Sharp Dressed Man: Bespoke to "Suit" Your Budget

[Posh]

The fabrics look cheap, in fact I am going to drop by the studios at some point and see how they feel, maybe i can give some feedback on that here. I have a suspicion they will be shiny and horrid, like those Paul Smith/Hackett travel suits that died a death.

I still think that a suit is something that has to be tried on, when you get a suit tailored you go back in when it is half done to check it all fits, you cannot do that here, that should be of some concern.

Also it is important to point out that saville row suits are smart, the jacket on the suit I am wearing today pulls around your chest the more weight you put in the pockets, this is done with the interfacing and the famous saville row pattern, and what it means is the suit doesn't loose its structure, but more so that the structure in the first place is flattering.

If a suit looks cheap and poorly fitted on a model, then its a no sale for me, therefor I might be an idiot, but I will decline buying from these people.

That's a good idea. They also send swatches of any fabric they have in stock out to anyone, so load up and see for yourself if the fabric is indeed "cheap." And if you're fabric collector (there's gotta be at least one, right?), they will make a suit from your own bolt. It stands to reason they are not going to keep any $5,000 per yard fabric on hand so if someone sold you a bolt of said five grand fabric for $500, send it to them and have it turned into something magnificent.

Savile Row, like many other luxury purveyors, is not immune to the rising costs of production that has struck every level of fashion, along with the need to remain competitive price and product wise. Many retailers on The Row have what they consider their "entry level bespoke" suits and some other higher grades of suits, which varies from brand to brand, outsourced and made in places like Shanghai, Hong Kong or even certain locales of India. Just because they measure you there doesn't mean your suit was wholly or even partly made there. That's why ASTF is an important company in Britian in regards to suits.

The Row wants people to think that their quality and their service is the ONLY place to go for purchasing a high quality suit. If they get you to believe that, like any company or brand selling luxury, they can survive. The Row has already gone through consolidation and changes that were unfathomable even just 20 years ago. Less than 50 people worldwide will purchase a $55,000 Kiton K50 suit, not nearly enough people to keep a company in the 21st century afloat for any length of time, no matter the unparallelled quality.

That Edwardian-meets Matrix as you call it, is actually a Vivienne Westwood shirt, and they are not that new, she has been making these for years now, that style collar is one of her trademarks.

And Posh... if you are looking for subjects for your articles, Ms Westwood would certainly give you something to get your teeth into!

I think got most RGers, a reference to Vivienne Westwood's shirts would have been a little obtuse. I just wanted people to have an instant recall in their minds as to what the look is reminiscent of exactly.

That shirt is not made by Westwood; it is made by the same tailors of the suit.

Posh-

Great write up, as if ya hadn't sold me already

I'm looking forward to my trip home to get few nicely fitted, moderately striped suits in a classic English cut for the price of one Sayville Row.

Can't beat that with a stick!

As usual, very thoughtful and informative. I'll post pics when I get my new threads

Without your quick idea, I wouldn't have gone through the trouble. Now everybody can be helped thanks to your question. Oh, and ASTF will be looking out for you.