• Men's Style

Modern Bespoke & Made-To-Measure Menswear Services

Wear More, Pay More?

When your stage outfit consists of a basic t-shirt and jeans, it comes as no surprise that the budget allows a few bespoke tweaks to justify the stylist’s services. And when you’re in the biggest rock ‘n’ roll band in the world, performing for millions of people for millions of dollars, on tours that last years and take place in the biggest arenas around the globe, it makes even more sense. Famously particular, Charlie Watts, drummer of the Rolling Stones, may not be the most flamboyantly dressed of stage performers, but he certainly knows what he likes. Off stage, he is renowned for his sharp suits and being immaculately dressed, often making industry best dressed lists, while on stage he has a job to do. His performance t-shirts are specially made for him by Sunspel in Nottingham. They are designed slightly longer at the back, so he can lean forward on the drums in comfort. Unfortunately, Sunspel doesn’t offer this bespoke service to the general public, yet, but the brand does do a nice line in pricey sea-island cotton, which is finer and softer than cashmere. During the European leg of the 2007 Rolling Stones tour, Watts wore a t-shirt that matched the colours of every country’s national football team strip which they played in. Last year, for their epic Glastonbury show, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood all wore Sunspel’s Egyptian cotton t-shirts. In fact, Mr Wood liked his so much he used it as a canvas for his next artwork. This got me thinking about how we often give the least thought to the items in our wardrobes that get the most use. When you’re Charlie Watts you can spend money on everything. For those of us more financially challenged, wouldn’t it make sense to spend more on the items we wear the most, rather than trend-led or statement pieces?

Modern Made-To-Measure & Bespoke Services

Brands are now offering wardrobe staples tailored specifically to the individual. We all know about made-to-measure suits and shirts, but did you know you can now get bespoke Dr. Martens or Levi’s? These things aren’t cheap, but if you’re going to be wearing them day in, day out, they offer much better value than that tuxedo you only wear once a year.

Bespoke Levi’s Jeans

Levi’s are offering a new jeans service called ‘Lot No.1’. Based in their flagship store on Regent Street, London, the jeans are made, start to finish, by the in-house tailor on site. This bespoke service, soft-launched just before Christmas, offers you, the customer, a choice of three fits, five types of the best premium selvedge denim, twenty different thread colours, twelve leather patches and seven button and rivet colours. The jeans cost £500 and Lizzie, the tailor, is happy to go through every step and decision with you. This is only the third place, after Levi’s stores in New York and San Francisco, to offer this service. Every pair is ‘editioned’, takes between five and six weeks to create, and you can watch her in store making your very own jeans. The final product offers a truly individual take on a wardrobe essential that can be dressed up and down and will last you for many years to come.

Levi’s London Flagship

Address: 269 Regent Street / 174-176 Regent Street, London, W1B 2ES Tel: 020 7292 2500

Levi’s Lot No.1 London Video

Paul Smith Bespoke Jeans

Paul Smith offers a similar service to Levi’s in his Beak Street men’s store. There is a choice of drainpipe, tapered, standard or classic fit jeans in your exact waist size and length, available in raw or rinsed denim and eight exclusive cloths, from classic indigos and super heavy slub denim to cherry red and rainbow selvedge. You can further customise your new jeans with a range of trims, including picking the stitch thread colour, leather back patch, rivet and stud details, plus six custom designed pocket bags in classic stripe/geometric prints and a specially commissioned Soho illustration. The order is sent to Hong Kong to be made, then returned and any final alterations carried out by a local tailor. Prices start from £250, depending on the choice of denim, and are delivered within four weeks.

Paul Smith Soho

Address: 46 Beak Street, London, W1F 9RJ Tel: 020 7287 9998

Nike’s most iconic silhouettes are now ubiquitous on Britain’s high streets, which makes their iD service all the more appealing. NIKEiD offers customers the chance to customise the sizing (including width), colour combinations and detailing on some of their most popular trainer models – including the Blazer Mid, Free 5.0, Air Max 90, Air Pegasus and Air Force 1 Hi – with prices starting at £90. The entire process can be completed online at the Nike.com or within specialist NIKEiD Studio stores. The majority of iD products will be delivered to you within five weeks.

Final Word

If you want something special or find it difficult to get the perfect fit off the rack, the services showcased today are all great, albeit slightly pricey, ways to finally get what you want. They are also the antithesis of the quick-fix, fast fashion we’ve become accustomed to. While these items do take a bit of time and effort, it’s always worth remembering that good things come to those who wait. But now we want to hear your view: have any of you used bespoke, made-to-measure or customisation services before? If so, were you pleased with the result and would you recommend it to others? Let us know in the comments section below…

Marcus Jaye