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Charlie Davidson tells me the
Andover Shop is the perfect store. You'd be wrong as sin to disagree. If you're a young man with good taste and a passion for clothes -- Charlie has a job for you. I volunteered but Charlie said I was too old. My attorney, Aaron Schtzenberger is proceeding with an age discrimination suit but I suspect we'll be able to settle.
I need a couple pair of khakis. There's a pile of 'em in the back of the store where Larry usually holds court and dryly informs customers the shop is not for sale. I might see Larry laugh someday but I'm not holding my breath. Bespectacled in tortoise shell, Larry has worked at Andover for...
Me: How long has Larry been here?
Charlie: Shit, I don't know. How long have you been here, Larry?
Larry: No idea.
Tumbleweeds bounce behind Larry's words. I'm bored thinking about khakis and look up behind a cash register covered in books, retail ephemera, shipping boxes and clothes. It gives an unsuspecting customer the idea money is not taken here. High on a shelf, next to a model of a B-24 Charlie crewed in WWII, are bolts of Marimekko selected for
Bud Collins.![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzcLTmSsC_06X_H_2NosIrB_xxwJyoWDoeuBif6EFwcmy7yIP8HSlrIc0_FMthgU2IZteADjawLAFnMMbrtiHy3uMD8BOMuQkt2a0MLk9gUHz37zQXNt4rDRft9bDCCm5MTVMn4w67Z_8/s400/Blazer+Bottom+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
The Gig? Are you 24 or 25? Maybe you're a college drop out with a prep school diploma and clothes mad. If you are, do you have any idea how much I hate you?
I point to the bolts of Marimekko over the cash register.
Me: Charlie, any of that for sale?
Charlie: Yeah, don't believe that Flusser crap about this place being a museum.
Me: What are you getting for custom?
Charlie: I don't know. Larry, what do we charge for a cotton custom pant?
Larry: Two fifty.
Charlie: $250.
Me: Make me a pair. Outta this (I reach for the most obnoxious fabric).
Charlie: You sure? I have some others.
Me: I'm sure. This is perfect.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtB04lCuFfT07XWMxcWIfivXOynWgHTL_vHFUMJbAHGRpuUiT14OQrBbFoMuE7yLVXFFWR8MeFhuQ0cvmHX2MAlaTUK0bt9Ox9y35Eq-viOqygyGhNpdq67TUNMPQwtOumazubwmjq2g/s400/Side+Tab+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Charlie: Belt loops?
Me: No,
side tabs.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKzX_CuTvhbQ0MN4ty4q0zt5wrG-AabOQy7VK2FMxdqkM1ygjQ-RKV5PDGdmBmOncDCrz1r8sar83618pLltQtuH6PwqR6rHcJAZcKYAf_JlxaOS_fTHN3d-60and5yYOfzmlq4W8bPq4/s400/Button+Fly+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Charlie: Good idea. You'd never find a belt. Button Fly?
Me: Perfect.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6tnoII-4XQUPhLOd-7O6wgpefibAdHY4sY_wUXrNIsvr1hrGeVyhwyBK2014sal6RzBetuYQbiwyiejxB45dCOy2euvE-N7JLivrJKgHGqJ0O5Ytth18x3yDQI2sF0kVSQ2RNsCySOA/s400/Tab+Closure+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Charlie: Tab Closure...
Me: Sure.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg604_m88ZDHIjaMKNM3GHoGgQ_bmhvfzCVq-vFHr8l2QmqbB0eZf71u51ALqUCDf29AHZ3GvalgpqkoUH41i-zfaNmxgFCGJYtDcLKqqg6WDQA1VnVL9iC43hhgQezf73mNaWDMdZZTFg/s400/Rear+Pocket2+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Charlie: One back pocket.
Me: No, Charlie. That's a little...
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Charlie: 20 years ago. Not anymore.
Me: You sure?
Charlie: Trust me.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxOrzSn5Ue7_orOy8Mv-7SuNkLVuCg61Sho8nXyNfHXWRV2zUMtEqpIGZUaN1lYH01RzxAxAq-61uvouYA6GFNoqiANjcJrGd8Aw84Q6ZU-N5ElgUBj6Cz286JcrqbAzfxpxChpBY7A/s400/2+Marimekko+In+the+Works+Go+Hell+Trousers_edited-1.jpg)
Me: The selvedge is beautiful. Seems a shame to waste it.
Charlie: What do you wanna do?
Me: Can you make side tabs out of of it?
Charlie: Sure I can (Charlie runs a hand across the fabric). You know...
Me: What?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYm6EJlNR4rSxTfOYYtD3SxhjuJ3jeDia1-h7X965_m9lMisO0wgs8pKTCm21qaUHahZpIxqNGup19bBfk49npdYuETRp6h7YRtgk4igEIYQ9ShP98aXMZTHxWpGdQmbBLjgJPm3lNQxU/s400/Marimekko+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Charlie: I was thinking...Why don't we run the selvedge down the out seam?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFAaNldpVacDZDX6hCoeYQbAswApaaR3LYGMNEkf11HE3tauyrxP8hZKH_lExDYvc3MCiEJpcWZtfpgnsvwTWXO-CHoBsoXUn6v3iVGjQBYllQXid6pZU_DH9PgqIQeVKSeLmTfvVWQ/s400/Shirt+Sleeve+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Me: Holy shit.
Charlie: I think there's enough.
Me: Ho-ly shit.
Charlie (Measures) Yep. There's enough.
Me: That would be... hysterical.
Charlie: It would.
Me: You don't think it's too much?
Charlie: Hell, I don't think it's ever been done. You'd be the first.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0mcI3kd99AMVNJQ50XIjFucbfmxnJotxGna546JuTAX_nrBSDcTWcpTdXLkQ0eafZrEr2eU-WRl4mN6-XYds72NxwRzCQxvwy5whrWVKNOs7Yh_hjZREr5yWnIBot8H1kcHUfUCVdkyc/s400/Jacket+Sleeve+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Me: You don't think it's too...? You know? Label obsessed?
Charlie: It would be if everyone did it -- but no one's doing this...
Me: I'll be damned. Lets do it.
Charlie measures and Larry writes it all down.
Larry: How wide of a leg opening?
Charlie: Nine inches. No, wait. John, what size shoe do you wear?
Me: Nine.
Charlie: Make it eight and three quarters.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIOMLjkJA31-l9ac4txKm0s-TsgHBrVLxsQcAn1OwOs_sekyoS38SREWKTwmMzHvseXF91ydDDmWc7uvNLNGNNMV5YHXfz-rwXfIznA3E1qBSWnP-o2OWoOZhUVJpcl2Cc6khPB5qjmY/s400/Cuff+Andover+Shop+GTH+Trouser.jpg)
Charlie: Cuffs?
Me: I dunno.
Charlie: You gotta have cuffs.
Me: They're for the beach. Sand'll get in 'em.
Charlie: We'll make 'em narrow.
Me: Inch and a half?
Charlie: Inch and three eighths.
Me: Done.
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Me: How long, Charlie?
Charlie: Couple weeks.
Think you can handle all that? It's a chance to work for the very best. Early to mid-twenties. Full time job. The center of the menswear universe. Call the shop in Cambridge for more information. Ask to speak to Larry. He'll be your first test.
(617) 876-4900