Toluu

The Sartorialist

Here We Go!!!January 6

So The Sartorialist 2009 starts for me today in London!

I'm in London for a meeting today and tomorrow I'll do a fitting for my first real "bespoke" suit by Savile Row legends Anderson & Sheppard.

I will try to keep a little diary on the progress of the suit and the some of the issues involved in ordering such a fine work of hand craftsmanship.

Of course my first concern was not about double-breasted or Super 120's but how much should I workout before my fitting.
Do I want my suit to be for my "Winter body" or my "Summer body"?
I decided i would rather go in at my high weight and come back later for a "bespoke" tweed swim suit for my summer body (maybe with a matching vest!).

Anyway, after London I will go to Florence for Pitti Uomo and then on the to...well, below is the schedule - or as they say in London "schedule" (I guess you have to hear me say it for that to be funny)


London January 7th - 9th
Florence January 10th - 16th
Milan January 17th - 20th
Paris January 21st - 25th
Stockholm January 26th - 29th
Rome January 30th - February 2nd

It's a long trip but I hope to get lots of great images.


This Sunday I might take the train to Modena and Bologna for the day. Any suggestions for great menswear shops in those two cities?

On the Street....French Cut, ParisJanuary 6

On the Street....Left Bank, ParisJanuary 6

Pressure IronsJanuary 6

I don't know how these slipped onto the market without me noticing (oh right, I don't really love to iron), but they sound great.

I used to use an industrial version of this type of iron (Sussman?) for my tailoring classes in college. Since then, though, I have suffered through with low quality commercial irons. It kinda took the fun out of ironing (if there ever was any).

So, does anyone have one of these and what do you think about it?
I am very seriously considering buying one of these so I would love to hear any input.

On a related note, when I go on a big trip that will include Milan I always iron just enough shirts to get there - and then have the shirts pressed at my hotel, the Hotel Principe di Savoia. They do the most incredible shirt pressing ever. Incredible to the point that I had to go down to the laundry room and have them explain how they did it.

Their secret is that they have a big industrial steam iron (in the manner of the irons below), BUT after the steam iron passes over the shirt a blast of cold air comes up from under the shirt and quick sets the pressing.

I have worn shirts for almost a full day with barely a wrinkle anywhere except for high movement spots.

This concept is related to why I keep my aftershave in the vegetable crisper of my refrigerator - but that is a whole different post.

On the Street....Big Bad Plaid, BoweryJanuary 5

I always think that a big plaid will make everything look too square, but the cut of the coat (above) and the size he chose to buy really help to reduce the bulk of the overall look.


I love how the color of the red buffalo plaid cap and blue scarf really make this outfit standout or outstanding.