Fancy a poke?

Damn that Zuckerberg bloke. I've resisted Facebook for years, but I've had yet another customer extolling the virtues of 'social networking' and how it could benefit my business, so I've decided to take a shaky step towards the dark-side and start a Facebook page for Michelsberg Tailoring.

I'm still not entirely convinced. I've always thought it a virtual slobberfest for American adolescents, techo-geeks and paedos to oggle pictures of Katie Price wannabes, driven to tell the world when they've waxed and what they've just eaten at McDonalds.

As my opening party proved, you can't beat getting together in the flesh with like-minded people, but I do think this Facebook malarkey has legs. My customers come from a variety of backgrounds with very different tastes but we all appreciate the finer things in life, particularly when it comes to fine threads.

That said, I want to use it as a platform not just to discuss matters of dress, although that is it's primary motive, but perhaps to help point each other in the direction of things that might bring us pleasure. Perhaps a great barber you use, or fabulous shoe shop, cloth company, restaurant, art exhibition, gentleman's club, the list is endless..

To get the ball rolling, I've started a number of discussions and will be posting pictures of 'things' and people I come across which I think are worthy of debate.

Take this chap for example:



I was on my way to the office and clocked this guy waiting to cross the road. After introducing myself and commenting on the splendour of his attire, he agreed to strike a pose.

Absolutely loving the leather gloves, cane, pocket hanky and check out the pink feather in his hat! Now that's what I call a character.

Twitter, Myspace, Bebo, Linked-in: it's a Brave New World out there and I only hope we can use it to bring some fun and merriment into our inboxes.

So if you dance with the devil and are on Facebook, here's hoping you'll keep your eyes open for things that might tickle our collective fancy and share it with the rest of us.

So long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, adieu

It's Monday morning and there is a spring in the Michelsberg step. On Thursday night I downed tools and headed off with my family for a long weekend in Runswick Bay on the East Coast.

What a spot. Gobsmackingly beautiful. It's straight out of an Enid Blyton book where kids with beautiful manners eat picnics, take walks and uncover an international smuggling operation run by the lighthouse keeper. I relaxed, ate chips with everything, managed some surfing at Saltburn and even changed a few nappies.

Taking time off to suck the marrow out of life is essential and one person who now has plenty of this ahead of him is Jon Fairweather who retired last Thursday.



A lover of decent brandy, the horses and three piece suits, he is going to be seriously missed by many of us in the tailoring trade throughout the country. He's an incredible coat maker who takes real pride in his work and has taught me a great deal over the last four years. Another tailor at the 'farewell' summed it up when he simply said about his skills, "you won't find one finer."

As Jon hangs up his shears and heads to the South of France and the West Country for some well earned R&R, may I introduce to you all Miss Jules Middlebrook who is chomping at the bit to get started in the world of tailoring.



Here she is, sporting a fabulous skirt made by her own fair hands using Dormeuil offcuts and is about to start a degree in Bespoke Tailoring at the London College of Fashion.

It's very rare I come across somebody who is so passionate and enthusiastic about the trade itself and she is determined to become a cutter. Many young gals, understandably attracted by the perceived glamour of the fashion industry, want to become designers and are often less interested in the craft itself.

Not so in her case and I'm going to do everything I can to help and support her. She's heading down South soon, so, if you are on the Row (or do things the 'old school' way) and think you can offer her some experience, please do get in touch.

Yes, as far as Monday's go, I'm in excellent spirits, made even better by a text from a customer of mine who hit the red carpet last Friday for the Harry Potter Film Premiere.



He has just been featured in the 'Most Stylish Men of the Week' by GQ magazine and I think his Michelsberg three piece looks spot on, particularly with the tie-pin and pocket watch. Nice shoes as well, courtesy of my fellow Victoria Quarter tenant, Churches. Good work Mr. Lewis, you've done Leeds proud :-)