Parisian tailors Camps de Luca are moving premises, after 50 years overlooking Place de la Madeleine. Their new home is at 16 Rue de la Paix, near to Place Vendome.
To say goodbye, they put together this video showing the stages of bespoke suit making. For anyone that has never seen this first hand, and particularly for those that have never seen the French levels of handwork, it’s worth a look.
You can see my personal experiences at Camps de Luca, including suit fittings and details, here. Off to Paris next week for the final fitting, so fingers crossed it will be ready soon.
Dear Simon,
I have become a regular reader of your blog since the moment I discovered it a few months ago and am more and more fascinated by luxury menswear with each of your excellent articles. What fascinates me most is your detail-obssessed approach and your genuine joy when you see proof of real craftmanship and artistry. I would love to find a blog similar to yours dedicted to female formal and business wear. Do you, or any of your readers know of such a resource? I would be very thankful for any tips.
Furthermore, I love how you put an effort to compare the tailoring traditions of different (European) countries; I find the historical background in such matters incredibly fascinating. Therefore, I am very curious to know whether you have any experience with (and therefore opinions on) the German tailoring? I have recently read several interesting articles in the German press on this subject (with particular emphasis on Mr. Volkmar Arnulf) and have been intrigued by it since.
I apologise for the lengthy comment and would be very thankful for an answer from you!
With kind regards,
Ane
Unfortunately no women blogs I can recommend, though I get asked about it a lot…
And no, Germany’s next on the list!
Such a nicely made film. They are very tricky to get right. I think it’s a great advert for bespoke tailoring.
Only disappointment is that they didn’t show a finished suit. There’s always a danger of admiring the brush strokes and missing the broader canvas.
Hey Simon,
Why are they moving?
Nico
Ane, my fiancée asks me the same question all the time! Please do post back if you find anything!
As far as I can tell, most women’s style blogs are much more about fashion and/or celebrities than craftsmanship. Perhaps a gap in the market for aspiring writers…?
I think there’s two problems there yes – less to write about and perhaps fewer women interested
Looking forward to hearing about your experiences with German tailors too! Germany isn’t exactly famous for being, well… a centre of fashion and style, but is certainly known for excellent craftsmanship, so it will be very interesting to see the results.
(All outrageous cultural stereotypes meant with the utmost of respect and a healthy dose of jest :D)
Beautiful score, beautiful video.
I am told the Qatari’s bought their now-old place to convert it to a luxury hotel.
That’s right, yes
Does anyone know the purpose of the tear-drop shaped pocket (in construction at 3:50 – 4:10 and finished at 4:24) placed into the purple lining?
It can be used for anything, eg change. The teardrop shape makes it easy to access, as well as being a nice example of Camps hand sewing
Simon
Thank you for posting this. Fantastic and so interesting to see the top end of bespoke which differs vastly from the lower end. So much more attention to detail, hand work and miles and miles of stitching, especially in the basted stage. Superb. Those that enjoyed this video may be interested in watching O’Mast if not already seen.
Bradley
Here’s my comment about women and fashion. I do alterations, mostly to menswear. I used to do custom sewing for people. Menswear styles don’t change very much. But women’s clothing, oh dear. They want something in the latest fashion, but don’t want to pay for the time involved to properly make garments. Let me briefly describe the last outfit I made about 10 years ago. Older lady, attorney’s wife, whose daughter was getting married soon, wanted an ensemble made for the wedding. She had brought some silver – grey silk dupioni yardage back from a trip to Thailand. She had picked a pattern. All this without recourse to professional advice (I’ve been sewing now for 70 years). She was short, roundish, not fat. Silk fabric was heavy enough to be somewhat stiff. Made her a long straight skirt, split up almost to the knee so she could walk and dance. Jacket was also straight, Chanel type, fitted close to the body. Blouse was coordinating silver grey with a small blue figure printed on it, but fabric, though silk, was lighter weight. She had to come in for fittings, had dowager’s hump. She was very pleased with the final product, I just didn’t have the heart to tell her that she looked like a silver-painted fire plug (not sure what you call those in the U.K., it’s what the fire trucks hook up to for water supply when dousing fires). I could give other examples. That was when I decided, no more custom sewing.
That said, I really do appreciate your blog, and have sent at least one of my customers your way. Thanks for all you do!
Thanks Elva
There seems to be very little writing on classic ladies’ style, whether in print or in digital form. I’m not certain that many women are that interested in reading articles on style or craftsmanship. R-T-W clothing doesn’t inspire a fascination of its factory contruction. Couture almost certainly does. The problem is that couture has been all but lost for this generation of women. Once, it was de rigueur for those with the financial means.
Paris haute couture is now so grotesquely over-priced that very few women bother, whether they can afford it or not. London couturiers eschew the hype and quietly get on with making classically elegant pieces for their clients. It’s only a pity that more successful women don’t try couture. It needn’t cost the earth.
Simon,
I imagine that on customer demand Camps can make a more classic lapel notch on the single breasted…or the Parisian notch is a not negotiable feature?
It’s a house style aspect. You can ask but more importantly, why go to them for something that is so not them?
Because the cut is beautiful,but the Parisian notch is not in my taste.