I haven’t had a chance to chat with my shirtmaker Freddy Vandecasteele in several months. But it goes without saying that he’s probably been busy making both men’s and women’s shirts. Recently, women’s fashion blogger Kristopher Dukes became a customer of Freddy and gives her review here.
Freddy Vandecasteele Read More »
For the historically minded, I came across a couple of informative posts by Italian fashion blogger Irenebrination on the history of Neapolitan and Florentine tailors and tailoring. Below is a scan from the Japanese magazine Men’s Ex comparing the “typical” Neapolitan, Roman, Florentine and Milanese cuts or silhouettes. Keep in mind individual variations exist by
History of Neapolitan and Florentine tailors and tailoring Read More »
Recently I had a chance to visit Michele Savoia in the Lower East Side in New York City. He’s a larger than life character who learned the tailoring craft in his Sicilian grandfather’s workshop. Savoia has a broad interest in all things related to design and considers himself a designer in all fields, not just
House of Savoia: Bespoke tailoring on the Lower East Side Read More »
When I was in Montreal recently, I visited a couple of tailors in the Plateau area: G. Tonino and Gerard Mayeu. My first visit was with Tonino and they have been in the same location for 40 years. Signore Tonino has three working tailors in the backroom (plus himself) where the suits are made. He
Montreal tailors: La grande mesure et demi grande quebeçois Read More »
In 2009, Patrick Grant at Norton & Sons relaunched E. Tautz and is already into his third season of the relaunched brand as a RTW offering. Fellow blogger StyleSalvage covered the Autumn/Winter 2010 collection of Tautz. The second return is more of a “soft” relaunch for Bernard Weatherill as Kilgour acquired this slumbering Savile Row
The return of two Savile Row natives: E. Tautz & Bernard Weatherill Read More »
The juggernaut of interest in Neapolitan suits and jackets finally has been answered. Sensing unmet demand, visiting shirtmakers and tailors from Naples have now made it to New York City. Hopefully we have now reached market equilibrium, supply has met demand and satisfaction has been attained by the masses. According to this Styleforum thread, you
Neapolitan suits and tailors in NYC Read More »
Mary, a Sleevehead reader, recently posted a comment, inquiring about Earl Benham, a New York tailor who has long since closed shop. Evening Independent (February 6, 1937) Curious, I did a quick search online and read a bit more about him. As Mary points out in her comment, he operated in New York City for
Tailors of the past: Earl Benham Read More »
Here’s a YouTube clip of an interview with John Lobb, the great-grandson of the founder of bespoke London shoemaker John Lobb. In addition to giving a quick history of his great-grandfather, he mentions that his two sons are also still involved in the craftmanship of the family business (and extols the virtues of elephant leather
Two island nations and their shoes: John Lobb (UK) & Otsuka (Japan) Read More »
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