TF or Anthony Sinclair?
Agent Double-O Daniel
Posts: 159MI6 Agent
Hello all, I am planning to add to my formal / business attire (currently have 2 suits) and I am seriously considering saving for a high quality mtm suit. I am a fan of the TF O'Conner and Regency suits but I have seen and heard a lot of good things about the Anthony Sinclair suits as well.
I would like to add 2 maybe 3 over a couple of years. I would love to add a midnight blue dinner suit or a CR tux in there at some point but that would just be an extravagance for the occasional night out with my wife. (I mentioned to her that I envision us going to the symphony or opera once and a while via an AM Vantage of course :007) The car won't be for a bit however. Within 5 years hopefully).
Price wise I know that TF can be had on eBay for decent prices and the Sinclair suits are quite reasonable. So my question is; dollar for dollar what is the better buy?
Those with either maker, or both please share your experiences / opinions on them.
I'm not in a hurry, I won't be buying for a while yet. I am just want to start the research before pulling the trigger. Thanks.
I would like to add 2 maybe 3 over a couple of years. I would love to add a midnight blue dinner suit or a CR tux in there at some point but that would just be an extravagance for the occasional night out with my wife. (I mentioned to her that I envision us going to the symphony or opera once and a while via an AM Vantage of course :007) The car won't be for a bit however. Within 5 years hopefully).
Price wise I know that TF can be had on eBay for decent prices and the Sinclair suits are quite reasonable. So my question is; dollar for dollar what is the better buy?
Those with either maker, or both please share your experiences / opinions on them.
I'm not in a hurry, I won't be buying for a while yet. I am just want to start the research before pulling the trigger. Thanks.
Sorry but that last hand... Nearly killed me.
Comments
They are on a different level.
If you are going to wait a while, then visit a Tom Ford store and try one on.
Also they hold a value of around $1.5-$2k. Sinclair not so much
Best
Stefan
Currently I don't wear a suit everyday so admittedly having 3 or 4 would be a bit of a luxury. I'm currently in law enforcement but I may go into the private sector in a few years, either in security consulting or personal protection so I would be wearing suits more frequently.
And thank you for the offer of using your contact at the TF outlet Troy, that would be amazing. Although I live in Texas so I'm not sure if or when I would be able to get to either the NY or LA location.
There is a Neiman Marcus location at a high end mall in Austin ( The Domain) however, so I should be able to try one on and find out my size in TF at least. I have a feeling I will fall in love with it and not want to take it off though.
Thanks again. Cheers! -{
I bought 2 suits , a Mr Fish shirt ( customized left cuff for Omega PO) and knitted silk tie.
They arrived in about a month and are fantastic.
Yesterday I received a grey pinstripe ( like Skyfall) and anor shirt and tie. Again brilliant.
I deal with Elliot , David's son, and he is great.The next one I get will probably be a blue prince of wales. Even considering replacing my 20 yr old Hugo Boss tux with a midnight blue.
Where I live really no top end clothing so now they have measurements ordering so easy. Only downside is duty but you do buy ex vat.
I'm amazed at how reasonable the price is.
So in summary I've bought 3 will probably grab anor 3 next year. I love the cut and quality it's slimline whereas for example a Gant suit I have is more boxy reminiscent of earlier Boss suits.Hope this helps.
Ps also can't recommend Crockett and Jones too highly I bought 2 pairs and again will be getting more next year.
http://www.bondsuits.com/anthony-sinclair-special-order-suit-modern-english-tailoring/
I hope I get to experience a TF suit at some point in the near future.
I guess it's an example of striving toward and wanting to live the "Bond lifestyle", to appreciate the finer things of life. Whether it is a fine mtm suit and clothing like TF, Brioni and BC to exquisite time pieces like Omega, Rolex to a rolling work of art that is Aston Martin...my ultimate goal.
And thanks to this site, along with the Bond Experience, The Suits of James Bond and The James Bond Lifestyle, one can get the information and the inspiration to get there.
In addition to fantastic performances, some great films, and increased popularity I think two of the best "bonuses" of the Craig era is an increased appreciation for dressing well among men (both young and middle age) and an introduction to some truly fine brands.
TBH, I may have tried certain brands without the Bond connection but it wouldn't have been a sure thing. And even just seeing them in a Bond film isn't always enough, but the increased public profile and conversation about some led me to check them out in the real world. And once I did, the quality and style is so apparent that getting them is a no-brainer.
So now I have two "forever" watches (Omega), a"forever" jacket (Barbour with a lifetime warranty), some great Tom Ford pieces that are constantly noticed and complimented, and will be picking up two pairs of C&J today. There are others, but those are the ones that people go out of their way to talk about.
Some people may say that you should only dress "for yourself", but there's a quote that goes (I'm paraphrasing) "If all the world were blind but for me, I would not seek a grand house or fine clothes". However, I simply think that you can appreciate these things for yourself AND what it says to others about you...like it or not, we live in a world where that's part of what makes an impression on people.
Also trying to become more gentlemanly and that doesn't mean snobbish or hotey- toytey but able to appreciate the finer things be it clothing, food, travel or vehicles. I know for myself I can't afford most of the things that Bond has or enjoys but I can and will work hard and save to be able to buy the occasional TF item, go on a special trip or buy that dream vehicle. Things like that make life a bit more enjoyable or enable a special experience.
It brings back a memory of when I turned 21 and my cousin and his wife took me out to the 95th in the John Hancock Center in Chicago and I bought a bottle of Dom Perignon with a cheese and fruit tray.
The champagne, food, the service, the view of the city... it was special and yes I felt it was worth the price paid because 24 years later I still remember that night. Experiences my friends, that's part of what the Bond lifestyle is about and I have to say I already hooked. Cheers. -{
Anthony Sinclair's bespoke is at the level of Tom Ford's make. I would never pay full price for a Tom Ford suit when I could get bespoke somewhere else for the same price. But you can get Tom Ford suits at a discount while you can't do that with bespoke suits. If you really want Tom Ford's style, you'll have a difficult time getting that somewhere else, though Mason may be able to work with you on that since Mason himself is a fan of Tommy Nutter's style, which Tom Ford appropriated for his suits. Be aware that "bespoke" does not mean that you can get anything you want, though Mason's bespoke is very capable.
Here's an article I wrote to help people decide between the different suits James Bond wears: http://www.bondsuits.com/choosing-tom-ford-vs-brioni-vs-english-bespoke/
Your insightful comments are missed!
That's a European drop 7, which is similar to a UK/US drop 6.
I'm still leaning toward TF but I am also thinking that getting a bespoke AS would be a good way to go. Sigh, idk. What would you suggest as a good way to get one's feet wet in terms of entering the world of fine suits / tailoring? I read your article about your experience at AS and I was impressed.
Overall I believe my body type would look good in a TF suit. I have somewhat broad shoulders and a small waist. Just under 18" and a 30" waist with a 38" chest respectively. My legs however are on the scrawny side, I try to put muscle on them but they just get firmer not bigger.
I really like the look of TF, although I do agree that DC's suits in SkyFall were a bit too tight I still love the look of his suits. In Spectre they appeared better and I think they looked the best in QoS. Although I thought his Brioni dinner jacket in CR was fitted very well and I loved the look. Not boxy like the Brioni of the Brosnan era.
Thanks! I'm glad my articles were of help to you.
How would you describe the quality of the suits that you already have? Stepping up to Tom Ford or AS bespoke from a fused run-of-the-mill suit may be premature. In that case, I'd recommend a Special Order Anthony Sinclair suit like I have, with full canvas. If you can get a good fit from that, anything more is excess (but wonderful excess). But if you already have fine suits along the lines of Anthony Sinclair ready-to-wear, you could go up to a very high-end suit.
I've worn many suits, and I know exactly what I want in a suit. I know what kind of fabrics and what styles I like, and I know exactly how a suit should fit me. I know what kind of suits work best for the occasions I wear them for. If you don't yet know exactly what you're looking for, taking the step to a Tom Ford suit or bespoke suit may be a waste. If you want to copy one of Bond's suits, it's fairly easy to follow a checklist. But you need to be sure that the suit you want is also right for your needs.
Exactly, example of this is I really like the pts spectre suit but will never get to wear it due to the life I live. Every SF suit however works for me because they are not loud.
Like Matt said bond is an easy checklist, but fabric choice imo is the most important thing apart from ensuring correct size.
Best
Stefan
Yeah you are right, I don't currently have anything close to the level of a TF or SA. The couple that I do have are RTW from Men's Warehouse, (I'm wearing one in my profile pic). Let the flaming begin!
No, but seriously yes it's from MW but I have gotten quite a few compliments on it. I bought it back in 2012 and it was actually my first real suit. It's kind of funny because it has a similar look to what DC has in SkyFall but at the time I had not yet become a Bond fan. I didn't finally watch CR until a few months later and well, here we are.
But you have a good point of working my way up to a high end suit instead of jumping into the deep end straight a way.
So in your opinion a mtm Sinclair would be a wise move? I was considering SA a few months ago. Their suits look quite nice and their prices are reasonable. I would like a suit that looks like either the light grey SkyFall PTS, the glen check or the QoS midnight blue Regency (Greene party suit). There are others I like but those are my top three, not including the dinner jackets from CR and QoS and SkyFall.
I have browsed their website and I like their conduit cut suits and several look like suits from SkyFall, the mid-grey one in particular. As well as the navy blue and their formal wear. Very cool.
Now I live in Texas so I guess I would have to make a trip to NY or London for a fitting? Either could be a possibility and my wife and I have been discussing making a trip to the UK in the near future.
I for one do not like peak lapels, notched for me and I can see what both look like, etc.
Best,
Stefan
Full retail is usually $2000, RLBL sales take them close to $1000, 2nd hand and other down sub 5.
Drives you crazy how man ill fitting suits you see going around. )
I would be interested to see anybody here who had commissioned bespoke with David, though. New bespoke samples from Anthony Sinclair is such a rarity.
My Anthony Sinclair Special Order Handmade suit, in Harrison P&B Universal 16oz fabric. The picture was taken in August.
That's great you went for the handmade suit! But I'd love to see a photo of it and not a room full of splattered paint!
That was taken in Yayoi Kusama Art Exhibition, a one in a lifetime kind of thing. It's not splattered paint.
Anyway, for robo pose and whatnot, here -
This is the fit of the suit above, in the two piece format. In a two piece format, the waist shaping shows better. I won't use the term suppression, since the waist of the jacket was supposed to have shape, not cornering your waist to death.
This is my "Day 1" suit, using one of the last lengths of H Lesser's 16oz 29632.
Another shot of P&B Universal, when I was helping out with d'Elaine Johnson, a local Edmonds, Washington artist.
Well, hopefully that helps and satisfy. The fit and finish is a myriad better than most, and honestly, the value is about ten to twenty times better than Tom Ford, if you go for the handmade block. On TF, you have only one single handmade buttonhole, and you are charged about 4 to 5 grand for it, whereas with Anthony Sinclair, although a made to measure suit, you get all buttonholes, edges, and armholes handmade.