love letter to the Lounge

[Guest]

Oh Lounge, how I love thee....

Just kidding. I want to explain myself because I notice that there are a lot of people reading both AAAC and LL and someone noted that I no longer post on AAAC but that I do post on LL.

He is correct, and this is no accident.

The reasons are the following:

1) After numerous bespoke experiences, I am done with RTW, really done. Yeah, there is the fit, but one can find a brand and model that fit as well as bespoke. In my case for instance, I cannot say there is huge difference between a d'Avenza 42 and bespoke for me, or between Bugelli's best effort and a Giampaolo 17/43. The difference for me is the choice and quality of fabrics, and the solidity of construction. Paradoxically given their cost, I wear Centofanti's creations for knock-around because they have that "tank" feel that nothing will touch them. I handle my d'Avenzas with more care. I did not think I could care about stitching so much until I saw Bugelli's shirts, which are really little gems. That they do not make my Barba's and Giampaolos look like rags is more a testament to Barba and Giampaolo's quality, than a ding against Bugelli. The pantsmaker that Alden helped me find, however, does make Incotex look like rags.

2) I am not trying to kiss anyone's ass (and I do not necessarily have the same taste as everyone in the Lounge), but the taste of the gentlemen in the Lounge is exquisite. Where I disagree, I still learn. I have "A style" (rather than "style"), which evolves.

3) There has not been a single ad hominem interaction or flame war since I joined LL. I am really, really busy and I am not by nature an energetic or hard-working guy (as you can tell by my waistline). I do not have time for that stuff.

4) The constant grandstanding by certain members with commercial interests is tiresome on AAAC. By contrast, I am grateful for the polite participation of artisans in the Lounge, and I hope for more. The AAAC is like the audience at a gladiator show, the LL is like, well....a men's club. People who were impolite and distasteful on AAAC become like purring kittens here, just the way I like them....

But the main reason is that I am done with RTW for the most part and if I see another fake "RTW versus bespoke" thread on AAAC I am going to puke.

[Guest]

Dear Doctor,

I cannot but subscribe entirely what you have written.

It's true, that in other forums there are more post daily, but the most part is boring boring boring and I'm bored to search through all of them in search for something interesting.

Giona.

[RWS]

As David and Giona, I read both AAAC and, of course, our own beloved Lounge; and I largely agree with both David and Giona in their postings on this thread.

I much prefer the Lounge, with its civility and high content of useful (and always interesting) information. The chief draw to AAAC is its greater liveliness, but, as Giona pointed out, one must view a great deal of dross to find anything of any real interest. And (I expect) the Lounge will someday reach a livelier activity itself.

My thanks to Michael Alden for creating and inspiring the Lounge, and to all my fellows for sustaining it. May we each see many years here.

[T4phage]

Good post David.

one quibble: "The pantsmaker that Alden helped me find, however, does make Incotex look like rags."..... Have you seen Incotex's Satoriale line? The ones sold in Europe not the U.S. I would put that up against the very best.

[dopey]

David:
This is a bit off topic, but would you mind pointing me to where you discussed you experience ordering bespoke trousers remotely.

[Guest]

T4phage, I do not know Incotex's various lines. Of course I refer to that which i could see in the USA.

Dopey, I do not think I ever discussed this. The important points are that I found a top-quality pantsmaker and sent him a pair of pants I had made through Land's End MTM program. The pants quality is mediocre, but they served well as an example to be copied, and I got exactly the fit I wanted, minus the slightly better fit I would have had had I been measured in person. I think that this works well for shirts and pants (I have done both successfully). Jackets, alas, would not work.

In any event the pants are beautifully made, and with Bugelli's work taught me what is possible from the standpoint of artistic stitching and construction.

[second hand]

I think you may be right about the difference in postings on this site. I have read a few that have been interesting. There has also been mention of posts I cannot access that sound very interesting. I am primarily interested in bespoke clothing and shoes. The AA site does not have info going into the detail which this site apparently does? I,unfortunately, don't have much to contribute to this site. The only piece of bespoke clothing I have is a jacket made by Hicks and Sons of 9 Savile Row. Unfortunately it was made for a Mr. Lightfine in 1969. I bought it second hand.

[erasmus]

I would agree that there are clear advantages of the "walled garden" approach to discussion forums, of which the Lounge is a good example. Civility reigns, quality of posted content is high. It goes without saying that I enjoy the fruits of this forum very much.

But to extend the garden metaphor further, I would also suggest that civility is not a seasonal plant, rather a perennial. If one values civility, one should tend to it year-round regardless of the forum. For that reason, I find that those who are consistently cordial across the various forums (AA & SF) to be the most refreshing and credible ones. And oftentimes they are quite knowledgeable!

[JLibourel]

Just signed up for the Lounge and was glad to see you here, Dr. Bresch. I had been wondering what had happened to you since you had vanished from the AAF and SF. I could never figure out why some people on the Andy Forum took such an antipathy to you. At worst, you merely suffered perhaps from a surfeit of enthusiasm for matters sartorial, which hardly strikes me as heinous in fora devoted to the topic.

While I have no intention of forsaking the other fora, I am looking forward to participating in the London Lounge with its evident high standards of civility and sartorial sophistication. I note with pleasure that most, if not all, the real "mavens" of the other fora are posting here as well.