WHAT IS A BESPOKE SUIT?
March 19, 2013 Comments Off
I get asked this a lot these days working in New York. What exactly is a Bespoke Suit? What goes into it? Well, here is the Oxford dictionary definition of Bespoke:
bespoke
-
past of bespeak.
adjective
[attributive] chiefly British
It is a fairly broad term and in the strictest sense is the English equivalent to what would be called a custom suit in the U.S.A.
Its also a rather trendy word now that tailors in the U.S, Italy and even the U.K like to use more and more. Its a very old English word that I really learned, when I was 19 years of age, back when I started my first day of work at Savile Row tailor, Gieves and Hawkes. It was instilled in me that a Bespoke suit was a purely hand made garment (except for the long seams) with multiple fittings or “tryons” and an individual pattern made and stored for every client (the blueprint of the suit). Perhaps more than all that it was the pinnacle, the very best that the house could make or indeed could be made.
A David Reeves Bespoke suit
Nowadays, strictly speaking, any kind of “custom” or “made to measure suit”, made in a factory from stock patterns with little handwork could be described as a Bespoke suit and it often is.
Of course companies doing this aren’t doing anything “criminal”, but then I do feel banding the word around to describe essentially made to measure suits is rather a stretch. It brings to mind people calling fast food places restaurants.
I feel with the term being so broad that it is really important to find out how the bespoke tailoring house itself defines what a bespoke suit is.
What does it mean to me? Well it isn’t about marketing, for me its just a term I have been using all my working life. I still define the term as I did working on Savile Row. I hold myself and my company up to those standards of quality, service and authenticity.
I seek out the very best makers and work with them on a daily basis to produce my bespoke suits which are all made the old fashioned way, locally with a needle and thread. I don’t do this because it is easy, I do it because it is hard, and this is the only way to make quite simply the very best mens clothes that Gentlemen can buy.
A David Reeves Bespoke suit will always be made locally. An individual pattern will be made stored and amended as need be for the client and the service will involve multiple fittings, including a try on to ensure the right finesse of fit. David Reeves Bespoke suits are always made from high end cloths such as H Lesser, Dormeuil, Loro Piana, Zegna and Scabal as standard.
VELVET COLLAR CHESTERFIELD COAT
March 1, 2013 Comments Off
A nice custom piece. Slightly unusual interpretation of a velvet collar. naturally comes with a large internal scarf pocket (poachers pocket).
FOOTBALL COACH FASHION
February 21, 2013 Comments Off
Or as we say in the U.S.A “Soccer”. Did this little chat with the New York Times Recently:
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/02/08/sports/09soccer-photos-audio.html?ref=soccer
That golden voice…….
CASHMERE OVERCOAT
December 10, 2012 Comments Off
Here’s a nice Bespoke Cashmere Overcoat that got finished up recently. These pictures were taken in the new shop by me with the Iphone 5 so unfortunately they aren’t as good as they could be. My photographer is currently hanging out with the “back street boys” (of all people), somewhere in Europe and taking pictures of them for some reason or another. In any case I am enjoying working in the new space and its great that people can come in and take a look at all the interesting things that are at various stages of production. I hope to get some nicer photographs, showing off the shop soon.
DAVID REEVES ADDRESS NYC
September 19, 2012 Comments Off
DAVID REEVES UNION SQUARE HARTFORD BUILDING NYC
SUMMER IS OVER…AT LEAST IN THE WORLD OF CUSTOM CLOTHING IN NYC
August 15, 2012 Comments Off
Bespoke Overcoat
PRINCE OF WALES CHECK PATTERN MATCHING
July 29, 2012 Comments Off
My bench tailor here in NYC did a great job on this Bespoke, Prince of Wales Check Suit. I just had to take a few Iphone shots before it was delivered. Take a look at how the collar matches front to back and how the lapels match up on the front. Cloth is by Scabal Classics.
David Reeves prince of wales Bespoke suit
ABOUT: DAVID REEVES BESPOKE SUITS
June 3, 2012 Comments Off
We are simply one of the very few makers in the U.S.A that make an authentic, hand made, Bespoke suit, in the traditional English Savile row style.
We do not make these suits in any factory. Over 50 hours of skilled local labor go into making a David Reeves Bespoke suit, we make and store individual patterns and perform 3 basted fittings as standard. That amounts to a suit that is structured and sharp, yet soft and comfortable, a suit with over 6000 hand stitches put into its construction.
Please click on the images below to see handwork in greater detail:
The best that we can make you.
Appointments are held at the Dormeuil showroom in Midtown Manhattan or at a location of the clients choice subject to schedule and distance.
Consultations for this special service can be booked with David by calling 917 783 2270 or by Email: David@davidreevesbespoke.com
