The New York store’s façade
sports both a Union Jack and the Star Spangled Banner, flying the
flag for both British craftsmanship and American style. Inside, the
store is welcoming and open. Unlike the gentlemen’s club feel of
the London flagship, one gets the sense that this store was built
with time efficiency in mind: New Yorkers don’t mess about, so
clear displays, good lighting and plenty of space to browse makes
it an easy pit-stop for men on the move. “The best things often
take time and patience. However, in this day and age, time is
almost certainly a luxury which gentlemen seldom have –
particularly in cities such as New York,” Gillotte explains. “For
those that experience bespoke for the first time, there is an added
desire and excitement to have things there and then.”
Online, one customer review of
the service justifies his investment in T&A bespoke shirts with
the kind of attitude that would make carpe diem’s Horace proud: “Look, we are all going to die, but not everyone
is going to be killed wearing a $350 bespoke shirt.
Me, I would like to be one of the few.” Perhaps he’s been watching
too much James Bond (Sean
Connery, Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig have
all dodged bullets wearing T&A) but his point rings true with a
lot of the clientele. “As a
client’s taste and interests mature, bespoke is the natural
progression when it comes to dressing. Our ready-to-wear shirts are
made to the same standards as that of our bespoke shirts, but with
a little more investment the difference in fit becomes
significant,” says Gillotte. “Understandably, a few customers have
come to us requesting to look like James Bond. Having dressed
several 007s over the years, it’s something that comes quite
naturally to us, but we also recognise that not everyone shares the
physique of Connery or Craig.” Gillotte’s expertise lies in the
ability to measure and manipulate the pattern of a shirt, not only
to fit impeccably but to make the client’s figure look as good as
possible. Despite advances in technology, there is no real
substitute for the well-trained eye and tape measure of a bespoke
artisan especially as, Gillotte adds proudly, “all of our products
remain handmade ever since we were established in 1885”.
Evidently, a great sense of
pride is a common thread among all T&A employees, regardless of
location. Just as the London store is an experience in itself (so
much so that T&A partnered with Floris last year to create a
fragrance that evokes that very experience), so too is the building
just off Park Avenue. “The New York store itself is just as much of
an attraction as our celebrated shirts and ties. The ability to
provide an unrivalled experience in our stores separates us from
our competitors. We have forged long-term relationships with our
esteemed clientele, and it is the reason we have been able to
provide them with exceptional quality clothes that transcend
seasonality and trend-led fashion.” Whether you’re in town for
business or pleasure, next time you’re in New York schedule a visit
to T&A for one of the best bespoke experiences on the east
coast.
Turnbull & Asser, 50 East
57th
St, New York,
USA.
