NYC tailor to make ace sportcoat.

[John Ellis]

My Breanish has arrived. I'm going to get it made up into a sportcoat for the fall. Where should I go. Mr Ned? I had a very bad experience with a NYC tailor last year who made me a couple of jackets. It was literally surreal. I don't want that to happen again.

 

[voxsartoria]

What's your budget?

- B

 

[teddieriley]

Originally Posted by John Ellis

My Breanish has arrived. I'm going to get it made up into a sportcoat for the fall. Where should I go. Mr Ned? I had a very bad experience with a NYC tailor last year who made me a couple of jackets. It was literally surreal. I don't want that to happen again.

What happened?

 

[aportnoy]

If you can swing it financially, go to Raphael. I couldn't be more satisfied with the quality of the finished product or the affability of the man.

 

[Shirtmaven]

Ned will do a fine job.

no need to spend a fortune on a tweed jacket.

 

[John Ellis]

Originally Posted by teddieriley

What happened?

The outfit was called Bermini. It would take War and Peace to retell the saga. Ultimately I got both jackets, one for free, and they are actually both quite nice but OMG getting there.

 

[John Ellis]

Originally Posted by aportnoy

If you can swing it financially, go to Raphael. I couldn't be more satisfied with the quality of the finished product or the affability of the man.

What would he charge?

 

[John Ellis]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

What's your budget?

- B

$600-$1000. I'd go a smidgen higher if exceptional.

 

[Manton]

Raphael charges much more than $1,000.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by John Ellis

$600-$1000. I'd go a smidgen higher if exceptional.

The consensus would be that Mr. Ned will make up something for you in that price range that is likely to fit you well, with the main penalty being refinement of construction and quality of trimmings.

There is a narrower consensus that Breanish is tricky to work...that would be the only thing that would give me pause about Mr. Ned. Perhaps they have experience with it; perhaps not. Even if they do, I can't imagine it would be extensive.


- B

 

[Eustace Tilley]

Originally Posted by Shirtmaven

Ned will do a fine job.

no need to spend a fortune on a tweed jacket.

Why would a tweed jacket be unworthy of top-flight construction? I don't ask combatively but am curious of your position.

 

[John Ellis]

Originally Posted by Eustace Tilley

Why would a tweed jacket be unworthy of top-flight construction? I don't ask combatively but am curious of your position.

He probably means in cost/benefit terms. I'm inclined to agree with him. I can't get terribly enthused about spending $1500-2000 on a sportcoat from Raphael. I'm keen on clothes and want them to look good but I'll manage to live without the ultimate refinements. Maybe this attitude is based on the fact that I've had suits made bespoke by very high end tailors in London and ended up not liking them as much as Chester Barrie suits I've bought RTW or MTM. At the end of the day you have to worry about the wood as well as the trees.

 

[dopey]

Originally Posted by voxsartoria

The consensus would be that Mr. Ned will make up something for you in that price range that is likely to fit you well, with the main penalty being refinement of construction and quality of trimmings. There is a narrower consensus that Breanish is tricky to work...that would be the only thing that would give me pause about Mr. Ned. Perhaps they have experience with it; perhaps not. Even if they do, I can't imagine it would be extensive. - B
I have used Mr. Ned. They do an honest job and provide good value, but it is nothing like real first-class bespoke. It is a great product for normal people but will leave obsessive hobbyists a bit dissatisfied. Edit: Here is a slightly more detailed post on my experience.

 

[John Ellis]

Originally Posted by dopey

I have used Mr. Ned. They do an honest job and provide good value, but it is nothing like real first-class bespoke. It is a great product for normal people but will leave obsessive hobbyists a bit dissatisfied.

Edit: Here is a slightly more detailed post on my experience.

I'm a normal person with fairly high standards but based on a lot of the chat here I don't think I fit into the category of obsessive hobbyist. I'm pretty anal about clothes but I'm definitely little league by comparison with some of you guys. It actually raises an interesting wider question when folks ask for advice on say shoes and folks are cheerfully advising Lobb or bespoke. I've never had bespoke shoes made but have spent as much as $1200 on a pair of shoes which I thought was quite a lot of money at the time, it's still a lot of money. I like some left over for wine, women and song, plus subsidizing my gardening, collecting, book, travel, music and sporting obsessions. I assume others must be in the same boat. Mr Ned sounds like a good option.

 

[Cantabrigian]

I probably have a bit more experience with this than most and I can say that most discount American tailors / MTMers just aren't worth it.

It's not like it's that cheap in absolute terms and the probability of either failure or underperformance is very high.

Edit: the one exception I know of doesn't do CMT.