Tinkering with tailoring
If you want to get ahead, get a tailor. At a time when disposable fashion has become the norm and shops like Primark and New Look are selling contemporary clothes at cheap-as-chips prices, anyone wearing bespoke, handmade or top quality clobber really stands out.
Celebrity Big Brother presenter Davina McCall recently introduced a lot of women to a top-to-toe tailored look when she wore outfits by Brighton's Gresham Blake on Channel 4. Opened in 2002, Gresham Blake has gained a rep for making classic suits and clothing with a modern twist and, as well as Davina ordering eight suits, Christian Slater bought a coat and Fat Boy Slim, aka Norman Cook, Vernon Kay and Nick Cave are also clients. In addition to the made-to-measure and bespoke tailoring services, Gresham Blake has an unusual range of accessories including a tie featuring lots of little Queen Elizabeth heads wearing gas masks designed by LF & K Foundation founder, Jimmy Cauty (£75), funky rubber pink cufflinks (£10) and handmade solid silver and gold versions (from £45).
An expanded shop is opening in March, but next week (February 18) sees the opening of the ‘Suits as Canvas’ exhibition at the store, featuring white suits co-designed by Blake and various artists including Banksy, Emin and the Chapman brothers. The suits will be auctioned for Cancer Research UK at Christie's on March 14.
here
