Thread: Dapper Clothing etc...

RE: RC Suits

My experience is similar to the Duke’s, the only reason the RC suits are still in service is the second set of trousers and even then I wouldn’t wear them to any thing special. As stated earlier in the thread my longest serving and best suits came from Aquascutem.

I know this is going to sound trite, but ready made is never going to have the longevity of made to measure or bespoke and the difference is significant.

I’m not suggesting an investment in bespoke, but if you can find good made to measure and specify your cloth, your suits will typically last 3 or 4 times longer than ready made.

Staying on the soap box and moving on to shoes, Church’s are expensive but are amazing when you send them back for resoling and get back a virtually new pair of shoes.

YM

My ears are burning. Yeo-Man, Palmer are good guys. I know the owner of the branch on Fulham Road (the branches - there is a third in Barnes - are now separately owned) but as long as they haven't gone mental in Battersea you should have a good experience.

RE: RC - like a lot of retailers they buy-in stock for their promotions which obviously is good for short-term turnover, but not longterm business. However, RC also do some good suits and being as I know some of the gentlemen who post on here it would not be unkind I think to say that some of you are quite hard on your suits. Therefore what you should be looking for is their range that they run year-in, year out, not the 'specials' - and this is how you do it:

RC have their MTM suits made by a firm called Lambton and a lot of their cloth will come directly from a bunch supplied from Lambton. The bunch you are after is called 'Kensington'. The stock you want to look at, especially for those of you who partake in mess rugby etc, is at the front of the book - it's a 12-13oz from Dugdale Bros. Ask the assistant for the bunch (swatch book) and armed with this book you should now be able to walk around the store and find the rtw suits made from the same cloths. These are the ones you want.

Hope that helps

Sandbanks

PS Re-iterate the endorsement of Copperfields by Gremlin and if you mention me you should get a bit of money off. And no, I'm not on commission.

PPS Spikey-Kiwi, get back to me once you reach your Majority

Originally Posted by Cuddles

If I was wearing a suit then double cuff is de rigeur. For sports jackets, shooting, dress down Fridays (hah!) and such occasions plus pullovers, then a buttoned cuff is acceptable.

"Tab collars" however are for midget cavalry officers and fifties revivalists or a certain RHA officer scrum half of my acquaintance, who rode point to pointers like a scrum half and passed/kicked like a jockey!

I went throught a "phase" of wearing tab collars in my youth to the point of waering a white one in uniform. I think they look very smart, but sadly they're quite difficult to get hold of.

Originally Posted by Bouillabaisse

I went throught a "phase" of wearing tab collars in my youth to the point of waering a white one in uniform. I think they look very smart, but sadly they're quite difficult to get hold of.

Thank the Lord!

Originally Posted by Cuddles

Thank the Lord!

Just for you I shall track down a supply. You could wear it with your Picadilly Clan tartan

Ooooh, why you! I ought to...

Shoes?

Church, Church's Shoes, Churches Shoes, Loakes, Loake Shoes, Barker, Gant, Cheaney, Tricker's, RE Tricker, Sebago, Dubarry and Timberland Boots

Has anyone had experience of Huntsmans ready to wear line?

apropos of nothing, just finished reading "Bespoke: Savile Row Ripped and Smoothed" by Richard Anderson, former cutter at Hunstman and now has his own business. Very well written and gives a good insight into the world of bespoke tailoring

Moving down-market from the world of bespoke, has anyone bought anything from Booksters? Are they any good?

About eight years ago, I ventured into Shipton & Heneage to have a look at their shoes. Turns out that they do three levels of shoe, from the robust to the super fine.

Seems also that they get their shoes made by the same factory as the one who makes Churches and Loakes (there being so few independent shoe makers left in the UK) and therefore I bought a fine pair.

Two more pairs later, I see no need to go back to shop there as both black leather versions are going strong, remaining comfortable and keep a fine shine. The other pair are (suede moccasins) are so comfortable, it is almost a pain to remove them.

Beware the wearing of super comfy shoes gentlemen. For 47 years of my life I have worn boots and brogues, the occasional Oxford and of course Cotton Oxfords! Training and running shoes too. Over the last few months I have been working with slimy media types and allowed myself to be seduced into dressing down in the footwear department.

Which was fine until about two months ago my feet became absolute agony by night fall and cried out with pain at regular intervals in the night...after all those years of uncomplaining service, sport etc the dogs were now howling, let alone barking. Why? Lack of support to the instep and a slight fall in the arches. Which is remedied by a return to gentlemen's shoes or fro casual casual wear, proper deck shoes with laces!

Oh and a lot of Excedrin Back and Body...orthotics no doubt will be next.

Originally Posted by Busterdog

Moving down-market from the world of bespoke, has anyone bought anything from Booksters? Are they any good?

I've had a few swatches from them for a tweed jacket and the materials are good quality Scottish tweeds from a variety of makers. Haven't ordered yet so can't comment on the overall construction and fit.

Originally Posted by psychobabble

I've had a few swatches from them for a tweed jacket and the materials are good quality Scottish tweeds from a variety of makers. Haven't ordered yet so can't comment on the overall construction and fit.

Thanks Psy - I'm contemplating ordering a tweed 'drinking' jacket from them too. I like the look of the traditional cut - unavailable OTR over here in the USA. Let me know your impression of the finished article when you receive it.

what's the going with regards to belts and braces. When/ where is each one used?

And with selecting a suit what does the factory prefer in terms of two/ three button, pin stripe, flat front/ crases etc?

Cheers