MEASURE OF A MAN
Bespoke makes the fashion lexicon in a bigger way than ever. Here’s a quick heads- up. By Jeffrey Yan.
Salvatore Ferragamo made his name dressing the stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, but he is equally famous for his exceptional shoes once worn by the British army. The house now offers the Tramezza shoe, a made-to-measure piece available at its flagship stores. With its three layers of leather and the iron support between sole and upper, the shoe has retained the durability and suppleness of the wartime classic, but with a sensibility updated for modern times. With nine models to choose from – lace-ups, derbys, desert boots, moccasins – and materials that range from the more classic calfskin and suede to precious ostrich and alligator, there are almost 80 variations in colour, style, material, and combination. Your measurements are taken by an in-store expert to be sure of a perfect fit and in 60 days, the finished product with your initials engraved on the undersole will be delivered to you. Like Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton also offers made-to-measure shoes. The brand’s ambassador of the Special Orders service, Luchino Visconti believes that “customisation is the last frontier of luxury” and that bespoke and made-to-measure pieces are the most personal of men’s fashion. Its comprehensive range includes six models to choose from, eight different leathers including exotics, in eight rich and elegant colours. Offering a full service, the shoes can be complemented by made-to-measure belts in the same details, skins, and treatments as the footwear as well as the Taiga business bags that can be personalised inside and out. Engraving initials and choosing leathers and lining is par for the course, but one may also wish to customise the arrangement of the compartments inside, to store iPads, laptops, or even a spare change of clothes. Personalised luxury, indeed. Hand-painting the sole of a made-to-measure Louis Vuitton shoe