Bespeaking of Bespoke - what is your experience?

[JSFMACLJR]

If have several bespoke evening doublets. The best by far is the one I had made by the London firm of Meyer & Mortimer, on Sackville Strret, just off Savile Row. The firm has been around for centuries-literally. They are experts in the field of Highland dress, as well as making uniforms.

I had my initial meeting with the tailor, accompanied by a Highland gentleman of note who is considered a bit of an expert in "matters Scottish" regarding dress. I wanted a velvet doublet cut somewhat like a regulation style jacket. I wanted silk velvet. We settled upon a beautiful shade of blue. We discussed facings and linings. Since I spend the majority of my time in the USA it was thought best to skip a quilted lining. We debated colours for the facings and cuffs, deciding on scarlet ribbed silk for both, as being a very "traditional" colour. Interestingly, white was under consideration for a wee bit, but was eliminated for two reasons: 1. it would show the dirt; 2. white lapels at one time were reserved for the gentlemen on the staffs of colonial and dominion viceroys. We discussed what tartan I wanted for a waistcoat, and the style and cut I wanted ( 4 buttons, on the bias ).

Talk ensued about all sorts of details: pockets, buttonholes ( I wanted one on the left lapel ), buttons, the fabric of the lining. Between my friend and my tailor, I was well advised.

Mr. Munday took all sorts of measurements, as can be expected.I left a deposit, and we set a date for a first fitting in New York City a couple of months later. I had one more fitting ( in London ), at which some changes were made ( including ripping off the right sleeve and repositioning it ). A couple of months later I again went to NYC and had a final fitting and took posession of the jacket.

The doublet fits like a glove! The quality is unsurpassed by just about anything I have seen. I consider the jacket a work of art. I have several suits made by another tailor round the corner on the Row, but I think the doublet is by far the pick of the litter. The staff of Meyer & Mortimer are a delight, and are experts in what they do. They know Highland dress like very few people do. They've been at it for a long, long time. The firm is the "go-to tailors" for officers of Highland regiments, as it has been for more than a hundred years. I have seen a number of doublets the firm has made over the years, all first rate. In the past several years they made an exquisite doublet for a MacLeod grandee with embroidered lapels. They made a pair of trews for my friend, cut on the bias. One doesn't see trews like that very often today. I am told that very few tailors and cutters can use tartan cut on the bias and fashion clothing of such beauty and style.

My jacket cannot in fairness be compared to OTR or MTM jackets. In the family collection of doublets, we have 4 or 5 made by Meyer & Mortimer over the years, as well as several made Jardine, Wm Anderson, and Stewart Christie. We have a nice tartan doublet made by Bernard Weatherill before he entered politics. All are beautiful jackets, but to me my blue velvet jacket stands out as the best.