25, they don't have them in all the time but they occasionaly have really incredible suits. For that money you cna buy one and pay to have it alterered if it's a bit too big (I think, not really a suit expert) .

 

[kyser_soze]

Raja is the dude who advertises in the Eye isn't he? Always contemplated getting one of his suits and some shirts...

If I had the money I'd definitely buy from Saville Row - I've owned one bespoke suit in my life when I was in my early 20s (it got lost...) that I had made by a tailor in Colchester (cost about £850) and every time I put it on I felt better - just the material feel and the fit...showed me that clothing is important in my psychology at least, and no doubt many others.

 

[Tank Girl]

This thread reminds me for my fortieth birthday I have promised myself a hat from James Lock & Co in Saville Row (well actually its St James, but close)..

What do we think..?? (honest opinions now..)

it's a good hat

 

[Mr_Nice]

I had 2 tailor made suits whilst in Thailand and they are bloody brilliant £120 3 fittings etc always get great comments about them, if I was going to get another suit then I would defo get a tailored suit