Where to order a bespoke jacket from ?

**Howard Clark** · 9th September 08, 07:15 PM

Greeting all. I was wondering what people's recommendations were for where to order a bespoke Argyll jacket from. I want a coloured tweed jacket, possibly with a matching waistcoat. All opinions welcome. Thanks.

**McMurdo** · 9th September 08, 07:30 PM

If I were ordering one and price was not an object I would look at the Auld Reekie from Geoffrey Tailor

**Highland Logan** · 9th September 08, 07:56 PM

I would recommend Mackenzie Frain. Here is a link to the page with the tweed jackets and waistcoats. I got mine in the spring and it is a fine jacket set. Michael Corby the owner rushed my order through, and I received my jacket in 6 weeks. Here is a picture.

Frank

**Jock Scot** · 10th September 08, 02:25 AM

A word of advice,if I may. In UK terms "bespoke" means that YOU instruct your tailor EXACTLY to what you want.It may not mean quite that in the USA, I don't know. Anyway you are going to have an imput into what YOU want and not what you are given.

So, in UK terms, I would have a very good idea what I wanted before seeing my tailor. What type of cuff? How many buttons, to do the jaket up, One? Two?(I am not keen on three). Epaulettes? Button hole in left lapel?(A good idea).Type of buttons, antler etc.? Length of sleeve? Waist coat?(get one) How many buttons? Five? Six? ALL this before you choose your cloth! Take your kilt with you too, if you can, and if you cannot go to your tailor MAKE SURE that they send you a swatch of tweeds so that you can see and feel the cloth, before you order.One last thing, get 100% wool.

Hope this helps.

**Phil** · 10th September 08, 05:04 AM

As Jock says, "bespoke" means having a garment made to your individual requirements and it will take account of any physical deviations from the average that an "off the peg" or "made to measure" one will not. This crowd are in the States at the moment and you might want to see them if "bespoke" is really what you want - http://www.dege-skinner.co.uk/tailoring/travel2.htm

**scotchmaster** · 10th September 08, 05:14 AM

Originally Posted by Howard Clark

Greeting all. I was wondering what people's recommendations were for where to order a bespoke Argyll jacket from. I want a coloured tweed jacket, possibly with a matching waistcoat. All opinions welcome. Thanks.

What about Matt Newsome his jackets look beautiful.

http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/tweed_menu.html

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 10th September 08, 05:15 AM

I was going to say the same thing about "bespoke" clothing. My recommendation in that arena is to find a good local tailor who can measure you in person and make exactly what you want. If that is not possible, you'll have to do it on line. But "bespoke" does imply a completely tailor-made garment.

Most of the "custom made" clothing you will see offered on line will be custom made in the sense that it is not a stocked item, and you will have some options. But it will be made to a pattern size (i.e. 44L or 48S, etc) and not individually made-to-measure.

For example, see our tweed selections:
http://giftshop.scottishtartans.org/tweed_menu.html

Each of those jackets is custom made, and you'll find a variety of tweeds to choose from -- but they are made to standard sizes, and not "bespoke."

**Howard Clark** · 10th September 08, 06:14 AM

My whole problem is that I am not "standard pattern" in terms of my build. A "regular" cut jacket sort of fits, but not right, and the arms will not be long enough, even using the available material, often. A "long" jacket is too long in the body, but the sleeves are all right, and nearly all off the peg clothing that fits my chest will be rather significantly too large in the waist. I am not unhappy about my dimensions, but it does make clothes that really fit a pain. Which is one of the reasons I do so love my hand made kilts from Matt, Barb, and Wally.

Thus the question. And at this point I do rather have a good idea about what I want. I do not think, (though I will do more investigating), that there is anyone local to me that can do this. I can get a suit jacket off the peg tailored to fit better, but it will not be a kilt style jacket of any cut in Des Moines, Iowa. Much less a tweed argyll, which seems to be not the largest selling type anywhere in the US market.

I am simply seeking recommendations, and you are all doing well, carry on, please.

**Jock Scot** · 10th September 08, 06:53 AM

Right then Howard, you seem to be a prime candidate for "bespoke" tailoring! The problem then, is to find a tailor that will be able to measure you up and make exactly what you require. I really cannot think of any "bespoke" tailor,in the UK anyway,that would make you a jacket without personally meeting you and measuring you himself. I cannot think that they would want to conduct the fine measurements over the internet! Perhaps I am wrong? Now this could be your excuse for a holiday! No doubt there is a tailor somewhere in the world that would make you a "bespoke" kilt jacket? Scotland, perhaps?

**Howard Clark** · 10th September 08, 06:57 AM

Ah yes that would indeed be the perfect solution. Now to round up the funding for such an adventure is going to be the challenge.

I will have to try to find something business related to do that takes me to, say Edinburgh. I wonder if I can call it continuing education and make it tax deductible if I go visit Scottish knifemakers. Maybe Rab, and Jake on Skye, yeah, that's it.

I may have to settle for an off the peg "regular" jacket with some tailoring, provided I can find one with sleeves that will stretch far enough. We shall see.

I do thank all of you for clarifying the difference between the two things so well.