What men really want for Christmas, from barbershop shaves to bespoke suiting
If you work in the pocket of the fashion industry termed "men’s style", there are two points in the year when colleagues, friends you haven’t heard from in months, and - cheeringly - our esteemed readers get in touch. In summer, men want to know about wedding suits. And in winter, people want to know what to get their partner that’s really unique.
Obviously everyone's idea of what constitutes a special gift is different; one man’s novelty tie is another’s men’s sartorial kryptonite; my idea of a great gift is anything from Dries Van Noten and my boyfriend is never happier than when tinkering with a bit of tech. Which makes the gift of an experience that little bit more tempting (and honestly, who wants more stuff right now?).
Every man should be able to experience having his own suit fitted at some point in his life. If it sounds grand, think of it as a timeless investment. It’s also a lesson in tailoring artistry and skill; you’ll learn how a tailor’s tricks can elongate, lengthen and slim the frame.
Hackett personal tailoring service, from ￡795 for a suit
And it doesn’t have to come with the price tag of Savile Row. Hackett has recently launched a new personal tailoring service nationwide, with prices from ￡795 and a host of styles available - from eveningwear to Prince of Wales checks. Historic tailor Norton & Sons has also launched a bespoke service so that Patrick Grant’s peerless skill with the cut of a suit - softer structure and more fluid - can be applied to your individual frame.
Similarly, a whole pocket industry of ‘off Savile Row’ tailors has emerged (admittedly all London-based), from industry insiders trained on the Row and starting their own dynamic young brands - English Cut in Marylebone for example - to the company Tailor Made which employs 3D body scanning.
Custom made shirts from ￡290, Emma Willis
As the item that every man probably wears most, a shirt is also an informed place to start in the world of bespoke. Excellent British brands such as Drake’s and Emma Willis offer custom-made shirting services. Italian shirtmaking brand Apposta also runs a subscription service online whereby your shirt can be crafted to your specific measurements and specifications - round collar or pointed etc - and delivered to you as a one-off gift or every month.
Bespoke fragrance, ￡450, Floris
Having a wet shave is also a wonderfully old-school alternative to the standard Mach 3 razor in the morning; it harks back to a time of valets and cedar colognes. Book ‘im indoors one at Tom Ford, Murdock or Pankhurst. And if he’s reached peak Duty Free - that is the glut of cloying, mass produced fragrances - a customised cologne from the likes of Floris could be a welcome antidote. In its hushed, gentleman’s club-style environs, he might even be able to forget about the current political turmoil, which is a gift beyond measure itself this Christmas.
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