The London Lounge

Few new commissions during the "true lockdown". Mainly took delivery of some things that had been ordered before. One of those (a sportscoat by Corcos) was delivered without a fitting - as the wait had already been so long. This being the seventh jacket he made for me my pattern was already pretty m...

I have a 4x1 shawl-lapel dinner jacket made by Steed - the overlap is quite low, similar to that in the jacket you are wearing. The trousers are fairly high-waisted, and are cut with a fishtail back and are always worn with braces. When I had it made I never envisaged the need for any waist-covering...

R-O-T, I posted some notes on my first bespoke order at Drake's in this and following posts. Hope this can help you get what you want, as I did, from Drake's. Kind regards, f Thank you - very helpful! Alas the store manager told me they no longer did customer patterns (and to his credit admitted th...

I could not agree more with ROT. The A & S haberdashery (and Budd!) are hard to beat. Drake's is great, but service, level of conversation and return on investment far better with the aforementioned. Drakes has always been better in theory than in practice for me - love the idea of the shop, but mo...

It is - to my mind - the best menswear shop in London. I have always found the pricing fair - in particular on the knitwear It is also the only place I have found that offers classic pieces, in excellent fabrics, in more contemporary cuts (slimmer trousers, slimmer fitting and shorter cardigans). Th...

Anybody been to Dukes recently?? Just last winter. Nothing of value to say about the bar, however. It was full of people, and I was alone, and jet-lagged, and I didn't feel the need to be un-introduced in a crowd of Englishmen (and women). The rooms are still excellent value, however, if you don't ...

Am also looking for a blazer fabric - and would appreciate your guidance in trying to track down something quite different (already have a lightweight fresco, and a mid-weight botany navy blazer) I was in Tom Ford the other day (my wife was looking at the womenswear) and saw a very nice hopsack navy...

Mr Alden et al - thank you very much for your advice In the end I went with an 18oz navy pure wool clothc from Harrisons. I wanted something sturdy, but not too warm - the London climate rarely requires it Based on conversations with Edwin I decided to jettison the turnback cuffs, but the rest remai...

I am having a bespoke overcoat made by Steed - and would value the input of the LL membership as I consider cloth choices, The coat will be a pretty formal City DB - 6x2, peak lapels (naturally), flapped hip pockets, welted breast pocket, turnback cuffs and pleated rear vents. I am looking for a dar...

I have a Hasten bed - though not from their top line

Cannot recommend it highly enough - fantastic quality, and whilst it is now seven years old, it is as good as when I bought it

My wife and I typically miss it greatly after a few days away, even in the best hotels