gennaro paone: former head tailor of rubinacci

jedwards · Nov 13, 2014

I've never understood why Simon should be criticised for asking / getting free suits, as the readership is very large and there doesn't really seem to be any other serious vehicle easily accessible to reach men interested in bespoke... Well I ask... How many bespoke fanatics read GQ?

His site is one of the most useful sites about bespoke - far better than the headless zombie shots in toilets you see on here.

No, his style is not always mine and I don't always like what he commissions, but the fact that he is clear about pricing about you can expect to pay in SR etc house is also incredibly useful. The photos are professional, you get lots of shots and can help inform what you commission and from where.

As to the thing about accepting / asking for freebies, well, he seems to be getting a bespoke piece from SR priced house once each week. There is no way a guy on a normal salary, even above average, would be able to afford that on a post tax British income - so to keep the content going, surely he is gonna need freebies?

The advertisers seem to get a lot out of it I guess or they wouldn't keep advertising.

sugarbutch · Nov 13, 2014

If he simply disclosed that he was receiving the clothes for free, there would be no problem.

RDiaz · Nov 13, 2014

If, as a tailor, you want to attract the iGent clientele, you need iGent advertising.
What I hate is the fact that menswear blogs like that aren't really informative (though they pretend to be), they're just advertising billboards. How's a blogger going to make negative criticism about something he's been given for free/paid for? Nonsense.

ShayaEXQT · Nov 13, 2014

sugarbutch said:
If he simply disclosed that he was receiving the clothes for free, there would be no problem.

See here: http://www.permanentstyle.co.uk/2014/11/final-kiton-lasa-jacket.html#.VGS1tYfiOIA

8th comment down. This is the only time I have seen him say he got something for free.

@mafoofan That is easily the nicest watch I have ever seen.

patrickBOOTH · Nov 13, 2014

Maybe I am in the minority here, but I have very little interest in blogs. I don't read any of them regularly. If I read a blog post it is usually something I stumble upon. 98% of them just have regurgitated material, or articles about pieces of RTW clothing that I have zero interest in, or maybe even worse "lofty diction" romanticizing some aspect of wearing clothes, and living a certain lifestyle. If I want information I usually just talk with people on here, or in person. Other than free stuff I don't understand what a lot of bloggers get out of blogging.

Grammaton Cleric · Nov 13, 2014

jedwards said:
I've never understood why Simon should be criticised for asking / getting free suits, as the readership is very large and there doesn't really seem to be any other serious vehicle easily accessible to reach men interested in bespoke... Well I ask... How many bespoke fanatics read GQ?

His site is one of the most useful sites about bespoke - far better than the headless zombie shots in toilets you see on here.

No, his style is not always mine and I don't always like what he commissions, but the fact that he is clear about pricing about you can expect to pay in SR etc house is also incredibly useful. The photos are professional, you get lots of shots and can help inform what you commission and from where.

As to the thing about accepting / asking for freebies, well, he seems to be getting a bespoke piece from SR priced house once each week. There is no way a guy on a normal salary, even above average, would be able to afford that on a post tax British income - so to keep the content going, surely he is gonna need freebies?

The advertisers seem to get a lot out of it I guess or they wouldn't keep advertising.

+100

sugarbutch said:
If he simply disclosed that he was receiving the clothes for free, there would be no problem.

He has mentioned, on numerous occasions, that he receives his bespoke garments at 'substantial' discounts. I've had a SR tailor tell me he typically gets 50% off. It's also worthwhile to note that not all his reviews are positive (see the latest on Kiton for example).

Mr. Claymore · Nov 13, 2014

Manton said:
Is there a way to designate threads with custom titles? This is like Ye Olde Style Forvm.

Ah...the Glorious Days of Yore. It's nice to see everyone stick their head in this threak (have we reached that point yet?)

I'm just disappointed that @RSS chose to pop into the watch thread and not here. I miss him, if not "he is missed."

chobochobo · Nov 13, 2014

I'm going to see if I can see Gennaro whilst he's in Hong Kong, but I really can't afford him

LA Guy · Nov 13, 2014

jedwards said:
I've never understood why Simon should be criticised for asking / getting free suits, as the readership is very large and there doesn't really seem to be any other serious vehicle easily accessible to reach men interested in bespoke... Well I ask... How many bespoke fanatics read GQ?

His site is one of the most useful sites about bespoke - far better than the headless zombie shots in toilets you see on here.

No, his style is not always mine and I don't always like what he commissions, but the fact that he is clear about pricing about you can expect to pay in SR etc house is also incredibly useful. The photos are professional, you get lots of shots and can help inform what you commission and from where.

As to the thing about accepting / asking for freebies, well, he seems to be getting a bespoke piece from SR priced house once each week. There is no way a guy on a normal salary, even above average, would be able to afford that on a post tax British income - so to keep the content going, surely he is gonna need freebies?

The advertisers seem to get a lot out of it I guess or they wouldn't keep advertising.

RDiaz said:
If, as a tailor, you want to attract the iGent clientele, you need iGent advertising.
What I hate is the fact that menswear blogs like that aren't really informative (though they pretend to be), they're just advertising billboards. How's a blogger going to make negative criticism about something he's been given for free/paid for? Nonsense.

He isn't always complimentary. But taking a step back, I don't see that blogs like Simon's should be considered investigative journalism, which we seem to take as the gold standard, but is really a fairly modern, and perhaps untenable, construct anyway. He does a good job of documenting the process and the product, and people like to read that. I don't read many blogs, but I occasionally read Permanent Style, and I am not expecting hard hitting journalism. It's clothes Appreciation, and I say that in the most complimentary way possible. It's like watching Anthony Bourdain in rhapsodizing about street vendors in Vietnam or whatever. He's not the health inspector, and honestly, I would not enjoy his articles nearly as much if he were.

David Reeves · Nov 13, 2014

chobochobo said:
I'm going to see if I can see Gennaro whilst he's in Hong Kong, but I really can't afford him

Well don't waste the mans time then.

dopey · Nov 13, 2014

Offer to do a review on SF for a good price on the suit. With all that's been written here, it would be valuable to him to set the record straight.

David Reeves · Nov 13, 2014

You know I wasn't even talking about Simon, never talked to him or met him.

RSS · Nov 13, 2014

Thank you, Mr. Claymore, but I have nothing to contribute to this thread. I was never a customer of Gennaro Paone ... and I'm not a Rubinacci client. Moreover, I just don't keep up with tailoring anymore. I'll leave the discussion to those who know.

RSS · Nov 13, 2014

David Reeves said:
chobochobo said:

I'm going to see if I can see Gennaro whilst he's in Hong Kong, but I really can't afford him

Click to expand...

Well don't waste the mans time then.

Good advice. At least tell him that you don't plan to commission anything. Be upfront and honest; it's always the best policy. Then if he he has time to 'give' you ... well, that's different.

David Reeves · Nov 13, 2014

dopey said:
Offer to do a review on SF for a good price on the suit. With all that's been written here, it would be valuable to him to set the record straight.

But would it? From a business perspective you just have to weigh up the profit and loss and sometimes doing this kind of thing just doesn't ad up, especially as he charges at a lower price point. I think it also sets a dangerous precedent and devalues the product somewhat, if he did this how many more people would ask for discounts? Why shouldn't his real clients get discounts?

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