First Nicolosi suit

[doccol91]

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.

[edhayes]

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.

[le.gentleman]

Ed,

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

[Collarmelton]

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

[flannel]

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

[manton]

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.

[flannel]

Thanks. I now have something to do next summer.

[doccol91]

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.