Who are my favourite tailors? (Part two)

January 18th 2023

Please read part one of this article, here , before this one. Without that context, setting out my priorities, this summary will likely be misleading. Everyone is different, wants different things from bespoke, and simply gets on with people differ...

Who are my favourite tailors? (Part two)

Match in comments:
Ha, that's interesting. Actually, I remember the last time I went through a lot of bespoke houses browsing the web I liked Sartoria Corcos almost the most....

January 18th 2023

Reader profile: Patrick

May 4th 2022

Patrick Dawson is a retired news correspondent, now living in London. During his career he worked for ABC, CNN and NBC and covered the Balkans War from Kosovo, the Gulf War from Kuwait, and was the first NBC correspondent on the ground during 9/11. ...

Reader profile: Patrick

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Pat Dawson has -always- looked great. He and I competed in local news in NYC back in the late 80s, and even then he was the best-dressed man I knew. I'm not at all surprised it has continued....

StyleMay 4th 2022

The jackets I picked for winter

October 20th 2021

A couple of weeks ago, when our little Indian summer here in the UK came to an end, I started the process of switching my wardrobe around for colder weather. I keep winter sweaters, roll necks, coats and heavy tweeds stored in the attic, and slowly...

The jackets I picked for winter

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I had my colours done years ago, but to be honest I can't remember. As we discussed here, I'm not sure it's that useful On picking five, have you seen the articles on that subject in the Wardrobe Building guide?...

JacketsOctober 20th 2021

Adding interest to a navy blazer and grey trousers 

August 16th 2021

We used to do a lot of posts called ‘ Reader questions’. Someone asked recently what happened to them. Well, we still do them - it’s just that the site is now so big that posts normally reflect a half dozen readers asking similar ...

Adding interest to a navy blazer and grey trousers 

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Many thanks...

Jackets - ShirtsAugust 16th 2021

The formal tieless jacket – with Steven Hit...

September 28th 2020

How smart can you be without a suit or tie? Formality in tailoring is often discussed in terms of these two things. And it is true that wearing a suit rather than a jacket, and a tie rather than an open-necked shirt, will usually be smarter. But i...

The formal tieless jacket – with Steven Hit...

Match in comments:
Good to know. Thanks for that. Lindsay...

Jackets - StyleSeptember 28th 2020

The guide to jacket pockets

July 27th 2020

  As ever in the lovely, international, interactive community that is Permanent Style, this article was spurred by a reader. He asked about the appropriate configuration of jacket pockets on a suit he was ordering, and I realised we hadn&rsq...

The guide to jacket pockets

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Yes, this is done with lining cloth sometimes, and even (eg with drakes jackets) in the jacket material. It is to hold small items like coins, cards, even a phone if big enough...

Jackets - SuitsJuly 27th 2020

The (55) bespoke tailors I have known

June 3rd 2020

  This post was originally written in 2012: a breakdown of all the tailors I have tried personally (rather than just written about), split into different countries. It was updated in 2016, and I have updated it again now in 2020, adding a fu...

The (55) bespoke tailors I have known

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Hey Joel - I don't know much about her I'm afraid, certainly nothing first-hand...

June 3rd 2020

The cream shirt

May 11th 2020

There is a certain type of gentleman who swears by the cream shirt. Who argues passionately for its elegance over that boring, corporate alternative: white. When I say there is a type, I am basing this on three men, all of an older generation, who ...

The cream shirt

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I'm afraid it won't be the same now - those collections that aren't core never last more than a couple of years. Sorry...

ShirtsMay 11th 2020

Wearing navy trousers as separates

December 20th 2019

I’ve generally cautioned in the past against wearing navy tailored trousers as separates, with a jacket. This is for a few reasons. First, I know from experience that it’s an option men often go for. They’re likely to already have...

Wearing navy trousers as separates

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Wearing the two together? Nothing wrong with it, but as is often the case with navy chinos, another colour like beige or brown would be nicer...

Style - TrousersDecember 20th 2019

Steven Hitchcock tweed jacket: Style Breakdown

October 25th 2019

Steven Hitchcock is perhaps still best known as the son of John Hitchcock, long the head cutter at Anderson & Sheppard. Steven trained there, and his style is similar to A&S. But it’s not quite the drape cut that A&...

Steven Hitchcock tweed jacket: Style Breakdown

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Thanks so much for the very valuable advice, Simon!...

JacketsOctober 25th 2019

Introducing: Striped PS Oxford cloth

February 8th 2019

The traditional, nubby oxford fabric we developed last year has proved so popular that we’ve decided to introduce another option. It’s a little unusual in another way though, beyond the robust, textured yarn. It’s an off-white and ...

Introducing: Striped PS Oxford cloth

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Cheers Will...

ShirtsFebruary 8th 2019

Charcoal donegal-tweed jacket – from Steven...

October 8th 2018

Charcoal is a surprisingly useful colour in an odd jacket. Great with muted tones of tan, green or brown, it's also dark enough to go with lighter grey flannels. And charcoal is my favourite colour to wear with cream trousers. It tends to tone down ...

Charcoal donegal-tweed jacket – from Steven...

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They're pretty much the same, just not quite as slim in the waist!...

Jackets - StyleOctober 8th 2018

Sky-blue tweed jacket from Steven Hitchock

May 24th 2016

A couple of readers e-mailed yesterday to ask about the jacket I was wearing in the images of visiting Simonnot-Godard. It is the jacket I had made by Steven Hitchcock back in 2012 - a sky-blue tweed from Holland & Sherry's Harris Tweed bun...

Sky-blue tweed jacket from Steven Hitchock

Match in comments:
Yes, a muted colour in a brown or green would be nice...

JacketsMay 24th 2016

Trousers to wear with grey jackets – Reader...

May 19th 2016

Hello Simon I am struggling with a lighter grey jacket like in your Caliendo denim post, or a navy jacket. Are they really that versatile to be the top 2 odd jacket colours? (As you mentioned in your oatmeal jacket post.) What are the trouser colou...

Trousers to wear with grey jackets – Reader...

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Thanks again...

Jackets - StyleMay 19th 2016

Steven Hitchcock fitting: Let the tailor cut his ...

September 21st 2015

I return to the drape style with recognisable regularity. For those without a big chest – and not that bothered about big, wide shoulders – it is a very flattering shape. Many also forget how slim it is usually cut through the ...

Steven Hitchcock fitting: Let the tailor cut his ...

Match in comments:
I think it would, if you still want a flattering silhouette but don't want especially big shoulders. I'd go for Steven myself, and I know A&S make things for the King still, but I don't know who made that suit in particu...

September 21st 2015

Reflections on bespoke 2: J Panther, Tom Davies a...

February 18th 2015

My last ‘reflections on bespoke’ post back in January was very popular. Readers seemed to respond to the assessment of bespoke commissions with the wisdom of hindsight, and I have to say I sympathise. Here, then, are five more, ...

Reflections on bespoke 2: J Panther, Tom Davies a...

Match in comments:
A tiny bit of room with some side straps......

Bags - Glasses and jewelleryFebruary 18th 2015

How to buy my first bespoke suit – reader q...

February 3rd 2014

Dear Simon, In a couple of months time I will be 21. This is clearly an important time in one’s life, in my case particularly as I will also be undertaking the purchase of my first bespoke suit. As a regular reader of your blog I’...

How to buy my first bespoke suit – reader q...

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Thanks Sam, great update, and great knowing how timeless this advice has been...

Reader questions - ShoesFebruary 3rd 2014

The style of cycling

November 8th 2013

Cycling has to be the most stylish sport in the world. It has such an elegant, innate rhythm, plus a deep design heritage, a unique culture, and some of the most beautiful settings in the world. I sat down recently with three of the leading lights at...

The style of cycling

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Probably not worth it Andrew, unfortunately....

StyleNovember 8th 2013

The BTBA summer party

July 8th 2013

Friday was the Bespoke Tailors’ Benevolent Association (BTBA, new version of MTBA) summer ball. As per usual there was an eclectic range of outfits, from sober business dress to top hats, cream linen to sequins. Three Anderson & Shep...

The BTBA summer party

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No, I'm afraid not. It looks very similar to my W Bill linen though: http://www.permanentstyle.com/2014/07/spanish-tailors.html...

July 8th 2013

Women’s tailoring at Kathryn Sargent

February 4th 2013

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Women’s tailoring at Kathryn Sargent

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Thank you...

February 4th 2013

And so is Steven Hitchcock…

May 15th 2012

Just a reminder to those in the US that were interested in seeing Steven Hitchcock, following my recent series of pieces with this ex-Anderson & Sheppard cutter here. He will be in New York from this Sunday to Wednesday (20th to 23rd) with s...

And so is Steven Hitchcock…

Just a reminder to those in the US that were interested in seeing Steven Hitchcock, following my recent series of pieces with this ex-Anderson & Sheppard cutter here. He will be in New York from this Sunday to Wednesday ...

StyleMay 15th 2012

Steven Hitchcock – the final jacket

April 13th 2012

I picked up my final jacket and trousers from Steven Hitchcock last week. The result is a beautiful tweed jacket – light and comfortable but still with definite shape – and a wonderfully fitting pair of moleskins. Steven describes...

Steven Hitchcock – the final jacket

Match in comments:
Very few tailors do the back seam by hand, and I don't think Steven does on all his jackets either, but would have to check as it's been a while since this post....

JacketsApril 13th 2012

Steven Hitchcock – the first fitting

February 3rd 2012

This is the basted fitting on a tweed jacket and moleskin trousers from Steven Hitchcock, ex-Anderson & Sheppard cutter and now very successful in his own right. It is a pocket baste, in that the front edges are unfinished as well as the col...

Steven Hitchcock – the first fitting

Match in comments:
Hi Paul, It is indeed, but the number of changes here is only slightly more than I've had at other tailors for my first piece. I've actually just had the second fitting, and neither the trouser width nor the jacket lengt...

February 3rd 2012

Steven Hitchcock: a stylish tweed

January 27th 2012

The Rake is running a few articles at the moment around the theme of families, and particularly fathers and sons. Tailoring is particularly strong ground for these relationships, I suppose because it is so male dominated, because cutting is a solo cr...

Steven Hitchcock: a stylish tweed

The Rake is running a few articles at the moment around the theme of families, and particularly fathers and sons. Tailoring is particularly strong ground for these relationships, I suppose because it is so male dominated...

January 27th 2012

Reader question: Differences between bespoke tailors

February 17th 2010

CS, Los Angeles: I have been reading PS for the last few months in an effort to educate myself on various matters of style. First and foremost, I want to thank you for the time and effort you put into your work in this area. I suspect that you have a...

Reader question: Differences between bespoke tailors

Match in comments:
I would suggest you look at Whitcomb & Shaftesbury as an English starting point, and probably not Liverano as that's very expensive. For Neapolitan, I'd suggest either Caliendo or Ciardi...

Reader questionsFebruary 17th 2010