13 January 2010

Show Us Your Bemberg


That's my first Made to Measure suit up there. A DB navy chalk stripe with side vents and hacking pockets. I went overboard on the hacking pockets but what did I know. I also wanted a yellow bemberg lining but the the salesman convinced me otherwise and I went with the purple you see.

It all worked out well with the fit for my first time. Beginners luck because it has never gone as well since. During an after work drinks party I wound up sitting across from a friend's very attractive assistant. I was bumming Marlboro Lights from her and she was drinking as many Miller Lights as I could order.

Five or six beers in to the night she arched an eyebrow (I wish I could do that) and said, "That's a very attractive suit. " I blushed visibly. "Do you like it?" I said. "Mmmm, very much," she said. I explained to her it was Made To Measure and not custom and explained the difference adding, "I picked the color of the lining myself." She smiled, "Show me your lining." I unbuttoned my jacket and parted the lapels. She shifted in her seat and whispered, "Oh, I think I'm getting wet."

I only remember thinking, "If this is what Made to Measure can do - - What in the hell happens with bespoke?"

42 comments:

  1. This sounds like a WASP 101 story.......just kidding. Love the tale!

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  2. I know but it's actually true.

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  3. I saw this movie. Baron Felix von Gaigern and Grusinskaya the dancer made a helluva couple, no?

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  4. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA. You're killing me with this one tintin. Oh man, I never thought I'd see wet used in that context over at The Trad. Awesome, awesome shit my man.

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  5. Stew - Yeah but this girl didn't want to be alone.

    LAS- I'm getting the impression there are those of you who think I made this up. I did not make this up.

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  6. I'm with ya Tin Tin. People say some crazy shit in the presence of a solid MTM (read Miller Lite).

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  7. wow. i hope for your sake it wasn't the miller's talking. though i know for a fact my lady always loves it when i wear my suits.

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  8. This is one of those posts when I feel like I'm invading a mens' lounge. But, I am laughting too. And, I am single . . . will file this away . . .

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  9. Men's lounge? It's an officer's tent. At least that's what I was told.

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  10. Pictures of the whole suit?

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  11. Chris- Glad to see you picked up the Miller Lite. I always like the girls who drank Bud Lite but beggars can't be choosers.

    startwith- You should see the Golf Foxtrot in Lloyd's of London. All those grey and navy DBs send her into orbit.

    Cathleen- This is an EEO lounge. And if you're looking to get a man's attention - - that line'll do it.

    Stew- I've been in some officers tents. We enlisted swine always had better booze.

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  12. Dan- I'll put it up tomorrow. I'm wearing it today and don't need another designer from Polo recognizing me on the street.

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  13. Sean- Since Stew has made this the Officer's tent I can't tell you. Too bad it's not the enlisted men's tent.

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  14. .......purple was definitely good advice.....and side benefits too!!........my favorite suit is a db chalk stripe which I got MTM from Chester Barrie.....I liked it so much I got another made in the same cloth sb......generally speaking I think women tend to appreciate the well dressed male more than other men.

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  15. Good for you tintin, a gentleman never tells!

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  16. If MTM and Miller can do that, try bespoke fly buttons and vodka....

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  17. Good thing you didn't go with a yellow lining...

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  18. I have a navy blue two button suit made by SAND with purple lining and purple stitching that holds the buttons in place. The stitching in particular is a really subtle detail on what is normally a relatively straightforward suit. I'll have to see if some Miller's and my suit can get those six words out of a lady's mouth. Ha-ha!!

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  19. Classic! A wonderful story to read first thing in the office... (A special stylish male friend of mine also chose purple for his first MTM and a few years later went back to the tailor and got him to rip it out and replace with a darker shade.... It was a subtle difference but I do like. I also appreciated how particular he was about it. Attention to detail is everything.)

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  20. Bespoke....here's what would happen-you'd have married her and she would eventually take all of your money.

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  21. Made to Measure
    "Oh, I think I'm getting wet."
    Wet = I spilled my 6th Miller Lite in my lap.

    Bespoke
    "Oh, I think I'm getting hot."
    Hot = I dropped my Marlboro Light on my leg.

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  22. I sweat. a lot. i can only where a white shirt once or twice. hence, suits, what what.

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  23. ADG, she could have taken all his money but he'd ran out carrying his shoes and suits and loading them into the U-haul before she had burned them.

    Win a few, lose a few, but looking good with purple lining in the jacket and you can run and fight another day! That is, until bachlorette number two...

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  24. Joe - Chester B was making Polo Purple Label before they went belly up. A shame. Great stuff. That black and white silk robe I posted earlier is Chester Barrie.

    James - Certainly not on the internet.

    CG - I have two pair of button fly trousers. Never wait til the last minute to waz.

    Heavy tweed- You win best comment. Stuff going out to you this Friday.

    ADG- I was smart. I never had any money to start with.

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  25. tintin - Are you saying you don't think my stories are true? Shame on you :)

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  26. Richard- I'm saying you shouldn't quit your day job.

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  27. You should have offered her an umbrella.

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  28. hahaha
    awesome.
    I wish I could find men in hot suits in Dallas.
    That aren't christian conservatives, that is.
    might be time for a trip to zeeeee city.
    stephanie

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  29. LBT- The best.

    Tricks- London is great this time of year.

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  30. Alexandre of London-did you get the suit at the BX? I see Alexandre's kiosk everytime I go in.

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  31. tintin said...
    Joe - Chester B was making Polo Purple Label before they went belly up. A shame. Great stuff. That black and white silk robe I posted earlier is Chester Barrie.

    ...I've got CB suits I've bought off the peg with minor adjustments that look better than suits I've had made bespoke on the row at twice the price. Not that they were cheap off the peg. CB are still functioning although on a much reduced scale. They still have a store on the row and the factory at Crewe, I bought an off the peg blazer there a couple of years ago. I believe a private equity firm now owns them. There are one or two off the peg makers like CB who make a superb product at a semi reasonable price (ie. not Brioni sticker shockers), Canali is another.

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  32. Max- You mean the PX. No, I haven't been on post (or base ) for a while. The State Street Marshall Fields had a Alexandre of Savile Row department going back to 2002 or '03. Don't know if they're still there but a fella named Michael from London ran it and the MTM program wasn't bad. The 2nd suit we did was a Dormeuil SB Peak Lapel. It didn't come out very well but they knocked $500 off which helped. Fully canvassed but I understand Alexandre has different levels at different price points. I'm not sure what AAFES has. Hell, I'm not sure Alexandre's still in Biz.

    Joe- Had no idea CB was still in biz. I had heard a PE firm bought 'em back in '03 or '04. Maybe even earlier. It was after they lost the Purple Label contract.

    My shirt maker in Chicago recommended Canali to me. I 've only bought one and gave it to a friend last year. Nice suit but I just didn't wear it enough.

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  33. tintin:link to their current website.

    http://www.chesterbarrie.co.uk/Contact_us/

    ...I have CB suits that are 25 years old....if you gave the Canali away you couldn't have liked it!

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  34. I had a similar experience just this weekend. The black MTM suit I have just happens to have a gorgeous purple lining as well. Hope your story ended as well as mine.

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  35. Erick- Black? Give me year and you'll never wear a black suit again.

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  36. Wore my dad's Alexandre green/brown herringbone Harris Tweed today. Not a second glance. Must be the tonal lining. Great fit though.

    One of my biggest regrets was missing out on a CB when we carried them at Britches. That and the Hiltons.

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