The London Lounge

A friend of mine recently asked me to go with him to see a couple of suits he was having made at Nicolosi's. This guy is kind of a tough fit, about 5'10, built like a former football player. The suits he is having made are spectacular. My friend told me that he had brought in a MTM he had from Kiton and asked for a copy. While not exact--a little more shoulder, a cleaner sleeve--they were much more flattering on my friend than his Kiton.

I got to talking with Mr. Nicolosi about his philosophy and his work. It was clear that this was much more than a business to him. I asked if he could do a suit with a higher armhole and less padding than the one he did for my friend. He said he could--that the reason he made my friends suit the way he did was to correct for some physical imperfections. I have to say my buddy's suit looked tremendous; very clean lines and a perfect balance. As my friend said, it erased the 20 years of good living since his college football days. I ended up ordering a suit-something I truly did not need. I just liked the guy and his work a great deal.

In a wierd way it was kind of a bittersweet experience: Mr. Nicolosi is getting on in years. I do not believe that there are any young artisans (outside of Frank Shattuck) to take his place when he decides to retire.

Vincent loves his work, he takes great pride in it and in his customers. He is a better tailor then he has ever been and the last suit he made for me(which I got last week)is the best I have from him. I like virtually no padding-however, since I am 58 and am still in the gym five days a week, my shoulders are now dropping down and raising up and need some pattern so I don't look deformed.
There are some very good youing english tailors(hitchcock and dubois come to mind) and so long as there are men wiling to pay-they will be talented me-and hopefully-women that do it.
I don't know how you are built but I am 5'11" and 205 and pretty thick built and he makes an unpadded look for me to perfection.
My office is right across the street and I'm always happy to meet a member at his shop.

Ed,

will you post some pictures of you and your latest Nicolosi suit?

I just got off the phone with Nicolosi -- he's not retiring any time soon. This is good, because he's a genius.

Where would this be, NYC?
Would he be able to do the first two fittings within a two/three week span?
He sounds fantastic.

Of all the tailors in New York, Nicolosi is by far the fastest. If you told him that you needed things done in that timeframe, I have little doubt that he could do it.

His shop is at 53rd and Madision.

Thanks. I now have something to do next summer.

As to time needed: it was funny, he offered me the suit in two weeks, if I was in a hurry. When I said that I was not in a hurry, he suggested that my first fitting would be sometime in late January.