London
OK, here's review 2.
I'd been talking about getting a day jacket for a while, and my SO had blessed the venture. But most of the jackets we found in Highland outfitters were either too 'sixteenth century' for my taste (all scalloped pockets and great gauntlet cuffs) or in colours I'm not that keen on (lovat green may be fine on others, but I don't think it looks good on me), or simply weren't a good fit for the money.
So after a few discussions about the difference between Argyll, Crail and Braemar jackets, I decided to join Hamish at one of Geoffrey (Tailor)'s London sessions, and commission something much closer to what I wanted. What I was after was a jacket cut well to go with a kilt, but without the scallop pocket flaps, and with plain cuffs. Something that looks right with a kilt, but isn't too staid.
Geoffrey (Tailor) take over some rooms at a hotel in Bayswater for 1 weekend each month, bringing down a great van-full of stuff from their workshops in Scotland. On each occasion I've been there, it's been manned by Howie Nicholsby and Tristan. After some negotiation, we found a dark charcoal tweed I liked, and I commissioned my 'ideal' jacket.
This last weekend was collection time. Sadly, Hamish was unable to join me (maybe next time, Hamish?).
Here's the finished jacket:
and here's a back view:
As you can see, a plain simple jacket with three jetted pockets, normal cuffs and plain epaulettes. Just as I wanted.
Yes I know that the shirt I'm wearing is too heavy for the jacket, I should be wearing a tie and I should get some charcoal hose to tone better with the jacket! I don't have Hamish's innate sense of kilt style (or his extensive collection of accessories!)
In summary:
I've had bespoke suits made before, so I'm used to the rather genteel process of ordering bespoke clothing.
G(T)'s price for bespoke compared with what some vendors were asking for off-the-peg.
Howie Duncansby is certainly a personality, and projects a far more lively attitude to his customers than my (bifurcated) 'regular' tailor, who is much quieter and more deferential, but the ordering was fun, and meeting Hamish was a bonus.
The 8-week wait was well under what I'm used to for bespoke.
Oddly, there was no maker's label in the jacket, just a 'Made in Scotland' tag. I'd kind-of expected a G(T) label somewhere.
Would I order from this vendor again? Yes if I wanted custom/bespoke. Howie's already tried (and almost succeeded) to tempt me into a TFCK kilt!
best regards
I'd been talking about getting a day jacket for a while, and my SO had blessed the venture. But most of the jackets we found in Highland outfitters were either too 'sixteenth century' for my taste (all scalloped pockets and great gauntlet cuffs) or in colours I'm not that keen on (lovat green may be fine on others, but I don't think it looks good on me), or simply weren't a good fit for the money.
So after a few discussions about the difference between Argyll, Crail and Braemar jackets, I decided to join Hamish at one of Geoffrey (Tailor)'s London sessions, and commission something much closer to what I wanted. What I was after was a jacket cut well to go with a kilt, but without the scallop pocket flaps, and with plain cuffs. Something that looks right with a kilt, but isn't too staid.
Geoffrey (Tailor) take over some rooms at a hotel in Bayswater for 1 weekend each month, bringing down a great van-full of stuff from their workshops in Scotland. On each occasion I've been there, it's been manned by Howie Nicholsby and Tristan. After some negotiation, we found a dark charcoal tweed I liked, and I commissioned my 'ideal' jacket.
This last weekend was collection time. Sadly, Hamish was unable to join me (maybe next time, Hamish?).
Here's the finished jacket:
and here's a back view:
As you can see, a plain simple jacket with three jetted pockets, normal cuffs and plain epaulettes. Just as I wanted.
Yes I know that the shirt I'm wearing is too heavy for the jacket, I should be wearing a tie and I should get some charcoal hose to tone better with the jacket! I don't have Hamish's innate sense of kilt style (or his extensive collection of accessories!)
In summary:
I've had bespoke suits made before, so I'm used to the rather genteel process of ordering bespoke clothing.
G(T)'s price for bespoke compared with what some vendors were asking for off-the-peg.
Howie Duncansby is certainly a personality, and projects a far more lively attitude to his customers than my (bifurcated) 'regular' tailor, who is much quieter and more deferential, but the ordering was fun, and meeting Hamish was a bonus.
The 8-week wait was well under what I'm used to for bespoke.
Oddly, there was no maker's label in the jacket, just a 'Made in Scotland' tag. I'd kind-of expected a G(T) label somewhere.
Would I order from this vendor again? Yes if I wanted custom/bespoke. Howie's already tried (and almost succeeded) to tempt me into a TFCK kilt!
best regards
The Hague
San Jose, CA
Toronto, ON
Dumfries
Really need a daylight picture to show the colors!
Storrington, Sussex
Abertillery, Gwent
