The 100 Best Tailors in America

Hi guys,

Andrew Romano here--Newsweek Senior Writer, long-time lurker, some-time poster. I've just accepted a freelance assignment to report and write a definitive list of the 100 best tailors in America, and I'm hoping you--the experts--can help.

Here's what I'm looking for: the names of the top tailors you've had the pleasure of visiting. They can make full bespoke suits. They can stop at alterations. But they have to be skilled craftsmen who really know what they're doing. And they have to come from all corners of the country.

I'm planning to consult several other sources: local shops, Yelp listings, etc. But I think that you, the members of Style Forum, could be the most important influence on this list, if you're willing to chip in. Eventually, I'll be speaking to each of these tailors individually and writing up 100 short reports that will be published in a high-profile, yet-to-be-launched web magazine--and that will hopefully bring these men and women some new business while serving as the go-to resource for guys like us.

So please, fire away. Thanks so much for your help.

Andrew

I am only half snarking, but I doubt there are 100 tailors worth mentioning in the entire country. That's a long list.

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

I am only half snarking, but I doubt there are 100 tailors worth mentioning in the entire country. That's a long list.
I wish it weren't the case but I was going to make the same comment. There are not many left.

Originally Posted by Manton

Click to expand...

I am only half snarking, but I doubt there are 100 tailors worth mentioning in the entire country. That's a long list.

well he's including alterations people so between tailors (in SF terms), MTM/Custom salespeople, store tailors and alterations shops, he'll get his hundred. For example, thinking in those terms you can proabbly come up with 20 names for NYC.

Ed's right. It's sad how few real, old-school tailors are left in America. But I'm hoping that if we include the best folks in the categories he mentioned--"tailors (in SF terms), MTM/Custom salespeople, store tailors and alterations shops"--we can get to 100.

If not, so be it. I'll make the case to my editor that we should make do with fewer.

For now, though, any recommendations?

Off the top of my head:

Custom Tailors

NY: Raphael Raffaeli, Nino Corvato, Bill Fioravanti, Tony Maurizio, Franco / Ercole (forget their last name), Martin Greenfield, Vincent Nicolosi, Frank Shattuck, the in-house guy at Dunhill, Cheo, maybe even Adrian Jules

Chicago: Chris Despos

Baton Rouge: Manuel Martinez

DC: William Field

Philly: Joe Centofanti

LA: Jack Taylor (is he MTM?)

SF: The one guy who a few SF'ers have used (Enzo?)

Adamidis on 84th and 1st in NYC.

Bring him a high quality thrift find and let him work.

Jules is in Rochester.

Oh, and Logsdail in NYC.

Does Jon Green count? - I know he's front-of-house but does he have a real bespoke tailor on the premises?

Alteration tailors in Los Angeles that know what they're doing (in no particular order):

1. Abi from Alandales in Culver City, CA
2. Paul from Wilshire Tailor in Los Angeles, CA
3. Charles from Charles tailoring (?) in Beverly Hills, CA

Al Kleber of Custom Clothing of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA

How many of those states you guys have now? 50? 52? I'm sure there is one decent tailor in each state.

The guys at Sid Mashburn in Atlanta have done fantastic work for me.

Have used Top Shelf Tailor in Minneapolis and they have done great work also.

Originally Posted by DavidWatts

Click to expand...

Ed's right. It's sad how few real, old-school tailors are left in America. But I'm hoping that if we include the best folks in the categories he mentioned--"tailors (in SF terms), MTM/Custom salespeople, store tailors and alterations shops"--we can get to 100.

If not, so be it. I'll make the case to my editor that we should make do with fewer.

For now, though, any recommendations?

Bergdorf Goodmans Men's in house tailors are very good. I have heard good things, but never used, Brooks (346 madison) tailors.

Alterations/custom tailors in NYC:

Bhambi
Wilfreds

MTM/bespokeShirt makers:

CEGO
Geneva
Paris

Store MTM/Custom/bespoke suit:

Mr. Ned
Paul Stuart
Peter Elliot
Dunhill
Saks has a bespoke tailor and there is also Domenico Spano

Originally Posted by Blackhood

Click to expand...

How many of those states you guys have now? 50? 52? I'm sure there is one decent tailor in each state.

No. Not even close.

The English take good tailoring for granted.