When Custom-Made Fails To Impress, There Is An Alternative
Maxim|November/December 2018

When custom-made fails to impress, there is an alternative

Jared Paul Stern
When Custom-Made Fails To Impress, There Is An Alternative

In July of 2017, when Conor McGregor showed up to pro-mote his fight with Floyd May weather wearing a suit whose pinstripes were in actuality repetitions of the phrase fuck you in white letters, the world hailed it as the sartorial equivalent of mixed martial arts. In fact, McGregor’s move was nothing new; he was, as usual, just doing it more violently than anyone else. But such forays into “extreme bespoke,” where custom fabrics are merely the starting point for creating garments that are literally one of a kind, are rarely seen at press conferences.

Duncan Quinn, the British-born, New York–based lawyer turned-designer whose signature style was once described as “Savile Row meets rock ’n’ roll,” has made similar suits for well-heeled clients, though most of the messages woven into them “were not dreamt up by an ex-plumber’s apprentice who climbed to riches on the shoulders of defeated fellow pugilists,” he notes. One recent commission contained the more refined moniker “warlord.” McGregor’s suits, made by California’s tailor-to-the-stars David August for a reported $4,000 to $10,000 apiece, were relatively inexpensive in a world where most truly bespoke creations begin at a minimum of at least twice the higher end of that range and spike sharply from there.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MAXIMView all
150 YEARS of SUPERYACHTS STYLE
Maxim US

150 YEARS of SUPERYACHTS STYLE

Here's why Benetti's expensive-but-worth-it vessels have been favored by the beautiful people, from James Bond to Donald Trump, David Bowie and Jay-Z

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
KING of the PRANCING HORSES
Maxim US

KING of the PRANCING HORSES

The extremely sought-after Ferrari 250 series-including the sales record-setting 250 GTO-are the most valuable cars that money can buy

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
LUST for LIFE
Maxim US

LUST for LIFE

French photographer Philippe Shangti's world of lush, sometimes lurid seenes isn't always what it seems

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
A CENTURY of MOROCCAN STYLE
Maxim US

A CENTURY of MOROCCAN STYLE

The legendary La Mamounia in Marrakech unveils a multimillion-dollar renovation on the occasion of its 100th anniversary

time-read
5 mins  |
May - June 2024
SPRITZ & SPREZZATURA
Maxim US

SPRITZ & SPREZZATURA

Everything you need to know about the evolution of the spritz, which has gone beyond bitter into vibrant, refreshing and eclectic

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
APEX PREDATOR
Maxim US

APEX PREDATOR

Driving the new GT 63 supercar across the hills of Spain reveals Mercedes-AMG only made a great supercar better

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
HAPPIEST ANNIVERSARIES
Maxim US

HAPPIEST ANNIVERSARIES

When it comes to fine smokes, \"anniversario\" blends just keep getting better with time

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024
THE RAZOR'S EDGE
Maxim US

THE RAZOR'S EDGE

Collectors are taking note of William Henry's nextlevel pocket knives, the ultimate in luxury cutting tools

time-read
3 mins  |
May - June 2024
LIGHTS, CAMERA ,ACTION!
Maxim US

LIGHTS, CAMERA ,ACTION!

A conversation with Emmy-winning cinematographer and director Keyan Safyari

time-read
2 mins  |
May - June 2024
ROLLIN' THUNDER
Maxim US

ROLLIN' THUNDER

Malaysia's Rollin Machine crafts a world-class tribute to the Royal Enfield Interceptor

time-read
4 mins  |
May - June 2024