R K Tailoring

R K Tailoring, Unit 6, 26 Kingly Street, London W1B 5QB, Tel. 020 7734 3222
Nearest tube - equally close to Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus
Map here


View Larger Map

The aim of this blog is to give retail recommendations, and this is from the top drawer. Unlike the other entries here it's not a shop, but it still qualifies because it's an alterations tailor.
Everyone needs an alterations tailor for three reasons:
1 - Stuff very rarely fits. I used to have a friend who had a job pinning up clothes that were used in magazine and catalogue shoots - that is, the clothes didn't fit the models, so they had to be made to fit to look good in the pictures
2 - Don't get stuff altered in the shop if it's cotton. Cotton always shrinks the first two times it is washed - including pre-shrunk cotton - so if they take up your trousers they won't fit as well after a couple of washes. Take it home, wash it twice, then get it altered
3 - Some stuff only fits in some dimensions, but with a skillful tailor it can be made to fit properly.
R K Tailoring comes highly recommended, but ring up first to check on their opening times

Stephan Haroutunian Shirts

95 Moore Park Road

London SW6 2DA

Nearest Tube - Fulham Broadway

Website - StephanShirts

Map

View Larger Map

There's little in life quite as nice as a made to measure shirt. Stephan Hartounian is able to offer these at a very competitive price (£70 or so, no minimum order), through being in a relatively unfashionable part of London, and getting all the shirts made at the family factory in Cyprus. The shirts themselves are absolutely beautiful - why not treat yourself?