tulsa tailor?

[Fly1296]

Yes, I did a search. Yes, I found two previous threads asking the same question; however, neither had any responses. This post is entirely for the purpose of enabling me to pm the two previous threads' starters to see if they ever found one.

 

[Zub]

Vo's Tailor Shop. He is the ONLY tailor I will use. He's the only person in Tulsa that I would consider "SF approved." He does excellent work.

 

[Zub]

Need another one to purchase on B&S (to send PM). Probably going to be the best/worst thing to ever happen to me.

 

[unsuitable]

I am adding to this thread for the sake of posterity. (Read: mild thread necromancy)

I have not worked with Vo since 1999 or so. But I can attest that he is very much in keeping with the current trend of close-fitting suits. Honestly, the first time Vo cut a pair of pants for me I felt that an observant bystander could hazard a guess at my religion afterward. I was not ready for a modern fit then and I am less ready now.

But this is the absolute thing now and Vo was ahead of this curve in fashion for sure. This failing is mine, not Vo's.

I now work with "Sherman Ray" (Ray's Tailor Shop). "Ray" is getting on in years but was still working last time I dropped in with a few odd jackets.

The deciding factor should be how you want your suit to fit.

Ray's is the place to go if you prefer a more classic or generous cut. I had a hard time (like 3 visits hard) to get Vo to give me what we used to call a "Swiss banker cut" on my trousers. I'm a good sized man (52L, 20" neck, 40" waist, +3 ape index) and Ray knows how to drape a suit so the differential between my chest and waist does not cause my jacket to swing around like a Victorian gown. With other tailors I either get the "bell effect" or I look like I am ready to fight crime. Ray has a real feel for a "natural shoulder" on a jacket if you have some actual muscle and meat on your shoulders. Be advised: Ray won't make up whole suits anymore for love or money.

If you desire to be current to-date with cut - Vo would be great.

As for myself I don't know what I will do when Ray finally retires - it will be soon, I fear as he is pushing 94. I have worked with tailors on 2 continents and 5 countries and Ray is best tailor I have ever found. He's so good that people "in the know" in Tulsa DON'T recommend him to keep their own wait times down. I have met senators, judges, barristers, professors, and many of Tulsa's trust fund set in the front room of Ray's.

Also, whatever tailor you chose, I recommend you search videos/articles for "Sherman Ray Tulsa Tailor" online to learn about Ray's story surviving WWII. If you love him like I do it may make you cry a bit.

 

[CMAc7]

I am just amazed that I am not the only Style Forum member in the Tulsa area. I thought I was on a sartorial island...

 

[unsuitable]

CMAc7, Being stranded on a sartorial island with me is quite similar to being alone - did you not notice how out-of-date I am?

I do plan on making a run by some of the better retail shops in OKC next week while I am there on business. I hope to ask around about a tailor there. Sherman was stolen from OKC in the 60's by the old Tulsa oil money (he tells a great story about this).

Now that the economic pendulum has swung back to OKC I am guessing that someone has attracted a non-nonagenarian tailor with all that money floating around. The laws of supply and demand seem to suggest it - I simply need to find them (I hope).

My two least favorite Peccadilloes of Vo and Sherman Ray:

1. When Vo moves from my front to my back by moving between my legs when measuring my inseam - and back again! I must be bow legged.
2. When Ray pokes me with a pin (true) if I have gained weight from visit to visit. He is more accurate than my Fitbit scale at home.

 

[CMAc7]

Ha! If you do find a tailor in OKC who can do more than simply hem trousers, you will have found the third such person in the State. Bespoke has been something I have avoided, not due to cost, but lack of trust in my community. Good to know Vo theoretically could, provided I lose ten pounds after a fitting.