Pete Alfie Bailey
John Davis
Tobias-Davis
Tobias-Davis
| Recommendations |
Yesterday I collected a suit from John to that to me is the most beautiful I've ever seen. That suit has existed in my mind for over
ten years. I've tried various tailors over that period with varying results, usually I'm happy with the trousers but something about
the balance and fit of the jackets is never quite right.
The original idea for the suit came about from finding myself outside Tobias Savile Row one summers evening trying to
impress a young lady, "I'm gonna have a suit from here one day, only a bit more Mod than that" as I pointed to a suit in the
widow display.
Something about that suit just stood out, even in Savile Row at a time when there were over 50 proper tailors in the area, there's
about half that number now and Tobias is one of those that have gone, to be replaced by charlatans who trade off the Savile
Row name while offering an inferior product.
Shortly before that night I'd had a chance meeting with John Davis who was the coat maker at Tobias. I was impressed with the
passion he had for his craft; although with the best will in the world I was never likely to be able to afford his prices. Luckily for
me, John now works from home and charges half the average price of a Savile Row Bespoke two piece. Made to the same
exacting standards that gained Savile Row its reputation as the world centre of Bespoke Tailoring. I've already got a blazer from
John and I'm having a sports coat next. What I love about John's jackets, is that he seems to understand what I want, better than
I do. John doesn't just copy a house style, he designs the jacket to excel the wearer's expectations. The trousers are pretty
good too.
ten years. I've tried various tailors over that period with varying results, usually I'm happy with the trousers but something about
the balance and fit of the jackets is never quite right.
The original idea for the suit came about from finding myself outside Tobias Savile Row one summers evening trying to
impress a young lady, "I'm gonna have a suit from here one day, only a bit more Mod than that" as I pointed to a suit in the
widow display.
Something about that suit just stood out, even in Savile Row at a time when there were over 50 proper tailors in the area, there's
about half that number now and Tobias is one of those that have gone, to be replaced by charlatans who trade off the Savile
Row name while offering an inferior product.
Shortly before that night I'd had a chance meeting with John Davis who was the coat maker at Tobias. I was impressed with the
passion he had for his craft; although with the best will in the world I was never likely to be able to afford his prices. Luckily for
me, John now works from home and charges half the average price of a Savile Row Bespoke two piece. Made to the same
exacting standards that gained Savile Row its reputation as the world centre of Bespoke Tailoring. I've already got a blazer from
John and I'm having a sports coat next. What I love about John's jackets, is that he seems to understand what I want, better than
I do. John doesn't just copy a house style, he designs the jacket to excel the wearer's expectations. The trousers are pretty
good too.
John Davis Bespoke Tailor
Mod tailor George's Tailors: 50 Wightman Road, Harringay, London, N4 1RU
An authentic Mod suit, has to be tailor made by someone who understands our lifestyle, and more importantly knows the cut ;
details and type of cloth worn by Mods. Like a Savile Row suit it projects an image. The Savile Row suit projects an image of
formality, confidence, and understated elegance, whereas the Mod suit projects an image of eternal youthfulness and
individuality. George worked on Carnaby Street in the early 80's alongside jobbing Savile Row tailors (like my Alfie character) .
He was ideally placed to see what the Mods were wearing at that time, and also saw Savile Row tailoring from the inside.
George makes a nice structured suit in reasonable cloths for Mods and Businessmen alike. His price for a two piece kid
Mohair (Mod) suit is around £700, for a business suit in a Savile Row quality worsted is about £1000. (Based on 2008 prices)
details and type of cloth worn by Mods. Like a Savile Row suit it projects an image. The Savile Row suit projects an image of
formality, confidence, and understated elegance, whereas the Mod suit projects an image of eternal youthfulness and
individuality. George worked on Carnaby Street in the early 80's alongside jobbing Savile Row tailors (like my Alfie character) .
He was ideally placed to see what the Mods were wearing at that time, and also saw Savile Row tailoring from the inside.
George makes a nice structured suit in reasonable cloths for Mods and Businessmen alike. His price for a two piece kid
Mohair (Mod) suit is around £700, for a business suit in a Savile Row quality worsted is about £1000. (Based on 2008 prices)