The Sartorial Executive

One for the ladies

2009-07-06T12:20:00.000-07:00

Just a reminder that our bespoke shirts are not just for Gentlemen. We are also able to produce excellent bespoke shirts for ladies at the same price.

To view our excellent range of fabrics, the largest and most comprehensive in the region, just call 01684 878195 or fill in the contact form at http://www.shirt-style.co.uk/order.html

Fleet Support Group Charity Polo Day

2009-07-03T12:17:00.001-07:00

As we mentioned earlier we recently donated a Made to Measure shirt to the charity auction at a recent Polo day in support of cancer charity 'Hope for Tomorrow'. I am pleased to say that the event on the day raised just over £21,000 for the charity. An excellent result.

Sartorial Executive Made to Measure Shirt Winner announced

2009-07-01T03:16:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that the winner of our recent competition, run in conjunction with http://www.thehuntingground.net/ to win a Sartorial Executive Made to Measure shirt was won by Dr William Duggan from Monmouthshire. We congratulate Dr Duggan on his win and look forward to making the shirt for him.

For those that entered the competition, and those that did not, we are able to offer a Made to Measure shirt for just £100, made here in England to the highest of shirt making standards. Shirts are posted FREE of charge throughout the UK with an £8.50 charge to any International destination.

Also, of course, our bespoke shirts, made from the finest Swiss and Italian cottons are available either online or through our visiting service starting from just £125.

You may also be interested to know that http://www.thehuntingground.net/ are running a new competition this month for £100 of vouchers from up and coming company Lions Rampant - Go to http://www.thehuntingground.net/competitions.php to enter the competition today.

Corgi Socks - update

2009-06-29T15:34:00.000-07:00

We mentioned a week or so ago about Corgi socks to be available soon, and we are expecting them to arrive in the next few weeks. The socks will be from the finest pure cotton in Navy colour (this was recently voted the most useful colour sock in a recent piece of research we did).

The socks will be over-the-calf ensuring they stay up throughout the day and will not 'flash' your calves at the ladies!

The price of the socks will be set at £12.50 (cheaper than any other retailer we could find on the web), however during the first week of their availablity they will be £11.50 for bespoke shirt club members. If you are not a member yet, then now is the time to join.

An excellent addition to our range for the discerning gentleman

Linen Bespoke Shirts - stay cool this summer.

2009-06-29T15:25:00.000-07:00

The weather is getting hotter and hotter! There are rumours of it reaching the mid 30s sometime during this week. Phew!!

You may be finding your cotton shirts are leaving you a bit 'hot under the collar'. No matter, we are able to craft you a fantastic linen shirt in our Kent workshops from £135. Linen is the best fabric to wear in the heat of the summer, and if made from traditional business colours then it fits fine under a suit in the workplace. We have a large range of linen colourways to choose from.

There is no need to join the T-Shirt wearing brigade that are so prevelant in today's workplace. retain your sartorial dignity with one of our linen shirts.

Find out more by completing the form at http://www.shirt-style.co.uk/order.html or call us on 01684 878195.

Wedding bespoke shirts

2009-06-18T14:20:00.000-07:00

For those who like the traditional look of a club collar shirt for their wedding, bespoke shirts are a great choice. We have recently made two of the following bespoke shirts for a groom for himself and the best man.

The club collar was very popular early in the last century - see the shirts worn by Stephen Fry in the TV adaptation of P.G.Wodehouse's Jeeves & Wooster novels. In recent years the club collar has all but disappeared from everyday use, although there was a small revival in the 1960s

Bespoke Shirts with real style

2009-06-12T14:02:00.000-07:00

Another of our shirts has been deemed a star by the members of Style Forum. The picture below was posted by one of our clients and received some really positive feedback. We already have had people requesting their own version of this bespoke shirt after seeing it on the forum.

The shirt features no tie space making for a very clean neck closure and the shape and size of the collar was designed by the client himself; and a great design it is as it is becoming the most popular collar shape we sell.

We intend to offer a similar shirt to this as a special offer soon. Watch this space for more details.

Bespoke Shirts

2009-06-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

More praise for our bespoke shirts on Style Forum in the form of a lilac checked shirt made for one of our clients.

Button Down Bespoke Shirts Collar is 'Terrific'

2009-06-10T15:05:00.000-07:00

We always knew our button down collars on our Sartorial Executivebespoke shirts were amongst the best available, and this has been confirmed in a comment from a respected contributor on the esteemed Ask Andy About Clothes - see http://www.askandyaboutclothes.com/forum/showpost.php?p=947892&postcount=11363

See for yourself how good our button down bespoke shirt collars are by either making an appointment with one of our consultants (http://www.shirt-style.co.uk/order.html) or ordering a Made to Measure version online at http://www.shirt-style.co.uk/bespoke_shirts_online.html

Corgi Socks - coming soon

2009-06-10T14:33:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that we will soon be bringing some of the highest quality socks available to you through both our visiting bespoke shirts service and also online.

The socks will be made in Wales for us by Corgi socks, a fine company that holds a Royal Warrant from HRH The Prince of Wales. These socks are certainly worth the warrant as they are beautiful indeed.

Initially we will be offering navy with sky toe, heel and tops in an over the calf length made from 100% Cotton.

we are sure you will be delighted.

Going, going gone....

2009-06-06T15:21:00.000-07:00

Just one week until the Hope for Tomorrow charity Polo day at Beaufort Polo club where one of our Made to Measure shirts is to be auctioned in aid of this very worthwhile charity.

http://www.beaufortpoloclub.co.uk/Fixtures/CCPoloDay.htm is the website with details of this fantastic days entertainment.

Quality bespoke shirts - no gimmicks

2009-05-19T14:27:00.001-07:00

Whilst other shirt makers concentrate on the gimmicks that they offer with their tailored shirts we concentrate on the most important aspect of bespoke shirts - quality.

Our shirts are made from the finest quality two fold cottons sourced from the best italian and Swiss cotton mills, and are made here in England using the best shirt making techniques. We truly believe that you will not buy a bespoke shirt in the UK at the same price and quality as our shirts. Have a look at http://www.shirt-style.co.uk/gallery.html for some examples of our shirts.

Of course if monograms and patterened collar and cuff patterns are your thing then we are more than happy to make those, but we will never compromise on quality of our shirts.

Bespoke Shirts - interlinings

2009-04-08T14:24:00.000-07:00

Interlinings are hidden, unseen components in shirts yet they are very important. They are the thing that adds the support, handle, soft or firmness and style to the collars and cuffs of your bespoke shirts.

There is the choice of whether the interlinings are sewn in or fused (glued). All of our interlinings are stitched as this gives a more natural look to the collars and stops them being too rigid and 'cardboard' like and flat like so many shirts (even some that are more expensive than ours).

We have chosen our bespoke shirt interlinings to give just the optimum level of firmness which allows the collar to look good and be worn without collar stiffeners in a more casual environment, and with collar stays when worn with a suit and tie.

A look at the collars on our shirts in comparison to many others will soon tell you that our collars are better. they are nicer in style and sit correctly on the shirt.

Bespoke shirts - 240s 2 ply?

2009-04-07T13:51:00.000-07:00

We have just been speaking to one of our main fabric suppliers from italy and they have informed us that they soon expect to be able to offer a superfine 240s 2-ply cotton range for bespoke shirts.

this is very exciting as it will enable us to make some of the finest possible bespoke shirts in the world. We will keep you up to date through this blog as to when these fabrics are available

made to measure suits

2009-03-25T15:47:00.000-07:00

Our made to measure suits are now available to complement our bespoke shirts. The first suit is already in the process of being made using a fantastic herringbone cloth from the Holland & Sherry perennial range. This 13oz 100% Wool worsted cloth is an excellent choice for a suit.

We will bring you pictures of the suit as it is developed.

Latest Bespoke Shirts

2009-03-24T15:22:00.000-07:00

Alumo Supraluxe White
Client designed collar without interlining

Tessitura Monti Regal

Client designed collar without interlining

The five levels of formality in a Gentleman's dress

2009-03-15T12:55:00.000-07:00

1. Formal - this is what is also known as 'white tie'. No matter how often menswear companies refer to lounge suits and business shirts as being formal, they will always be wrong. White tie is well defined, for example here at the university of Cambridge website http://www.societies.cam.ac.uk/cuhags/whitetie/defn.htm. The shirt most definitely be white with a stiff (preferably removable) wing collar and a marcella front bib.

2. Semi-Formal - Black Tie. many will refer to this as formal dress, and that is because it is about as formal as they will ever wear. It is not formal. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_tie for a definition

3. Informal - This is where the lounge suit (or business suit) resides. That suit that you thought was a formal uniform is very informal in the hierarchy of gentleman's dress.

4. Casual - No not jeans and a Tee Shirt, but a sports jacket, tie and contrast trousers.

5. Sub-standard - this is what most people seem to wear regardless of the formality of an event these days. Jeans, T-Shirts, Short-sleeved shirts etc.

2009-03-15T12:54:00.001-07:00

1. Get your hair cut - regardless of how well you are dressed, unkempt and out of control hair will make you look untidy. 30 minutes and £10 well spent! Make sure you have any facial hair under control too.
2. Wear a suit - so many people these days go suit-less, and this gives you a great opportunity to stand out and look professional and more presentable. However just any old suit will not do. It must be 100% wool (please, no polyester) and preferably in dark navy or charcoal grey. You may even have something suitable in the wardrobe already; however if you bought it ready to wear IT DOES NOT FIT YOU!. A poor fitting suit is worse than no suit. Go to a good alterations tailor and get it fitted; It is not expensive! By the way, you really do need two suits so you can alternate each day. If you are really skint look on ebay or in a nearly new shop.
3. Wear a proper shirt, and one that fits - so many people wear casual shirts to work and usually with the wrong length arms and neck. Go to a store that sell shirts in various arm lengths and reasonably constructed to look good with a suit. If you are on a budget T.M. Lewin often do 4 shirts for £100 which are more than adequate, and will be enough to get you going - I suggest two each of white and light blue plain as a minimum.
4. Wear a tie - why, oh why do so few people wear a tie? A man is not completely dressed without one; a suit is not casual so why dress casually underneath it? The silk of he tie (and do ensure it is silk) offers a contrasting texture to the matt of the suit and shirt and is a great opportunity to express your personality through colour.
5. Shoes - So many people wear a suit and then finish it off with totally inappropriate shoes. Wear some black traditional, welted shoes in an oxford style. These will last a lifetime if looked after so don't skimp.

These five simple steps can make you look more professional and presentable.

Glenn Ludlow
Managing Director of Sartorial Executive Bespoke Shirts
http://www.shirt-style.co.uk

Help us design our new tie collection

2009-03-14T10:26:00.001-07:00

We are talking to a number of tie makers both here in the UK and also in Italy. We are planning to have a new tie range made for us, and we would like you the buying public to help us choose the designs.
If there is a particular tie style, pattern or colour you like let us know - you ca send us a photo or link to a tie that is of the style you like. The ties will all be 4 inch wide and hand-made with a small selection being seven-fold ties.
So get your designing hat on and suggest a design for our tie range. if your design is chosen you will receive a £10 credit towards a bespoke shirt.
Designs are required by the end of April.

More from TK Maxx

2009-02-28T14:16:00.000-08:00

Well, I did it again; I went to TK Maxx and bought a shirt, a pair of trousers and a pocket square. Just because I make and sell bespoke shirts does not stop me buying ready to wear shirts and this time it was a burgundy check button down from Hackett with a Brompton Collar for £30. A real steal in my opinion. The shirt is made from quite a nice Italian 100's fabric. No idication of the mill from which it was sourced, but Hackett do often use Thomas Mason. A great shirt which fits reasonably well, but looks great for days out at the weekend.
The trousers I purchased were a herringbone navy pair made by Acquascutum. Normally £99 i got these for £30. They were probably part of a suit originally, but I will be able to find a use for them. Again, a bargain for a really high quality article of clothing.
The pocket square does not have a brand on it, but it is a gorgeous blue and white polka dot made from particularly nice silk. the only thing letting it down is that the edges are not hand rolled, but machined. owever, for £4 what can you expect!

Creating an Image

2009-02-26T14:07:00.001-08:00

I spent yesterday afternoon in the town of Stroud in Gloucestershire, not too far from me. I was meeting with Berith, an image consultant who has worked in the fashion and beauty industry for 25 years. Berith knows her stuff (not surprising after so many years in the industry) and amongst her offerings is a style and image consultancy service for men.
Trained by Colour me Beautiful, Berith has combined their system with some of her own ideas which, from speaking to her, sound really great.
I am often asked by clients what colour bespoke shirts they should buy from me (one of each of course :-), and whilst I can help inform them based on my knowledge and experience, Berith has the training and background to really help.
We have decided that we will be bringing to our respective clients a joint offer of style and image consultancy with first bespoke shirt/tie/cufflinks etc. More details will be available on the blog when known.
In the meantime check out Berith's website at http://www.b-image.co.uk/ and please tell her I sent you if you use her services. recommend her to your wife or partner too!

Quality Italian Handmade Ties - now available

2009-02-24T14:20:00.000-08:00

We have been searching for some time for the perfect ties to complement our bespoke shirts (and made to measure suits) and we are pleased to announce that we have finally found them.

Today, we have launched our Luxury Tie range, made specially for us in Italy.

Each Sartorial Executive tie is entirely hand stitched by skillful craftsmen , and enriched with luxurious touches, such as the reverse loop , and self tipped with the same fabric of the tie . The inside lining is pure virgin wool, which ensures the tie will keep its shape over time and adds aluxurious feel to the tie. Only a very small quantity of each Sartorial Executive tie is produced.

Bespoke Shirts - a chance to do something different

2009-02-18T13:03:00.000-08:00

We have today been commissioned to make a shirt for a client who is 6 foot 3 inches tall and very slim . He used to wear shirts that have the stripes running horizontally, but is unable to find them in the shops.

Normally, we would suggest use of horizontal stripes on a shirt is probably not a good idea but he knows what he wants and we will provide. An example of someone wearing a horizontal stripes shirt can be seen on the excellent Sartorialist blog at http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2007/11/on-streethorizontal-stripe-shirts-paris.html, and it certainly looks good.

We shall be making the bespoke shirt in the Acorn BC Green fabric with white collars and cuffs.

Look for pictures of the finished article here in a few weeks.

100's of new bespoke shirt fabrics available

2009-02-15T10:44:00.001-08:00

We have recently added to our already vast range of bespoke shirt fabrics with the introduction of Ringhart fabrics. This is an absolutely fantastic addition to our range, with approximately 200 each of plains, stripes and checks to choose from. This UK based company fit in well with our current ranges with yarn counts from 30s x 30s Dyed twill up to a luxurious 2/140s x 2/140s Yarn dyed poplin. The colours and patterns in the range are great for more adventurous bespoke shirts than would be obtained using Alumo or Monti fabrics but at the same time there is a very English feel about the designs.

The prices for bespoke shirts from these fabrics start at £125 (the same as for bespoke shirts from Acorn), so for those on a budget this really increases the choices for your bespoke shirts.

Have you met Mr & Mrs Smith?

2009-02-05T13:59:00.000-08:00

If you find searching for a quality hotel a bit hit or miss, or even tedious and would rather leave it to someone else, then can I suggest you look to Mr & Mrs. Smith? That is the name of a members' luxury and boutique hotel club which brings you great discounts on the price of luxury hotels for the fantastic price of less than £20 per year. You can also upgrade your membership to get many extra benefits thrown in.

Go to http://www.mrandmrssmith.com/ for full details