England 2010 World Cup Suits

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The 2010 FIFA World Cup is due to kick-off  in South Africa on Friday, 11th June, with England's opening game being on Saturday, 12th June against the USA in Rustenburg.

The team flew out to South Africa last week after posing for a photo shoot in their new Marks & Spencer suits.

 

The England team have shown off their official World Cup suits - and there is more than just a hint of 1966 in the design. Forty-four years ago, Sir Alf Ramsey's World Cup winners sported an ensemble with thin lapels and narrow trousers - a look England manager Fabio Capello was keen to see repeated.

With this in mind Marks & Spencer has created the official FA suit to specifications set by the England Manger and created though a collaboration between tailor Timothy Everest MBE and M&S.

The two-button single breasted jacket is sculpted to a modern British block with sleeve head roll shoulders for a classic fitting, slim silhouette. Additional styling details include narrower lapels, slanted pockets, four button cuffs and a decadent red puppy tooth check lining. Trousers are flat fronted and half lined providing an elegant modern shape. The waistcoat gives added style kudos and maintains the refined look. 

I have to say overall the suits look very good and will hopefully inspire the team on the pitch to the former glory days of 1966, being the only time that we have won the competition.

Some of you across the pond may remember Marks & Spencer for their disastrous takeover of the American men's clothier chain, Brooks Brothers in April of 1988. Thankfully Brooks Brothers has since re-established itself, as has M&S.

The FIFA World Cup, also called the Football World Cup, but usually referred to simply as the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the sport's global governing body. The championship has been awarded every four years since the first tournament in 1930, except in 1942 and 1946 when it was not contested because of World War II.

The current format of the tournament involves 32 teams competing for the title at venues within the host nation(s) over a period of about a month – this phase is often called the World Cup Finals. A qualification phase, which currently takes place over the preceding three years, is used to determine which teams qualify for the tournament together with the host nation(s).

Please Don’t Fly The Union Flag The Wrong Way Up...

I know, it sounds trivial and there’s not much that irritates me but it’s just one of those things that I notice.

Now I can forgive The Waldorf in New York for flying it upside down, as it was when I was there in April but our flag bearer at the Winter Olympics was proudly waving it around when it was attached the wrong way up, for a news bulletin. (Luckily that was the day before the ceremony and the BBC was inundated with calls and emails and it was swiftly corrected).

So, I couldn’t let it go and had to pop into the Waldorf and explain their mistake, (pleasantly I might add). Now we all get that I’m embarrassed by my parents feeling, as Matthew did, so he stay outside but and as I pointed out to him. If the Ritz in London were flying the American flag upside down, I’m sure it would be, politely pointed out to them. Its just that it’s not so apparent with the Union flag. Oh and by the way it’s only called a Union Jack when it’s on the back of a boat. 

Anyway, whilst walking by the following day, Matthew had noticed that The Waldorf had taken the flag down (probably to be safe, as how did they know I wasn’t pulling their leg) and replaced it with the German flag, much to Matthew’s amusement.

Do you think they were trying to tell me something?

Also for those of you who are interested, an explanation can be found following this link...

http://www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk/geography/unionjack7.html

Home Sweet Home

After an extra 5 days on the road due to the travel disruptions, Dad & I are finally back home in Cumbria. The trip turned out to be our busiest yet as we brought out the most fittings ever for a trip to the States.

It was also my first trip with the company and one that was a fantastic and greatly enjoyable experience. It was a pleasure to meet all of our American customers, old and new alike and I thank them for their patience and friendliness as Dad went through the various processes with me, whether it was the fittings or going through cloth selection and being able to give my own input and opinions. It was greatly appreciated.

Also I would like to say a special thank you to Chris Despos with whom we met at his beautiful shop in Chicago. It was great to finally meet him for the first time, though it was a shame it just had to be a quick flying visit as we both had full days. I'd like to thank him for his hospitality and offer of using his premises and facilities should we ever need them to show a certain cloth book which we might not have with us or to press up a job that we have. A great example of the community spirit that exists amongst tailors.

Also, just a little mention to the Kimberly in New York, where Dad has stayed for the past 14 years & where I've stayed before, when visiting New York for a Holiday. They've been re-furbishing the hotel over the last couple of  years and dad said they finally got round to his suite, probably because they heard I was coming.

They've done a great job and along with the new rooftop penthouse, which has been turned into a beautiful rooftop lounge and bar, simply called Upstairs. As you can see it boasts an amazing 360 degree panoramic view of the famous Manhattan skyline, in particular a great shot of the nearby Chrysler Building.

Upstairs is available for party bookings through long-term friend of Dads, Valerie Blasi, who can be contacted on 212-702-1640.

 

We're Still Here!!

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Just to let everybody know that we are still in Boston, USA due to the travel disruptions caused by the Icelandic Volcano eruption.

We now have an American cell phone number below, on which you can reach us on whilst we're still here and on all future trips to the States.

(617) 794 0039

We were meant to be flying back to the UK last night, Tuesday 21st, April but are now due to fly back to the UK on Sunday, 25th April, which means

we won't be back in the office till Tuesday, 27th.

Despite the confusion over our travel arrangements and extra few days we are having to spend here, we are hoping to take the opportunity to take in some of Boston's sights and sounds, especially as this is Matthew's first visit to Boston. Starting with last nights NBA Play-Off game between the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat at the TD Garden, Boston.

It was a fantastic night and a great win for the Boston Celtics which certainly pleased the home crowd and the electric atmosphere was a great experience and one in which I'm glad I let Matthew talk me into as he is a big basketball fan and has been to a couple of NBA games before in Phoenix, Arizona as he is a Phoenix Suns fan, after spending a couple of weeks in summer camp there when he was younger.

Also we must say a thank you to all our customers who we saw on this trip for fittings and also for new commisions, it was a great opportunity for Matthew to finally meet the customers in person and experience what it can be like to be on the road. All of which will help him in his development as he learns "the ropes" of the trade.

Finally due to the sucess of this trip and high number of fittings we had to bring out, it looks like we will have to delay our usual June trip to the States to around the second week of July. This in turn will give us time to finish the fittings we have and prepare any future fittings.

Steed Bespoke Tailors - March 2010 - Paris Trip

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Steed are pleased to announce their first trip to Paris, France. Edwin will be accompanied by both his son's Matthew & Christopher.

It is just a short weekend trip to see a couple of customers but there maybe an opportunity to see a couple more if anyone is interested.

Also purely by coincidence England happen to be playing France at the Stade de France in the final round of the RBS Six Nations Rugby. So hopefully the three of us will get a chance to take in the game at a local bar somewhere near the stadium.


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Paris

Saturday, 20th March & Sunday, 21st March till 11am.

Hotel Mansart

5, Rue des capucines

75001 Paris

+33 (0)1 4261 5028


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If you’d like to make an appointment, we would appreciate it if you could contact us prior to the trip, so that we can organize our day to accommodate everyone.

Best regards,

Edwin, Matthew & Christopher DeBoise

011 44 20 7287 7227

Steed Bespoke Tailors

www.steeds-view.blogspot.com

www.steed.co.uk

edwin@steed.co.uk