Most people just take their jackets off mate.

Or have a Gentleman's Gentleman to do it for you!

Another one to consider is Brioni, if you like the Italian style - really soft, brilliantly cut.

And ridiculously expensive for a RtW suit, Canali & Zegna are in a similar bracket, you also need the build of a racing snake to wear them properly

Quote And ridiculously expensive for a RtW suit, Canali & Zegna are in a similar bracket, you also need the build of a racing snake to wear them properly'" Pretty sure Brioni does MtM (Kiton too). When the Pound was strong, you could get their second hand RtW jackets from Europe cheaply on eBay. "The Chap" magazine's Web site has a list of tailors and vintage clothing stores. Includes Savvy Row (sic) and Vintage Whistles thechap.net/content/section_links/index.html

Quote And ridiculously expensive for a RtW suit, Canali & Zegna are in a similar bracket, you also need the build of a racing snake to wear them properly'" Pretty sure Brioni does MtM (Kiton too). When the Pound was strong, you could get their second hand RtW jackets from Europe cheaply on eBay. "The Chap" magazine's Web site has a list of tailors and vintage clothing stores. Includes Savvy Row (sic) and Vintage Whistles thechap.net/content/section_links/index.html

That is a great web site by the way with some fantastic user names.
I notice you are on there

Quote ="tw15" Pretty sure Brioni does MtM (Kiton too). When the Pound was strong, you could get their second hand RtW jackets from Europe cheaply on eBay.'" You still can but charity shops are usually cheaper Quote ="tw15""The Chap" magazine's Web site has a list of tailors and vintage clothing stores. Includes Savvy Row (sic) and Vintage Whistles thechap.net/content/section_links/index.html'" No need when I can get something like this for £6.99 John Lester bespoke (works out of Harvie & Hudson), fine weave English wool, fishtail pants, working cuffs. In immaculate condition, just needs my seamstress to take an inch or so out of the waist & chest, the shoulders fit perfectly, so that shouldn't be a big job. Here's my latest find from eBay: Savile Row tailored, Isle of Islay tweed, fits like a glove

Quote ="tw15" Pretty sure Brioni does MtM (Kiton too). When the Pound was strong, you could get their second hand RtW jackets from Europe cheaply on eBay.'" You still can but charity shops are usually cheaper Quote ="tw15""The Chap" magazine's Web site has a list of tailors and vintage clothing stores. Includes Savvy Row (sic) and Vintage Whistles thechap.net/content/section_links/index.html'" No need when I can get something like this for £6.99 John Lester bespoke (works out of Harvie & Hudson), fine weave English wool, fishtail pants, working cuffs. In immaculate condition, just needs my seamstress to take an inch or so out of the waist & chest, the shoulders fit perfectly, so that shouldn't be a big job. Here's my latest find from eBay: Savile Row tailored, Isle of Islay tweed, fits like a glove

Cod'ead you must be the best dressed customer in that boozer you frequent.

It has been said, mostly (someone else's) bespoke too. I'm now looking for a pair of Trickers Stow brogue boots but they're proving difficult to find at the right price, especially in an 11.5UK

Now you're talking ... Trickers are fantastic boots.
Trouble is, I've never seen them at prices that could be called cheap, despite substantial reductions, and I won't wear shoes/boots that someone else has broken-in.

I wear brogues/boots most of the time and have a long-nurtured love of tweed.
Looking around at passers-by at Waterloo this morning, it seemed that fashion has caught up with what I have always liked.
When fashion moves on, I'll still be wearing it.

Fashion is transient, style is timeless

I'll have to have a word with Ian Paver. Pav always sorted me out with Loakes at a good price, they're not in Trickers league but I found a last number that fits me perfectly and all I'd do is phone him up and then arrange to collect them from whatever shop I happened to be close to. As far as breaking in is concerned, you'd be surprised at how many pairs of quality shoes can be found that have been worn once, if that. Emma recently blagged a pair of Lobb's for £25, when they arrived, I reckon the sole had the scratches that evidenced one outing, there wasn't even a hint of creasing to the uppers.

First it was Trickers and now Lobb.
Behave, I'm drooling here.

Worn once ... I could cope with that.

They now have a factory shop on eBay.
Not absolute giveaway bargains but cheaper than normal retail.

Is that factory shop in India?

'cos that's where many Loakes are now made, I think even the English Bench Made are cut in India now

"I say Landlord, that chap from Hull, he's a bit of a toff around town isn't he, always well turned out"
"He is indeed Customer, always looks a-swell"
"He is awfully rough though isn't he"
"Absolute scoundrel"

I didn't know that.

I saw an advert recently (not Loake) which used words like "using traditional Northamptonshire skills" ... which I took to mean "We want you to think these are made in Northants, but they're not".

Emma came back with just one item for me today, a 70s vintage Hector Powe 3-pocket, single vent sportscoat in probably the heaviest tweed I've ever seen, the coat itself weighs over 1.4 kilos.

Although hardly iconic, Hector Powe did produce some nice schmutter. This appears to have been personally tailored as opposed to true bespoke. I'd like to lose some width off those true 70s lapels and although the shoulders fit fine, I'm hoping there's enough left in the coat to give me an extra couple of inches in the chest.

I take it that R. Peglar esq has either pegged it or fallen on hard times ?

Dunno mate, it was in a charity shop at £6.99. It's in absolutely phenomenal condition, not a sign of wear, moth grazing or any other damage. The tweed also appears to be hand-loomed, not Harris tweed but certainly as rough as a badger's a[ir[/ise. I reckon it'll end up back in a charity shop when I pop me clogs

How I love eBayer's who simply can't be a[ir[/ised to properly list an item.

I've just picked up a brand new covert-style (not cloth), or Chesterfield-style if you must, overcoat for less than £20. Tailored from Porter & Harding's Glenroyal tweed in blue herringbone by a German company called Bernhardt. They appear to offer a remote made-to-measure service and this coat was originally produced as a sample. Unfortunately at a 40" regular (if you wear it over a jacket), it's too small for me but I reckon it'll soon be snapped up for +£100. It is brand new, all the pockets are still basted and it does have the usual covert features such as: Alcantra collar, and the four tramlines of stitching around the cuffs and hem. Happy days.

I already have a bespoke covert coat that fits perfectly without a jacket, so I'm now on the hunt for one that I can wear over a jacket but the quality and price have got to be right

=#FF0000EDIT

I listed the coat last night at 10.30pm and by this morning I had an opening bid of £74.95. Mind you, at least I took some time over the listing and took some reasonable photographs:

Here's the one and only picture in the original listing:



and here's the 1st of 17 pictures in my listing.

Just to say Codders, Toby is coming to meet me at my house to discuss my wedding suit and create my very own bespoke suit.

Very impressed with his service already and I've only dealt with them via phone/email so far, looking forward to getting fitted up!

Cheers for the recommendation mate.

No probs, always happy to help.

I've just outed a stunning 3-piece in John G Hardy tropical worsted



And am about to list a mint Aquascutum Personally Tailored dark blue shadow stripe in a 44"L

So I got married on Saturday, and thanks to Cod'ead's excellent recommendation I think my grooms party were one of the smartest ever.

The Groomsmen all wore made-to-measure three piece charcoal suits, each with a bespoke white shirt and Bridesmaid colour co-ordinated cravats.

My suit matched my Groomsmen, but was fully bespoke. It should last a lifetime and was worth every penny.

Toby Luper said it was a real challenge to create my suit, but one he really enjoyed. He was just as pleased with the end result as I was!









Lovely stuff.

Very smart but you should have got the two baldies to wear rugs for a bit of conformity.

You look well smart mate and that suit will be perfect for years to come. Pleased you had a good day and are happy with what Toby made for you. At least you know it's been well made, I'll lay odds you've got mates who would spend a similar amount on a suit that's been laser-cut and sewn in a sweatshop in China. But it will have a "label" and they'll find out the difference between a floating and a fused canvas when the front of their coats start to 'bubble'

Thanks Codders



Haha very true, however I also have three good mates and one little brother who are now proud owners of their own made-to-measure suit from God's own county, and we've all learned a lot from our time with Toby, its been a fantastic experience all round!

Personal touches like having our initials sewn into the jacket and on the cuffs of the bespoke shirts along with hand-stitched button holes were bob on too. I won't be going anywhere else for my tailoring needs ever again!