Showing posts with label blue linen. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blue linen. Show all posts

Friday, July 9, 2010

The Blue Redux


I have an inherent fear of tailors. There is always a sense of unmet expectations hanging in the air. It's inescapable. Yet, I go back.

Mostly because I like the guy. Unlike the big boy fantasy land of Saville Row with its hundreds of years of tradition and acres of fabric waiting to be waved under my unsuspecting eyes, my guy is different, he doesn't have the overhead. He is simply a very talented, hardworking immigrant working in his basement.

The way our deal works is I walk in with a piece of cloth, and a photo or sketch of what I want, he gives me the hairy eyeball, tells me to come back in 2 weeks for the first fitting. A week later its complete. Payment is 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. Our only major disagreement is sleeve length, but I think he is coming around, which makes me happy since he does exquisite work.

While waiting this week for the blue linen number, Steven Hitchcock, The Saville Row Tailor had a post about a completely unlined jacket he was making for a client.





It whet my appetite, and set my own expectations a little higher.

So yesterday it came home.

It's in the single button Huntsman style as shown in the top photo. Much to my surprise it didn't fit all that well in the middle. My fault, I'm losing middle inches, and since it will never have a sweater underneath, the result is baggy. Shoulders, length, sleeves, perfect. No harm though, it will be fixed by Monday. At 10 ounces its a tad heavy, rumply not wrinkly, but I knew that going in.







Pockets are deep enough to carry a bottle of wine too.

Toad

Friday, July 2, 2010

The blue linen jacket

Once upon a time I mentioned a piece of heavy blue linen dropped into my lap. My plan was to have the alchemist convert it into an odd jacket in time for the Easter bunny. One thing led to another, and it was several months before we connected.

Connect we did though, and once again he has worked his magic. Earlier this week I paid a visit for the last fitting. Here is what I found. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue...



Single button, patch pocket, side vent, 2 button cuff, peak lapel. A hybrid mix of formal peak lapel, and casual open patch pockets.



The sleeves need to be shortened, and I changed buttons at the last minute from brass and blue to something that matches the material. The lining which I forgot to snap is an old silk escape map.

The jacket will be ready Thursday so I'll include lining photos next Friday.

Toad