I was looking for something to read on my commute to London every day so out of desperation I picked this up. I didn't really know what to expect but in the end I got a brilliant read. The book is an autobiography of Richard Anderson and his journey to become a Savile Row tailor. The book is enlightening, funny, dare I say bitchy (?), will raise a few eyebrows but is a very, very enjoyable read. Not only that, it gives some details as to what goes into a truly bespoke garment - which in itself makes very interesting reading. It will make you want to rush out and buy your first Savile Row suit.
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Very interesting & surprisingly well written too (I don't know if he employed a ghost writer, but anybody that's endured the 'Janet & John' writing style of Peter Kay's "The Sound Of Laughter" will be relieved not to see the same here). Lots of great insights into the rarified world of The Row that us mere mortals will unfortunately never experience first hand. Let down only by the Westlife anecdote at the end which somewhat spoilt the book for me. Let's be honest, Westlife are to music (manufactured mass market pap) what Mr BuyRight is to bespoke tailoring. It is difficult to have imagined a client with whom I could have been less impressed.
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I bought this book, out of curiosity, because I had bought a suit from the same man. I did not know what to expect. What I got was a riveting tale full of passion, but also full of drama. I really could not put it down, and if I was younger I would now love to be a Savile Row tailor. Read it, and enter a world you probably know even less about than you thought. Very inspiring.
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a quick to read due to easy style & a fascinating insight into a great tailor of saville row, london
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The book is like a Richard Anderson suit - no unnecessary padding, just the right size and well worth the price. Unlike so many books of this type Anderson has written a highly informative book on what. at first sight, might appear to be an esoteric subject, in an entertaining and interesting manner. My only criticism is that, having read the book and seen what it takes to create a bespoke suit, I can never again complain about the high cost of the finished product!
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Great read. Regardless if you have any interest in Savile Row or not, this is a heart-warming biography told with a good deal of humility and humour. It is an essential read for anyone remotely interested in the magic arts of bespoke tailoring.
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What should be a very interesting readvery quickly descends into a tedious narrative decribing charcters who seem to appear in random order and have no more character that anybody else's workmates. There needs to be more interestinganecdotes - I'm sure there are plenty - and less detail about what begins to sound like anybody else's day job. I'm afraid I gave up wiating for the interesting stuff about half way through. If you are really fascinated by work places in the 60s and 70s then this may be for you. If you want an expose of Savile Row, then probably not.
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The book by Richard Anderson is very descriptive, when reading you are taken on a journey with him. I can't stop reading the book it's very catching. I am studying bespoke tailoring and it's so inspiring to have this book. I also visited the shop recently!
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The reason I enjoyed this book is because, for reasons unbeknownst to me, I've developed a recent fascination with Savile Row. I suppose that's because of their ultimate dedication to the art and technique of creating bespoke clothing. Furthermore, I've begun to distinguish quality in the materials and construction of the clothes I wear myself. What this means is, for the first time in my life, I'm actually insane enough to like a book on clothing. Frankly, that's an important part of this review. If I had never heard of Savile Row, or cared about what goes into making a truly bespoke suit, or wondered about where cashmere comes from, or what super-130's wool actually is, it's possible this read would have been only mildly interesting, if not strange. That would be no flaw of Richard Anderson, who has written a wonderful and witty (though sometimes verbose) account of his years on the Row; it would just be an unfortunate consequence of reading about a very alien and exclusive world. That being said, this is the stuff Sean Connery wore in the first Bond films. They are (arguably) some the finest suits anyone could buy, made by people who account for every "deformity," personality trait, and strange request a customer could have. You also get the sense that the author is more relatable than most of the other cutters and tailors on Savile Row. If none of this sounds interesting to you, I wouldn't bother with this book at all. Nothing wrong with that. But if this seems even remotely intriguing, and you don't mind delving in the adventures of charming and stuffy British people, go for it!
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I picked this book at random. Great intro to a topic I knew nothing about. I have a whole new appreciation for the work and artistry involved in creating a tailored suit. Well-written and engaging to readers both familiar and unfamiliar with bespoke.
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Un libro sobre una temática tan visual como es la moda y sastrería, debería llevar obligatoriamente algún tipo de documento gráfico que apoyara el texto. Se hace algo aburrido y pesado.
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For somebody who doesn't care an awful lot about her own clothes ' I could happily spend my days wearing jeans, t-shirt and DocMartens ' I have developed a serious kink when it comes to menswear, or rather: bespoke menswear. It all started when I took up writing fanfiction because one of my MCs is always impeccably dressed and wears the most beautiful three piece suits. Well, if you want your stories to be believable and if you want your characters to come to life, you need to do some proper research, and so I started researching bespoke clothing. And lo and behold, what a rich world it is! So utterly different from anything I've ever busied myself with but nevertheless fascinating. I started learning about different tie knots, lapels, braces, turn-ups, linings, waistcoats, vents' you name it, and when I stumbled across Mr Anderson's book via my friendly online retailer's recommendation, I jumped and bought it. What can I say' I loved it. I devoured it on the daily train rides to and from work, in bed before going to sleep and during my lunch breaks, and whenever I had to put it down to return to my reality, I became really irritated because I wanted to keep reading. But try and explain the fascination of a 'tailor's' biography to the monochromatic world you're surrounded by most of your waking hours. 'What does he write about? Buttonholes?' No, he doesn't, although there is mention of a young apprentice being sent to fetch some black buttonholes. 'Does he gossip about celebrities?' No, he doesn't, although he mentions a few names. So what makes it so interesting? If you open the book to accept Mr Anderson's invitation, he will take you on a journey into a world that is ' to the average person ' as exotic and strange as, say, Avatar's Pandora. It's rich and luscious and aggressive and elegant, and my brief glimpse into that world filled me with a certain amount of envy for those who are passionate about their work, a work that doesn't revolve about profit and more and higher and shinier (although, of course, Savile Row houses are businesses, too, and as such strive to keep their figures balanced and thriving). It's about a craftman's pride, about creating something that is beautiful and lasting. It's about constant value in a world that is forever changing, and it has taught me about class and quality. As for the tone of the book, it's well-written, funny but respectful, glimpsing into the world of the rich and famous without tasteless gossiping. Sadly, there are no photos but if you're interested, fire up your search engine and you will fill find what you're looking for. Easy, really. Shouldn't discourage you from picking up this book because it's an entertaining read nevertheless, and well worth your time. It's unlikely my salary will ever allow me to order a bespoke suit (and yes, Mr Anderson cuts for women, too) but it's something I've added to daydream list, my little happy-thoughts-island. Should I ever win the lottery (ha ha), I'm making an appointment at 13 Savile Row.
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Racconta la storia personale di un celebre Sarto inglese, dal suo apprendistato fino alla sua affermazione mondiale. Uno spaccato interessante non solo per chi e' appassionato di sartoria In genere non ho difficolta' a leggere libri in inglese...... qui devo farlo dizionario alla mano...... intrigante anche per questo. Considero tempo/soldi ben spesi
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