“Clonewear” dominates the average highstreet, wave upon wave of identikit facsimiles marching in step through the doors of H&M, Zara, Jack and Jones or the like. The majority of us are unaware of, or disinterested in, the gradual shifting of our wardrobe into some bland, prescribed excerpt from the latest mail order catalogue.
Though perhaps good for one wear at most, none of the above will ever grace the headlines of Bespoke, but it does serve to sharpen the mind when you hear Zara shop assistants remark that, “Grey is the new black” or rave about about “This season’s staple colour”. Haute couture sets the way, the high street follows. At what point do you abandon your crook and become one of the sheep? There’s a danger that by following trends without a second thought, you take the edge off your personal style.
Like most men, I always believed that if clothes fit your personal style and are well made, then wear them. Since when did men pander to the latest fad anyway? I mean, really, grey is the new black? Is that the sound of millions of suits being thown in the bin the world over? No? I thought not. Style and class are eternal, fashion is not. Which brings me in a rather roundabout way to the point of this piece – that a Bespoke male reader always takes great pains to avoid taking the easy route when it comes to fashion.
The Camps de Luca’s, the Berluti’s and the Turnbull & Asser’s of this world are to be treasured. The specialist atelier or the traditional tailor is something that belongs in the here and now. Specialised companies, though often difficult to find and frequently quite elitist, are exactly the kind of thing that we should embrace. The creation of truly classic clothing and accessories that stand the test of time, and by time I mean decades rather than the yearly rotation of what is “in fashion”, is a laudable goal.
Once you go bespoke you never go back. That’s because handcrafted, bespoke items are a joy, pure and simple. While interviewing the great and good of the fashion world, it has become clear to us that there’s a certain level of fanaticism to be found among the makers and buyers of top-end apparel. It’s something that,you will never find in an off-the-rack copy-thy-leader establishment.
By all means, embrace the idea that grey or fuchsia, or whatever is the new black, but at the same time bolster your whimsical catwalk-inspired moves by remaining with the tried-and-trusted houses of old. There’s a reason why companies like the above have remained at the top of the ladder for centuries.
