Where's the scotch?!

 Look at these guys! Where's the scotch?!

 …. maybe it was the dogs fault.

hunting men in bespoke suits

Originally, the name of the cloth was tweel, (Scottish for twill) being woven in a twilled rather than a plain pattern. Around 1830, a London merchant received a letter about some tweels. In which case, the merchant misinterpreted the handwriting, understanding it to be a trade-name taken from the river Tweed that flows through the Scottish textile area… So the goods were advertised as Tweed, and the name has remained ever since.

There are two types:

Harris Tweed was originally handwoven by the islanders on the Isles of Harris (Scotland) and hand dyed.

Donegal Tweed was handwoven and manufactured in County Donegal, Ireland. Where they would use Blackberries and moss to dye the wools.

Because Tweed is so durable and moisture resistant; in Ireland and the UK, it was famously worn for outdoor sport and hunting.

…Sherlock Holmes wore it.

If Tweed could get any more awesome it would be used on Scottish bagpipes. Oh, wait. It is.

So even if you aren’t suiting up for a good old fashioned fox hunt, or putting together clues in a dark alley…This season you must have some TWEED! We can help you with that.

-C

Photo credit: www.sehkelly.com

Link Up

When ordering a custom suit from Loring & Co here at Stitch-It, there are a lot of choices to make: collar, buttons, pattern, and cuffs. These small nuances are what can make the shirt or suit your own. With 26 different collar styles and 30 different cuff styles, the combinations are practically endless.

You can select standard cuffs, double-button, mitre, french cuff, formal cuffs, you name it! French cuffs allow for even more personalization with each wear. Cufflinks it seems, can be tricky to pick out. It can be a challenge to determine if your cufflinks are professional enough, appropriate for the occasion, or even in-style.

Here are some hints to keep you on the right track:

1) Keep it classic. Would your grandfather wear these cufflinks? Would your son? The answer to both should be YES! Keep your cufflinks timeless so that you don’t find yourself cleaning house and searching for new ones every few years.

2) Flashy is not better. Cufflinks can show your personality, even your interests. A word of caution, though: Stay away from logos and branded accessories or cheap materials. Are you a pilot or aircraft enthusiast? Art-deco airplane cufflinks in gold or silver could fit you perfectly.

3) Steer clear of cheap souvenir shops! Cufflinks can be sourced from plenty of great places. Check your favorite local men’s store. Dig through your father or grandfather’s old collection that he no longer wants or wears. One of the most fun places to look is an antique store. Again, keep it classic and find something that fits you!

Romance of Timeless Fashion

timeless fashion with man in suit driving tractor

Men of society used to dress as role models. They would wear a suit and tie to work, to travel and even labor in. Here we see Henry Ford chopping wood in a pair of slacks, dress shirt and a bow tie. This was the way life was once lived.

What if things were still that way? Can we recapture the spirit of style, responsibility and purpose in the way we dress? Would we want our children to see this standard? What does our clothing suggest about who we are? How do we put the romance of timeless fashion back into our lives? These men dressed with purpose, carried a strong sense of who they were and what they stood for.

What can we learn from Henry Ford? If he walked around in cargo shorts, t-shirt and flip flops… would he have been inspired to revolutionize the car industry?

Michael Shane Neal Self Portrait

At Stitch-It / Loring & Co. bespoke we believe the traditions we share with our family and friends are priceless. The friends we’ve made over the years and the new friendships we make each day are God’s rich reward. One of those pric…

At Stitch-It / Loring & Co. bespoke we believe the traditions we share with our family and friends are priceless. The friends we’ve made over the years and the new friendships we make each day are God’s rich reward.

One of those priceless friendships for me  began about 20 years ago. I had an interest in the art of portraiture. I signed up for an art class at Cheekwood in Nashville taught by local artist Michael Shane Neal. The rest, as they say, is history. Shane is now a world renowned Portrait artist and more importantly, a dear, dear friend. 

He is also a man of great taste and style. I am honored to have Shane’s self portrait as the official logo for Loring & Co. bespoke.

Please check out Shane’s website at http://michaelshaneneal.com.

Black Tie Optional

In six weeks, we will be ringing in 2014. Can you believe it? Coincidentally, it takes five weeks for one of our showstopping custom made-to-measure tuxedos to arrive. That means it’s time to get on it!

We have an incredible selection of fabrics for both suits AND formalwear. One of our favorites here at the shop is this navy tux with black lapel. Add your unique touch with a pocket square, suspenders, and classic black bow tie. (Don’t worry, we will make sure you know how to tie it- free of charge).

After New Years celebrations comes a parade of events in Nashville. We promise to have you looking your best for #BalletBall, #SymphonyBall, or #SwanBall!

What are you waiting for?

-N

Fall styles and fabrics

Finally! Fall has set in across the South. The blistering summer days and blue skies have been replaced with frosty mornings, an cool nights. Leaves of rust are covering the ground, and Saturday nights are perfect for gathering around a fire. What a…

Finally! Fall has set in across the South. The blistering summer days and blue skies have been replaced with frosty mornings, an cool nights. Leaves of rust are covering the ground, and Saturday nights are perfect for gathering around a fire. What an enjoyable time to share with close friends and family!

A good fire calls for the perfect fall pullover. This Billy Reid quarter zip is my new favorite. It’s warm and soft to the touch. It has a detailed quilted pattern and the laid back style that Billy Reid is known for.

New pieces are great, and old pieces can be nostalgic. If you want to get your favorite pullover (new or old) to fit just right, bring it by the shop. We will have you parked blissfully by the fire before you know it!

-N

Apothia Interior Aromatics

We are honored to be Nashville’s exclusive retailer for Ron Robinson’s APOTHIA INTERIOR AROMATICS. These products have won Interior Scent of the Year from the Fragrance Foundation, as well as three other design awards. They are sulfate and paraffin …

We are honored to be Nashville’s exclusive retailer for Ron Robinson’s APOTHIA INTERIOR AROMATICS. These products have won Interior Scent of the Year from the Fragrance Foundation, as well as three other design awards. They are sulfate and paraffin free. We carry five delicious scents in the shop: Soul, Casa, Velvet Rope, Bronzed, Wave, and Chrismukkah

 

Get started on your next custom piece.

Contact one of our seasoned tailors, or browse our gallery of suits, shirts, and pants.