I don’t know, maybe, vanity. Is it a crime to look good? And the idea of something different, that most others don’t have. What it is not about is money. I surely don’t have excess stacks of bills laying about the house, or bank accounts forgotten until a statement arrives.
The driving ideas, as I recognize them, for me are fit and craftsmanship. Being tall, trim, and broad shouldered has its own set of difficulties. Are the sleeves long enough and does it fit across the shoulders? Then the body must be too large. I like the idea of something built for me, fits me, and looks like I’m wearing a suit rather than set adrift in a sea of cloth.
A couple years ago I heard about a blog called English Cut, which was being written by a young Savile Row tailor. A few of his early posts do a great job of explaining some of the differences between true bespoke, made-to-measure and machine made. I got hooked by his writing, coming back to learn a little more each time. His posts are infrequent but interesting.
Bespoke does not come cheap, so it’s unlikely I’ll do this anytime soon. Perhaps when I win the lottery (but I must play first). But it’s connected to a slow advancement through which I move: caring how I look and dress, learning about fit and quality. Learning I can be selective, that there are clothes that fit as opposed to merely fitting over my head.
