Alan flusser

I am relatively new to this board and am surprised by some of the older posts concerning Mr. Flusser.

Are the naysayers drawing their negativity against him because he is not a tailor but more of a "designer". And if so, what's wrong with that?

I have purchased some items from him and I think they are very well tailored, extremely comfortable and depending on the cloth selected, fairly priced.

I don't agree with everything his books say but I give him credit for compiling such a wealth of information into his 4 or so books. I refer to them often and proudly display them in the sartorial section of my library.

I think some people - like me - just take issue with Flusser's tone, rather than his points. He sort of acts like his guidelines are hard and fast rules, and is sometimes condescending and self-important. That said, I like his clothes, usually agree with him, and look to his books first (well, maybe the forum first) on questions of appropriateness etc.

Granted, Mr. Flusser has played an invaluable part on the behalf of modern mainstream sartorial knowledge, from his shop in Manhattan to his various books.

Unfortunately, my personal gripe with him is his obvious hypocritical stance regarding combinations of certain styles in his literature, yet he has no problem selling clothing bearing his name with the very same styles he frowns upon.

A good example is his stating the DB jackets should not sport patch pockets, yet he has sold RTW jackets with this very combination. I have no problem with a person stating his / her own opinions, but to contradict them borders on the unforgivable.

Jon.

Case in point, re DB jacket with patch pockets. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....48&rd=1

You bring up a good point, Cuffthis-ya. If Alan Flusser works for you, go with it (him?). However, many people take umbrage when a designer, ie a stylist, brands himself a tailor. That often gives the appellee an air of knowing far more than s/he does about quality garment construction. That latter quality is why many of us seek out tailors, bespoke lace jabots aside. Such designers often actually hire out their real tailor work to tailors of dubious skill, or even to unqualified alterations tailors. Because these designers are selling both a brand (their design) and their purported quality as actual tailors (rather than a glued-suit maven like Armani), these designers can charge very high prices for sometimes shoddy work. Flusser definitely overcharges for his Edward Greens, and does a good job hiding the fact on his website that they are simply stock specials rather than bespoke.
I personally find his books very entertaining. However, they are so overwritten (eg, if my memory serves me correctly, no self-respecting preppie would refer to such as "preps", although of course I am writing from my castle far away) that it detracts from the substance of what he has to say. The man seems singlehandedly to have invented the pseudoliterary device. Also, his atrocious spelling (often of the proper names of makers) makes his writing hard to follow. Perhaps a Japanese translation...

I just think he's a horrible writer and a pompous ass. I don't really care whether he calls himself a tailor or a designer.

Flusser earned his striped dressing Royal Tenenbaum as far as I'm concerned.

Flusser earned his striped dressing Royal Tenenbaum as far as I'm concerned.

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If I remember correctly, Karen Patch, who wardrobed the Royal Tenenbaums as well as Rushmore, had all the costumes costume made by Mr. Ned, who famously also makes all of Wes Anderson's suits.

As for Flusser, if his books are any indication, he is a bore and a pretentious boob. They do give some good information, but the condescending tone makes it hardly worth it.

Case in point, re DB jacket with patch pockets. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws....48&rd=1

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Thank you for so eloquently proving my point. Jon.

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Flusser earned his striped dressing Royal Tenenbaum as far as I'm concerned.
If I remember correctly, Karen Patch, who wardrobed the Royal Tenenbaums as well as Rushmore, had all the costumes costume made by Mr. Ned, who famously also makes all of Wes Anderson's suits. As for Flusser, if his books are any indication, he is a bore and a pretentious boob. Â They do give some good information, but the condescending tone makes it hardly worth it.
Hermes was also present in that film.

Ouch. I hope he doesn't read this board.

I don't agree with everything he has written, at least not anymore, but I owe him a great debt I think. Early on, his books taught me a whole lot about clothing.

About the DB suit/patch pockets thing - I don't recall him saying that DB suits can't have patch pockets, only that they are casual and should be reserved for lighter color suits.

I would have to agree with A Harris's assessment, and feel the same way about G. Bruce Boyer. Many of the things that these men, clothing companies, and agents/marketing people(and journalists in general) say are not to be followed, at least not without a little careful thought.

Agreed. Say what you will about Flusser's over-written style (or Boyer's near-brilliant one), if we all dressed to their standards the world would be a far more attractive place.

Will

Agreed. Say what you will about Flusser's over-written style (or Boyer's near-brilliant one), if we all dressed to their standards the world would be a far more attractive place.

Will

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Just do not dress like Flusser. His pictures are even fruitier than mine.

Yeah, I don't remember where Flusser wrote that part about no patch pockets with a db jacket. I'll go and check my copy of Dressing the Man to make sure.

And I appreciate Flusser's writings because they gave me a good start, accusations of pompous ass nonwithstanding. I think the majority of people (even here) could learn a thing or two from him.