the Michael Browne suits
In 2020, I was about to move to New York City. I wanted to get to know all of its ethnic enclaves, like visiting the whole world in one city. But I know I have a tendency to stay at home, immersed in my work.
So I made a rule for myself. If I move to New York, I must not be home between the hours of 9am to 5pm. I would do all of my writing and reading in public places as a way of keeping myself out in the world. But that meant thousands of hours of sitting in cafés, museums, libraries, and such. I might not be very welcome, unless I looked high-class.
I had been meaning to get nicer clothes anyway. I saw myself on stage and realized my appearance no longer matched my self-image. My friend Meng Weng Wong had made a great argument in favor of wearing a great suit. Now I had two reasons.
Actually I had three reasons, because I was living near London at the time, and realized this was my one-and-only chance to have a custom suit made on the famous Savile Row, just to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience.
So I nerded out for a week, spending a few hours a day reading books on the subject and watching a great YouTube channel called Sartorial Talks. Its creator, Hugo Jacomet, is passionate and fascinating on the subject of well-made clothing. He (and others) said that the best tailor in all of London is a man that used to work on Savile Row, but has surpassed it. That’s the great Michael Browne.
I contacted Michael but he didn’t reply. So I contacted Hugo Jacomet, and he very kindly introduced me to Michael, who agreed to see me the following week. Michael asked me about who I am, what I do, my self-image, my audience, my plans, and more. Then he picked a style and fabric and got to work. It took six visits over six months before the suit was done.
He asked what shirt I’d be wearing with it, and I said, “Whatever shirt you think I should wear.” He told me to get John Smedley roll necks in sea island cotton, so I did.
He asked what shoes I’d be wearing, and I said, “Whatever shoes you think I should wear.” He told me to go to Daniel Wegan of Catella Shoemaker, so I did.
We did all of these fittings during the first round of Covid lockdowns, early 2020. It was amazing to be in central London while it was completely empty, meeting at his atelier office, spending hours talking while he worked. When the suit was all done, he made a duplicate in a different fabric, so now I have two.
Anyway, due to Covid and family things, we didn’t move to New York City at all. Moved back to New Zealand instead. So now I just wear my suits whenever I’m in public.
“The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft a-gley.”
But hey, you got a Michael Browne suit out of it. Or rather, two :)
Great advice - about taking advice!
Where's the pic of you in the new suit?
Peoples perception is their reality. A tip that works is to wear a suit shirt and tie if you attend a hospital as a patient even to A&E.
Derek! Where’s a picture of you in your suit? I’d love to see that look on you. Last time I saw you (1990s) you were super casual/non suit kind of guy :-) thanks for another great story!
Pics or it didn’t happen! The fans wanna see you super model the two suits. Hell, at least I do! Shirt and shoes too, please!
Let's have a photo of said suit, sir! With you wearing it, of course.
I'm wearing it in all my recent interviews, so if you search YouTube for recent interviews that's it: www.youtube.com/results?search_query=derek+sivers+interview — Derek
Ha! The story we tell ourselves... I was listening to Tim's podcast this morning and heard about the story. Honestly I am a little surprised to hear all the rationalisation, something I wouldn't have expected to come from you.
Derek,
Great topic. I'm now 65 and have become tempted by good (as in really good) suits. As a young nerd I thought clothes didn't matter - the person did. As I became older I realised appearances do matter in so many ways and clothes are key. I won't go through all the cliches - you'll know them - but what I came to realise was that quality and style count more than form. Good clothes impress and make the wearer feel good. I've not strayed into the good custom suit market - from my experience dressing my sons, a good suit, tweaked at purchase by a tailor, can be better than an inexpensive custom suit - but I'd like to. Apart from cost, I'm dissuaded by the lack of opportunity to wear it. I guess you'll tell me "anytime is suit time".
Roger
Are you wearing that M. Browne suit for this interview?
Great look!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWhNQjW6Luk
Yep! Thanks! — Derek
Rule: Must not be home between the hours of 9-5 ha!
Great idea!
My purse doesn't stretch to Savile Row but I am aware that my reluctant to go out and interact also has to do with not feeling good in the clothes I have - shrunk, too tight, worn, shoes don't match and so on. Time to get a new wardrobe. This may take a while...
The story isn't complete without seeing a picture of you in at least one of the suits.
Thank you for sharing the details. I don't have to wear a suit for work which I'm extremely grateful for but it feels great to put one on from time to time. When I was in Hoi An, Vietnam they are world famous tailors. I had a custom wool fabric suit made for $300 in an Armani style at store called Kimmy's. I highly recommend it to everyone!
Hilarious!! Love it!!
Interesting that you were going to move to New York, and then your post today was about giving up US citizenship...was curious about why you were going to move to New York. (I am a native New Yorker, and love the city, so this isn't a criticism...you know how much I love your work!:))
Dare I ask the cost?
You can't have an article like that and not include some photos. :)
I must admit that I read this solely because I knew it would be about suits which is a passion of mine. A bespoke suit is for your enjoyment and how it makes you feel and less about what others think. Though for those with an eye for it - will surely notice and perhaps give you a nod.
Seriously! Pics or it didn‘t happen!
great suit - lookin good Derek! even looks comfortable?
Enjoyed hearing the how & why but am more tantalized by the results. This custom suit look. How does it make you feel?
Derek, as one that lived in Singapore, I bought some great clothes in tailor shops off of Orchard Rd....
My first made to measure suit was made by Sams tailors in Hongkong. A beautiful lightblue in colour. On the walls were posters of famous people ( Royalty, Pop and Rock stars and Sporting hero's etc.) who had their suits and shirts made by Sam himself.Just for my mates wedding. (He's an Architect) I had read about this place for years growing up.I felt like a Prince at his wedding.
When I was younger, I worked for a company which encouraged wearing a suit. Then I moved into a different job (law enforcement) where uniforms were the norm. Now I'm retired, denims & t-shirts will do just fine.
Cool, that must’ve been fun! But were the pics?? :) we need to see the suit now!
The story is excellent, but I would love to know how much the suits cost. Not because I am a snob, but because you didn't just get a suit; you got an experience. I love seeing world-class people perform their craft. Watches, I don't care. I will only pay a few bucks for an Apple watch. But on an experience, I will spend whatever I have because the memories and stories are worth everything.
We make an impression whether we want to or not.
Wearing a suit can be a way of showing that you care.
Of course, it's also just a custom, rather arbitrary in the grand scheme of things.
Thanks for sharing.
One of my favorite types of articles - Wish more writers offered articles that are as informative and entertaining as this. Thanks for inspiring more to wear their art on their sleeve.
(I hope it is merino or cashmere so you can avoid frequent dry cleaning trips.). Are you at liberty to disclose the fabric types for the two garments?
Far from trivial. It is a story how a writer / artist transitioned to a new personal brand and suit of armor. One of my favorite types of articles - Wish more writers offered articles that are as informative and entertaining as this. Thanks for inspiring more to wear their art on their sleeve.
(I hope it is merino or cashmere so you can avoid frequent dry cleaning trips.). Are you at liberty to disclose the fabric types for the two garments?
I love how you demonstrate living in the deep now, and letting the experts be the experts. Doing what they advised when you have hired them for that doing. Well done samurai!
Fun read.
The perfect suit… in the old way! It’s a must to have an ensemble … made by a MASTER!
For Terri at #10, ready to get a new wardrobe.
If you want to "do as I say, not as I do," then the trick is to"Buy half as much, but pay twice as much."
I am pleased to say that although I still hoard too much "perfectly good clothing" I am steadily getting stuff that makes me feel good. Or as Marie Condo might say, "stuff that gives me joy."
My most recent example: I keep meaning, down the years, to buy measured blue jeans at the mall, but instead I keep resorting to thrift store jeans. Well, during this season I have made several visits to a mens clothing store on Main Street to buy softer, stretchier jeans, measured and hemmed. Worth every penny.
While a fashion-loving acquaintance, here in our long-winter region, owns six parkas, I have only one. But I looked a long time to find it, so I feel good all winter wearing it.
Love hearing the chain of thoughts that led to your getting the suits. Speaking of life-changing ideas from books, here’s one from a film. I think it was on a needlepoint pillow in the movie, Sweet Home Alabama: “Good clothes open all doors.”
Nice one! I love that! — Derek