Bespoke with Chris Despos, Pt. 2 – First Basted Fitting
Last week I wrote about designing my first bespoke suit with Chicago’s Chris Despos. Chris called me up only a few days later to tell me he would have my first basted fitting ready Saturday. So I dropped by Oak Street and the suit is really starting to take shape.
The Everyday Kit
It doesn’t matter how good a pair of shoes you buy or which world-renowned tailor makes your coats, you just can’t wear them every day. If you do, you won’t be wearing them at all after long. But there is a whole kit of stuff you do get to use every day that often gets overlooked.
Bespoke with Chris Despos, Pt. 1 – Measurements & Styling
Very exciting news: Chris Despos has kindly offered to help me give Simply Refined’s readers a closer look at the bespoke process by cutting me a suit. I’ll be chronicling the process here, including technical detail, my own reactions, and any tips I can humbly impart along the way. Here’s the first installment.
Of Icons and Institutions
The presence of icons and institutions might is as prevalent in the world of clothes as anywhere else. And maybe more so. Whether you’re into classic high-end tailoring or the most avant-garde street wear, you’ve got your icons. We all do. So let’s take a look at what these institutions mean to us and why we love them in the first place.
On Fit, Proportion, and Size
Earlier this week a reader sent me a question about the size of some lapels on a ready made suit coat. There’s never an easy, one-size-fits-all answer to questions like this, just like there’s no one-size-fits-all lapel for every person. But ready-made brands seem to think there is, and forget the all important balancing of fit, proportion and size.
