Wool or linen for the summer? What’s the difference, and what does AskOkey think about it?
A good rule of thumb would be this: high twist wool for suits, medium to heavy linen for jackets and odd trousers.
The AskOkey Perspective
Flat front Made to Measure trousers
AskOkey’s signature cut, belt loops, in your choice of fabric and colour.
Block stripes
They call them block stripes – the broad contrasting stripes that you see on AskOkey’s ties, and of course on ties from plenty of other firms. AskOkey navy and burgundy block stripe tie Suitable with formal and informal outfits, and, depending on the colours, a little more restrained than ties with narrow stripes, they offer
Something Different
When you wear your AskOkey MTM or bespoke suit, you know the difference. It hugs at the shoulders, moves with you and the collar sits close. Geoff wearing an AskOkey suit But does everyone else know the difference? People can tell immediately. If they are interested in clothing to any extent, they recognize that the
Shoulders: where the suit begins
As the Proff says, a suit starts at the shoulders, because the jacket hangs from the shoulders and the trousers simply extend the line already established by the jacket. So far so good. How wide, or how strong can your shoulders be before they start looking a little too dramatic? Cab Calloway, sporting the bold
From Cro-Magnon to AskOkey
The evolutionary hypothesis supposes that the descent of man was the result of random variations, beginning with microscopic bugs and progressing in no particular direction until we reached where we are. Apparently, it all started with one of these And, along the way, managing one of these That being the case, how we ended up
Escorial? What is it, and why might you want some?
A little research into Lumb’s Golden Bale raised the question of what other unique weaves there are out there, and the trail naturally led to Escorial. Escorial: Rare and Naturally Expensive First, the Escorial sheep are descended from Spanish Royal Flocks of El Escorial (named after the Spanish royal palace of that name). Back in
Lumb’s Golden Bale – is it all hype?
A recent AskOkey podcast featured some of the Proff’s latest acquisitions, including two cut lengths of Lumb’s Golden Bale cloth, via H Lesser, subsidiary of AskOkey’s retail partner, Harrisons. This prompted a discussion between me and the Proff on what Golden Bale is. I thought I would follow up here. Lumb’s Golden Bale, from the
RTW, MTM or Bespoke? Which One, and Why?
At AskOkey, we encourage everyone to consider bespoke or MTM. Why? First because that is what we do, at least for now. Second, because men who value their appearance really do need to wear something that fits well, is made of decent fabric and lasts over the long term. Something like this, in fact. Naturally,
AskOkey Double Breasted: When you Need a Suit of Armour
As we enter the new year, we tend to look back one minute and forward the next. Looking back can give us reassurance, some pleasant memories and probably not a few reasons to shudder. Looking forward, albeit onto an empty canvas, can help us feel optimistic. If you need something to help kick off 2026
What is “luxury”, and is AskOkey a luxury brand?
The word is bandied around fairly freely on the Internet, and in marketing copy and brand-related commentary. So much so that its true meaning has probably been lost. So what does it mean? Does it really mean “great”, “rare” or “well made”? Or does it mean something almost completely different? Cartier, a luxury brand (habit
Is it bespoke or made to measure? Only you and AskOkey know.
Since the launch of AskOkey’s MTM line, and our extension to it this month, commenters have begun questioning the difference between bespoke and MTM. Afterall, if they look the same, and are made of the same cloth, what’s the difference? Visually, not a lot. 90% of the people who see you will not see it.
Do you Own Heirlooms or Consumables?
Those of us who build our wardrobes for the long term, rather than as a bundle of consumables to be thrown away when they no longer serve their purposes, spend quite a bit for the simple reason that we know what we are buying, and we know the value of it. If you treat your
Now’s your Chance: AskOkey Launches the New MTM Line
Those of you who have been around us for a while will have seen, and possibly bought, one of our AskOkey MTM offerings. As you know, the initial launch during the summer was fairly limited, because we were trying out the process and testing our AskOkey designs. As a result, favourites such as the double
You Asked, and we Answered: Buy Now, Pay Later
We are pleased to announce that you (and all other AskOkey customers) can now use a variety of convenient payment options to finance your AskOkey MTM purchases. Effective from 26 November, you can choose a BPNL option next time you order MTM from AskOkey. We will be accepting the following BNPL providers: Klarna (All regions),
The Raglan Sleeve
A staple of English coat construction since at least the 1850s, the Raglan sleeve, or rather shoulder, is distinctive and one of the distinguishing marks of a more casual coat. The Raglan sleeve is more properly a way to cut the shoulder of the coat. Unlike the standard sleeve, it is not stitched to the
Risky Pleats – When to Say No
Pleats go in and out of fashion – they came back in the 80s and stayed with us until comparatively recently, and they are perfect for business and dressier trousers. But, buyer beware – they are difficult to get right, and many tailors seem to have lost the art. We have written before on these
Odd waistcoats
The odd waistcoat is too often neglected as a way to liven up your suit. We are so used to three-piece suits, all parts in identical colour and pattern, that we forget the odd waistcoat and its uses. At one time, all waistcoats were odd. A glance at the fashions of the 18th and early
The Crombie Coat
Known as a type of coat, the Crombie coat does not in fact exist. At least not as a style. Crombie cloth goes back to Aberdeen in 1805, so Crombie is one of Britain’s oldest brands in clothing and menswear. Chances are, you have seen pictures of three-quarter length coats on lads and girls from
The Online Bespoke Tailoring Saga or, the Channel Makes no Difference
Clothing forum members write of many things, one of them being the possibility of online bespoke. There seems to be a consensus that bespoke cannot be done except in a B&M shop, and one does have to wonder why nowadays, and in fact since about 1995 this question should arise at all. What is bespoke
Striped Ties
A few weeks ago, we published a couple of posts about ties. Catching sight of his own ties on the rack, your correspondent was moved to think briefly about striped ties. The most obvious use for a striped tie is the regimental, school, college or club affiliation. Useful, if you need to be recognised as
When you Order MTM.. and a Few More Tips (Part 3)
Continuing on the previous post: When you Order MTM, the fifth point to consider is the process. What exactly happens in the MTM shop, behind the scenes? A MTM shop is a factory. It may be turning out several thousand garments a month, or only a few, but it is a factory. That means that
When you Order MTM.. a Few More Tips (Part 2)
Continuing on the previous post: When you Order MTM, the fourth point to consider is the fabric. And this is where things can get very interesting. Fabric costs money: this may be a truism, but it is true for all that. We forget just how much. Decent worsted wool, the most common fabric for a
When you Order MTM – a Few Tips (Part 1)
Bespoke suits, jackets and trousers are the Bugatti of menswear: exclusive, personalised, the height of luxury and the opposite of mass produced, RTW offerings. At the other end of the market you can find literally boatloads of garments, ranging from T shirts at a few dollars to well made (in some cases handmade) suits in