A while back I posted asking for advice on the best UK suit value in the 500 pound range.
Members Trilby and Chris H recommended me to George's Tailors at 50 Wightman Rd. in Harringay, North London.
After speaking to George by phone, I decided to follow the advice of these distinguished members by having George make me a suit.
I went with a two button, double vented, ticket pocketed, navy chalkstripe number, with two pairs of pants, one cuffed and one cuffless, for 650 pounds. (For a suit with one pair of pants only, the cost would have been 600.)
From the start, George and his wife made me feel like a valued customer. George took my lack of experience in stride and was happy to assume the consultant role I had hoped for. He deftly whipped out the exact fabric I was envisioning from his towers of options.
He was happy to accommodate my request for functioning cuff buttons at no additional charge, and showed me all the details of the construction process, including the difference between canvassing and fusing, which I have obviously heard ad nauseum on this board, but never felt until then.
I was pleased to find, after my initial consultation and measurement, I was encouraged to return for no less than two fittings for my semi-bespoke (see explanation below) garment- a total of 4 visits including pickup, and many hours of their time devoted to me.
Each time I entered their shop, they'd have a piping hot cup of coffee and delicious Greek biscuits at the ready, and would insist that I stay and chat a while after the business was done.
Today, after picking up the finished garment, I stayed and chatted with them while they worked for over an hour and a half, on topics ranging from the difference between the US and UK, Cypress and Greece, dialect vs. standard Greek, the ups and downs of the life of a tailor, etc. In our conversation today, I found out some details that may be of interest to members.
He has been operating in his current location for 28 years and is now 62 years old. (He claims tailors, like fine wine, get better with age.) He is a native of Cypress and still speaks with a heavy Cypriot accent, while his Cypriot wife speaks perfect English.
They have a loyal following among solicitors from the City and have no shortage of work to do. They are getting to the point where they don;t need the money and are ready to start scaling back commissions, so if you're interested in their services, it might be a good idea to go soon!
I am deeply grateful to the forum members that steered me to this gem of an establishment. It was exactly the kind of experience I needed from my first custom suit and I hope the life of an Art Historian keeps me in the black enough to return to give them more business.
I hope you enjoy the pics below. Frankly, I'm not looking for criticism. The suit is made, I am happy, and thought you'd like to see George's work. It's a terrifying thing to post images for so many experts.
George doing his thing.
![Image]()
The man himself.
![Image]()
Some practice for the ultimate purpose of the suit, looking good at the opening of my first exhibition in February 2007!
I am pleased to now join Chris H and Trilby as a proud advocate of George. I hope others of you will head his way.
George's Tailors
50 Wightman Rd.
Harringay, London
N41RU
0208 341 3614
-----------------------------------
"It is an old trick. The playgoer who does not like dirty plays is denounced as a prude; the music-lover who resents cacophony is told he is a pedant; and in all these matters the final crushing blow administered to the man of discrimination is the ascription to him of a hidebound prejudice against things that are new because they are new." -Royal Cortissoz
Members Trilby and Chris H recommended me to George's Tailors at 50 Wightman Rd. in Harringay, North London.
After speaking to George by phone, I decided to follow the advice of these distinguished members by having George make me a suit.
I went with a two button, double vented, ticket pocketed, navy chalkstripe number, with two pairs of pants, one cuffed and one cuffless, for 650 pounds. (For a suit with one pair of pants only, the cost would have been 600.)
From the start, George and his wife made me feel like a valued customer. George took my lack of experience in stride and was happy to assume the consultant role I had hoped for. He deftly whipped out the exact fabric I was envisioning from his towers of options.
He was happy to accommodate my request for functioning cuff buttons at no additional charge, and showed me all the details of the construction process, including the difference between canvassing and fusing, which I have obviously heard ad nauseum on this board, but never felt until then.
I was pleased to find, after my initial consultation and measurement, I was encouraged to return for no less than two fittings for my semi-bespoke (see explanation below) garment- a total of 4 visits including pickup, and many hours of their time devoted to me.
Each time I entered their shop, they'd have a piping hot cup of coffee and delicious Greek biscuits at the ready, and would insist that I stay and chat a while after the business was done.
Today, after picking up the finished garment, I stayed and chatted with them while they worked for over an hour and a half, on topics ranging from the difference between the US and UK, Cypress and Greece, dialect vs. standard Greek, the ups and downs of the life of a tailor, etc. In our conversation today, I found out some details that may be of interest to members.
He has been operating in his current location for 28 years and is now 62 years old. (He claims tailors, like fine wine, get better with age.) He is a native of Cypress and still speaks with a heavy Cypriot accent, while his Cypriot wife speaks perfect English.
They have a loyal following among solicitors from the City and have no shortage of work to do. They are getting to the point where they don;t need the money and are ready to start scaling back commissions, so if you're interested in their services, it might be a good idea to go soon!
I am deeply grateful to the forum members that steered me to this gem of an establishment. It was exactly the kind of experience I needed from my first custom suit and I hope the life of an Art Historian keeps me in the black enough to return to give them more business.
I hope you enjoy the pics below. Frankly, I'm not looking for criticism. The suit is made, I am happy, and thought you'd like to see George's work. It's a terrifying thing to post images for so many experts.
George doing his thing.
The man himself.
Some practice for the ultimate purpose of the suit, looking good at the opening of my first exhibition in February 2007!
I am pleased to now join Chris H and Trilby as a proud advocate of George. I hope others of you will head his way.
George's Tailors
50 Wightman Rd.
Harringay, London
N41RU
0208 341 3614
-----------------------------------
"It is an old trick. The playgoer who does not like dirty plays is denounced as a prude; the music-lover who resents cacophony is told he is a pedant; and in all these matters the final crushing blow administered to the man of discrimination is the ascription to him of a hidebound prejudice against things that are new because they are new." -Royal Cortissoz
