The London Lounge

There's been a lot of discussion about the raison d'etre of a lot of fora of late. It left open question as to where the LL belongs amongst them, where it's identity lay.

Let me say that, to me, the LL has it's place because it is the best place to discuss advanced technical details of tailoring. This means issues related to cutting, making up but also to textiles. I welcome technical discussion about weaving, fibres, and about the suitability of cloths for various purposes.

These discussions tend to get lost amongst the highly colourful chit chat about jeans, job interview attire etc etc that crop up endlessly on other fora. If I post technical information, it gets overlooked and is often hardly read at all. By posting at the LL, I ensure that they get read.

I have also moved a lot of very detailed detective work on dress history to this forum. Some of the stuff discussed has been incredibly academic and also very interesting.

Let's hope this unique identity ensures the LL a place amongst other fora.

http://www.cutterandtailor.com/forum

Just as elegance is about THE WAY to wear clothes, I think the LL is about THE WAY to make a forum (although I personally believe it has gone a long way beyond its technical definition as a forum). Each member likes it for different reasons and that shows how complex it is: technical information, encyclopedic approach of subjects wherever possible, good advice, good questions, valuable opinions, history, quality humour and good conversation; above all, mutual respect among members and a for the place where they write.
But this is not a fruit salad, because there is a red thread running through all (or most) LL discussions: the pursuit of elegance, which is always explicitly or implicitly behind every posting. It is an option, a vision shared by members, who don't just discuss dress in general terms for the sake of it, but strive to put all things into context and into a perspective and give them a purpose towards a common (and complex) end: the elegant LIFE.
I have no doubt about the LL's unique character and place and it is other fora that should hope to find a place around the LL.

For me, a VERY steep learning curve!

In the beginning, I came to the Lounge out of necessity: I'm one of the unfortunate many who cannot comfortably wear mass-sized clothing. As the son of a soldier who had a uniform for every occasion and, more, as one who grew up far from his well-dressed grandfathers, my ignorance of successful collaboration with skilled tailors had already proven costly. I found what I sought here.

And I found more: a group of men who, almost without exception, show themselves sensible (in every way) and honorable. Many express themselves well, even engagingly. A few show their expertise in one field or another, all to our advantage. And all are interesting.

A "virtual toast", fellow Loungers, to our institution!

I do appreciate the wealth of knowledge on LL, even if I myself aren't inclined to spend the time to gain such knowledge. It is like a car enthusiast appreciating that someone has taken the time to understand the firing sequence of an Aston-Martin V-12 - I may not need to know that, but I'm glad that someone does.

RWS wrote:A "virtual toast", fellow Loungers, to our institution!

Vivat!

Costi wrote:

RWS wrote:A "virtual toast", fellow Loungers, to our institution!

Vivat!

It's 19.48 hours here - and I'm having a real toast: Floreat!
NJS

storeynicholas wrote:

Costi wrote:

RWS wrote:A "virtual toast", fellow Loungers, to our institution!

Vivat!

It's 19.48 hours here - and I'm having a real toast: Floreat!
NJS

Crescat!
D.

I'm interested in both the technical and aesthetic aspects of clothing- I get a good dose of both here.

That and it's nice to be around people that think it's just fine to wear winter weight clothing in winter and summer weight clothing in summer.

I have been a browser of the LL for some months and recently joined up for the simple reason that here I can read a wonderfully diverse range of views about a seemingly limitless range of linked subjects.

Profoundly knowledgeable folk mix with happy amateurs(like me) and share views, experiences and the things that drive them potty, around a core of topics which bind all participants together.

Clearly my wife thinks it somewhat troubling that I can talk for hours about the aesthetic virtues of one shade of blue poplin versus another, or indeed the length of a collar point, so being free to do so on the LL creates harmony at home as well!

I love the discussions about history and fabrics.