Bespoke: Forethought For An Easy Life
When I last had my ears lowered, my barber (pictured) Bangshanky, encouraged me to do something which I’ve never done before; book my next haircut in advance – which he did whilst I was paying for the haircut he’d just given me; what a revelation!
Whilst this may seem an obvious thing to do, I’ve never done it before, not even once, and I’m almost as embarrassed to admit it. Given that I appreciate regimen, I am advised by my acupuncturist this is because so much of the rest of my life is quite hectic, and, ergo, regimen is the yin to my hectic yang, it had not occurred to me to take this proactive course of action.
To this end, I like to go about my business in a similar fashion by compartmentalising one’s activities; coffee and social media en route to the humidor at one of Bristol’s fantastic speciality coffee emporia; Small St. Espresso, Full Court Press and Didn’t You Do Well being particular favourites. Then I pepper one’s day with consultations, discussing one’s patron’s sartorial requirements both for and aft one’s lunch – typically Hotel du Vin’s marvellous French onion soup – and finishing one’s day with a G&T at the bar. Perfect, one might say. Until, that is, Bristol’s local tailor is commissioned to make a suit, or other bespoke garment, in less than the prerequisite 6 – 8 weeks that it takes to fashion a hand tailored garment; or longer if you require your suit fashioned around your person whilst you stand, statue-like, in your undergarments.
And my plea to you, is this; as and when you become aware of a particular sartorial requirement, say, your wedding suit, or that of your best friend, your daughter’s or your son’s wedding, Ascot, Cheltenham or the Grand National or some other equestrian event. Or, perhaps, you’ve been invited for tea with the Queen, or indeed been invited to take part on a royal shoot, or perhaps you are attending interviews, or, heaven forbid must impress a judge, then throw your tailor a bone and make an appointment to discuss your sartorial requirements ahead of time. It will pay dividends for all parties concerned.
Thereafter, once you have made that appointment, and you have discussed your sartorial requirements, and the garment has been made, and when you have attended your fitting appointments, and your suit is ready for collection, and before you leave their studio: take the opportunity to discuss with your tailor what your next engagement might be and whether or not you may require your tailor’s sartorial expertise, and book your next appointment to discuss things further.
Or, better still, assuming you are happy with your new suit, and you have an informed understanding of what cloths your chosen tailor has to offer, and those which you like and do not like; then perhaps you might be in a position to have the cloth which you desire bespoken for (to make a selection of your desired cloth which your tailor puts to one side for you), rendering only the crossing of your tailor’s palm with silver outstanding, in order that he may place an order with the mill for your cloth, and let the cutting of your next suit or garment commence: no more phone calls, no more consultations, just a fitting appointment to arrange once the aforementioned garment has been made.
Wasn’t that easy..