A gentlemans wardrobe.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Have any of you used a stylist service such as Thread or The Chapar?

I signed up to thread 5 months ago and I think the fact that I haven't bought a single thing from them says it all.

I've just signed up to The Chapar to see if they can surprise me.


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Never even heard of it, what's it entail?

[Sligub]

Chapar, you answer some "style questions" and they send you out a trunk of clothes to try, never tried them but sounds like an interesting way of trying different types of clothes. Thread you get a stylist to offer you outfit idea, like budgie I've never bought anything from them.


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[pootana]

Bet it is expensive

[Budgie Smuggler]

They're decent clothes, think House of Fraser or Selfridges prices, but they don't charge a premium for the service.

Thread is more high street but it's basically a computer making the recommendations and it was literally the same pieces over & over.

With Chapar they give you a call a day or two after registration to discover your likes/dislikes etc and try to push you slightly to try new things without going totally beyond what you're comfortable wearing.


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[Budgie Smuggler]

I'll let you know how I get on with it as I need a couple of pieces for a night out next month and will discuss this with them.


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[Horsebox]

My wardrobe mostly consists of polos or button down shirts and overshirts in autumn/winter (mostly Penguin, Farah, Chevignon, Penfield). Combined with dark slim-fit/tapered jeans (as slim as I can get, I'm not exactly lean but I'm working on it ) or smart shorts and shoes/boots/occasional trainers. Paired with the occasional jacket when the occasion calls for it. I guess you'd call it a sort of mod/casuals look. In the last couple of years I've definitely smartened up and become a bit more 'bold' in what I wear. Anything baggy is out, unless I'm in the woods or up a mountain.

[Emaresee]

Great thread. As a former rugby player whose build remains big but now built for comfort !!! i am constantly challenged to buy wise. Looking crammed into something is as poor as being drowned in a tent!

on some of the points above, black suits; good as uniforms or dinner suits ( which lets be fair is a uniform). Try a dark charcoal or a different shade of navy. I've explored both in different finishes, from sharkskin, pick n pick through to a really subtle feint window pane check. They sound a bit dandy, but really inly people with an eye for detail notice.

The oxford shape shoe is my staple. I loathe more pointy shoes!

Button down shirts... Casual oxford .... All good. With a tie? Never.

but then i do like different collar cuts, with different styles of tie knot.

if you've not had a suit or jacket made for you, its worth a go. There are different degrees of made to measure through to fully bespoke, and the price points are drastically different- from a touch pricy theough to selling a major organ money. Even if you can buy off the peg, its a treat worth trying, if you can find a decent tailor local to you. I have had suits and stuff made on saville row, as well as elsewhere and my view is that its the person doing the work you have to trust, not the brand, location or 'name'. I've had very mixed results on saville row- sublime to the ridiculous.

Not yet seen the value in having shirts made... The big branded 'jermyn street' mail order & online shirt makers offer so many options at prices that are hard to beat.

one part of my wardrobe i never miss, is a decent handkerchief!

There is a book called "Gentleman" which isnt a bad guide/ reference. Its a little dated in parts, butgives pretty good perspectives on most things. Its not all brioni, turnbull & asser,or john lobb!

Some of the trick is in knowing how to treat clothes, so they serve you well. E.g. Wooden hangers for jackets- a jacket worn all day risks sweating against a plastic hanger. Clamp style hangers to hang trousers upside down so the greater weight of the waist band and seat, pulls some of creases out of the back of knees etc.

[Horsebox]

I'd add to Emaresee's points about tailored suits - if you do buy off the peg then it's definitely worth paying a tailor to make adjustments to your shape. It can make an average off the peg suit look 10 x better.

[Emaresee]

Just checked, The book i mentioned is Gentleman: A Timeless Fashion by Bernhard Roetzel.

[Horsebox]

They're decent clothes, think House of Fraser or Selfridges prices, but they don't charge a premium for the service.

Thread is more high street but it's basically a computer making the recommendations and it was literally the same pieces over & over.

With Chapar they give you a call a day or two after registration to discover your likes/dislikes etc and try to push you slightly to try new things without going totally beyond what you're comfortable wearing.


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Interesting idea, this. I've just signed up to see what they make of my data and what recommendations come my way.

[jerryr]

I agree with Emaresee Jermyn Street does indeed offer great value and the Shirt makers do offer great value and variety. I do a lot of my shopping there, not only for shirts but suits, jackets and trousers as well. Most shops give value, but if you go in the sales they are even better value.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Some great stuff coming out. Unfortunately Lancashire isn't blessed on the clothing front and there's a distinct dearth of tailors.

I just rememberd one of my other pet hates and that's full on flat end box toe shoes.

[Emaresee]

Try Michelsburg Tailoring. Started in Leeds, has recently opened up a small shop in Manc. Hes a good lad, made to measure.... Cut to a close generic block then tailored in.

[ValeTudoGuy]

Try Michelsburg Tailoring. Started in Leeds, has recently opened up a small shop in Manc. Hes a good lad, made to measure.... Cut to a close generic block then tailored in.

I wil look them up. I like the idea of having my off the peg suits adjusted to me too.
And funny enough I was searching the Internet and found "Charles Campbell Bespoke Tailoring" in Ribchester Preston which is only 8 miles from me.

I dont suppose any one has ever heard of Charles Campbell?

[ValeTudoGuy]

From their gallery on the site. image.jpg

This is is very much to my taste.