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sil_the_lobster's review against another edition
5.0
For somebody who doesn’t care an awful lot about her own clothes – I could happily spend my days wearing jeans, t-shirt and DocMartens – I have developed a serious kink when it comes to menswear, or rather: bespoke menswear. It all started when I took up writing fanfiction because one of my MCs is always impeccably dressed and wears the most beautiful three piece suits. Well, if you want your stories to be believable and if you want your characters to come to life, you need to do some proper research, and so I started researching bespoke clothing. And lo and behold, what a rich world it is! So utterly different from anything I’ve ever busied myself with but nevertheless fascinating. I started learning about different tie knots, lapels, braces, turn-ups, linings, waistcoats, vents… you name it, and when I stumbled across Mr Anderson’s book via my friendly online retailer’s recommendation, I jumped and bought it.
What can I say… I loved it. I devoured it on the daily train rides to and from work, in bed before going to sleep and during my lunch breaks, and whenever I had to put it down to return to my reality, I became really irritated. Explain the fascination of a ‘tailor’s’ biography to the monochromatic world you’re surrounded by most of your waking hours. “What does he write about? Buttonholes?” No, he doesn’t, although there is mention of a young apprentice being sent to fetch some black buttonholes. “Does he gossip about celebrities?” No, he doesn’t, although he mentions a few names.
So what makes it so interesting?
If you open the book to accept Mr Anderson’s invitation, he will take you on a journey into a world that is – to the average person – as exotic and strange as, say, Avatar’s Pandora. It’s rich and luscious and aggressive and elegant, and my brief glimpse into that world filled me with a certain amount of envy for those who are passionate about their work, a work that doesn’t revolve about profit and more and higher and shinier (although, of course, Savile Row houses are businesses, too, and as such strive to keep their figures balanced and thriving). It’s about a craftman’s pride, about creating something that is beautiful and lasting. It’s about constant value in a world that is forever changing, and it has taught me about class and quality.
As for the tone of the book, it’s well-written, funny but respectful, glimpsing into the world of the rich and famous without tasteless gossiping. Sadly, there are no photos but if you’re interested, fire up your search engine and will fill find what you’re looking for. Easy, really. Shouldn’t discourage you from picking up this book because it’s an entertaining read nevertheless, and well worth your time.
It’s unlikely my salary will ever allow me to order a bespoke suit (and yes, Mr Anderson cuts for women, too) but it’s something I’ve added to daydream list, my little happy-thoughts-island. Should I ever win the lottery (ha ha), I’m making an appointment at 13 Savile Row.
What can I say… I loved it. I devoured it on the daily train rides to and from work, in bed before going to sleep and during my lunch breaks, and whenever I had to put it down to return to my reality, I became really irritated. Explain the fascination of a ‘tailor’s’ biography to the monochromatic world you’re surrounded by most of your waking hours. “What does he write about? Buttonholes?” No, he doesn’t, although there is mention of a young apprentice being sent to fetch some black buttonholes. “Does he gossip about celebrities?” No, he doesn’t, although he mentions a few names.
So what makes it so interesting?
If you open the book to accept Mr Anderson’s invitation, he will take you on a journey into a world that is – to the average person – as exotic and strange as, say, Avatar’s Pandora. It’s rich and luscious and aggressive and elegant, and my brief glimpse into that world filled me with a certain amount of envy for those who are passionate about their work, a work that doesn’t revolve about profit and more and higher and shinier (although, of course, Savile Row houses are businesses, too, and as such strive to keep their figures balanced and thriving). It’s about a craftman’s pride, about creating something that is beautiful and lasting. It’s about constant value in a world that is forever changing, and it has taught me about class and quality.
As for the tone of the book, it’s well-written, funny but respectful, glimpsing into the world of the rich and famous without tasteless gossiping. Sadly, there are no photos but if you’re interested, fire up your search engine and will fill find what you’re looking for. Easy, really. Shouldn’t discourage you from picking up this book because it’s an entertaining read nevertheless, and well worth your time.
It’s unlikely my salary will ever allow me to order a bespoke suit (and yes, Mr Anderson cuts for women, too) but it’s something I’ve added to daydream list, my little happy-thoughts-island. Should I ever win the lottery (ha ha), I’m making an appointment at 13 Savile Row.
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