Recently we had the honour and “challenge” of being commissioned by the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion for a few new suits.

Chris who is known as much through-out the world for his unique style as much as his skills as a boxer has asked us to make seven new suits all incorporating his usual high buttoned jacket positioning and very fitted appearance.

Here at C&D we thought this would be a good opportunity to elaborate on the process Chris and all our London Cut customers go through from start to finished garment.

Stage 1.

The consultation and measurements.

Looking daper in C&D HQ

The consultation forms two parts, firstly the selection of the cloth and styling required. In Chris’ case he opted for one classic pinstripe super 150’s wool and cashmere blend from one of the best mills in Huddersfield. The blue is slightly lighter than navy and will be a perfect spring and summer suit for Chris. The other was a midnight blue barathea in a 12 oz cloth. A midnight blue is a great alternative to black as under artificial light a midnight blue often looks like a true black where as blacks often has a purple shimmer. The weight of cloth is perfect for Chris and will allow us to give the suit a lot of “chest” where we work the suit fabric into creating shaping over the chest area to emphasis and play to his body strengths.

Chris, like many customers, had very clear ideas on the style he wants for his suits, and after being a client of Kilgour for years he certainly knows his stuff! We decided not to venture too far from his existing suits but he asked us to create a more fitted looking jacket, and also to incorporate a roped shoulder (I will explain this in more detail in a later post).

Measurements take about 20 mins to complete and incorporates up to 47 body measurements to ensure the perfect fit.

Next  Stage is calling up the fabric from the merchant and I will write on this in the next post.

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The White Rose Trophy

Like any football team will tell you, its all about the silverware and with that in mind we have managed to bring “home” two of the biggest awards in Tailoring history. We have currently the White Rose Trophy an award given to the best provincial tailor mounted on our shop wall. Its next stop after us is Kilgour on the Savile Row.

Also a slightly bigger piece of silverware in the shop window is the Dugdales White Rose Trophy. This is the precursor to the Golden Shears and was awarded to to “for excellence in the art of tailoring” Having been won by both “Mr Gieves”  (1950) and “Mr Hawkes” (1958) before their combined entity began as Gieves & Hawkes they are next inline to display the cup in the premises at No1 Savile Row.

Silverware in the shop

Those interested in tailoring history or silverware it is well worth stopping by Castle Court to have a look.