Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending

You've met the staff, you've made your choices, you've been measured and you've parted ways with a smile and a firm handshake. The difficult part of the suit process is over and done with and that leaves you plenty of time for self-reflection and devoting your life to pruning bonsai trees and meditative philosophies. Except it doesn't quite work that way. Perhaps it’s the ‘boys and their toys’ mentality, but once you've got your mind set on something you want it as soon as possible. Unfortunately, the material doesn't order and stitch itself into perfection instantly, leaving you biting your nails and watching the days pass by until you receive the phone call letting you know: It’s done.

You get changed behind an organ

Of course there’s just one last step. The final fitting! You get to slip on that suit you've so eagerly been waiting for and have it adjusted to perfection. In my case, adjusting was a couple of small fixes that allowed the jacket to sit on my shoulders comfortably and the sleeves to be shortened just a touch. These were very minor alterations that highlighted just how accurate the measuring was in the first place. Impressive! The second phone call doesn't take as long as the first and before you know it you’re back in the same room wearing the newly-adjusted outfit.

And it fits perfectly.

Tools of the trade

Dear diary: Today I was a human blackboard

There’s something to be said about a tailored set of clothes, but the most noticeable thing for me was that when I tell you it fits perfectly, it’s so much more than that. Your attire not only sits on you comfortably (it was made to measure, obviously) but it shifts with your body’s own movements, not unlike a second skin would. The end result is clothing that looks great and feels enjoyable to wear.
That’s a sentence I never thought I’d end up saying through this adventure.

From the moment I walked in to the moment I walked out, the discussion, interaction, options and even the atmosphere really set a standard that has to be the most open and relaxed I've found clothes shopping. A simple thanks doesn't cover it, but I’d like to extend it to Gresham Blake and all at the Brighton store, with a special thanks to Max for being an excellent guide through the world of bespoke tailoring and for answering the myriad of questions I peppered his way every time we met.

Max was quite the jovial personality!

Here’s the finished product! Sharing some camera space with me is the delightful Charlotte Barrow, VisitBrighton’s own marketing marvel, trying her best to conceal her envy. Fortunately for her, Gresham Blake also do women’s clothing as well! I suspect she'd want something in purple, though green would suit!

Options are often illustrated on nearby friendly mannequins.

Thanks also to Mad Hatters, a stylish hat shop situated on Trafalgar Street, for informed advice and recommendations on hat styles and colours. They have a huge range of head wear to choose from, mens and womens, to compliment any and all attire! Certainly worth checking out!

Gresham Blake
20 Bond Street Brighton BN1 1RD
Mon - Thur : 10am - 5.30pm
Fri : 10.30am - 5.30pm
Saturday : 10am - 6pm
Sunday : 11am - 5pm
www.greshamblake.com
http://www.greshamblake.com/contact-us/i51
https://twitter.com/GreshamBlake

Mad Hatters
www.madhattersandfriends.co.uk