The London Lounge

Gentlemen,

Over the last couple of months I've been working with our OldHenry on what we decided to call a walking coat. A super comfortable jacket that's a bit longer than usual with beefy rustic pocket flaps (including breast pocket). The idea was to make it roomy enough to be worn with a substantial cardigan over a heavy oxford shirt or a beefy Aran turtleneck. To be worn as outerwear down to freezing temperatures. The cloth is our fantastic LL LLTW06 Gunclub.
The process was unique and a joy to experience. This coat had history before it was finished. Initial session over skype, skype muslin fitting, another muslin fitting with just pictures, first fitting in real cloth. At this point I realized that I wanted to meet the man who is doing all this and drove up for a short vacation with the family. Little did I know that I would not be let out of the shop for almost 2 days. "Oh no no, that body is not going anywhere" was Frank's polite but firm response to my wife's question of "how soon do you want me to pick you up?" This is tailoring as it should be and as it is no longer practiced. The coat is engineered, crafted, built around that client's shape. No tag it and bag it here.
Frank's shop is in a beautiful area practically on lake Ontario. Time runs slowly there in this old town. People mean what they say and say what they mean. In several days I got more rest than I normally do in a week. I also brought home two of his beautiful hand-made birds. My kids got a lesson in wood working. In short, I got much more than I bargained for. Already planning another visit this summer.

Here are some pictures:

A week or so before finished:
https://imgur.com/a/LpFCqTJ

Sleeves just a bit longer than usual
https://imgur.com/a/jA6TGwN

Functional high collar closes easily over a thick scarf
https://imgur.com/a/oZko8oE

Back made for me and only for me. I have a very difficult back that gave a number of tailors some head scratching to do. Frank engineers things until it works. I generally had very good luck with tailors named Frank, who knows...
https://imgur.com/a/KMdapRp

A cap also made by Frank in old old tweed that will be worn with the coat
https://imgur.com/a/EGRSze3

Greg

Dear Greg,

this is a wonderful coat, a masterpiece! Congratulations, both to you and the maker! Tailoring as it should be.

Cheers, David

A wonderful coat!
Lot of old world charm in the cut and a great cloth: bravo to you and obviously to Frank!

Wow, beautiful!!! So balanced, so elegant!
Another masterpiece, Frank. Can’t wait to visit you at the end of the month! Expect a few new LL cloth masterpieces by Frank!

Gentlemen,

Thank you for you good words. Before the coat was made I thought it's a shame frank is a 5 hour drive away from me. Now I think I am lucky he is only 5 hour drive away from me

Greg

Thanks gents. This coat was a great adventure. I scratched my head a bit too. Armholes must be kept the proper size for the arm. Not made big and easy for “ freedom of movement” And they need to be where they need to be and the cloth must go around meet them without a lot of drapey nonsense.

Yes, where the sleeves are attached on this coat is most unusual. The back wraps around me and follows much further than on most of my other coats. Then the sleeve begins. The sleeves are attached where my arms are attached . That's what I meant by "Back made for me and only for me". There is no way one can draw this out of a stock pattern.
https://imgur.com/a/KMdapRp

Greg

Awesome coat. Wish this had been in the shop when I was in. Would have loved to see it in person. Wonderful work Frank.

D.

Lovely, elegant jacket, bravo.

Thank you very much Rob, Sir. It is sculpted to this particular individual only . I’m very happy you like it. You too David.

The coat is not cheap, it has to earn its keep
Now with a heavy cashmere turtle neck and a cap made by the same hands as the coat. Who else can make you a coat and cap?
https://imgur.com/a/BkmeHfN

Greg

So I have been telling you guys for over a decade about this tailor who lives in God’s country and does Gods work with a needle and iron.

It does me good to see some of you have finally listened to me.

A decade is a long time, but better late than never.

Cheers