Hello, everyone, and welcome to another of my articles. In this review, I’ll chronicle my experience tailoring a smart casual outfit from Gentlemen’s Pursuit.
I’ve previously tailored a brown suit from JJ of Gentlemen’s Pursuit, as well as rented a tuxedo. This time around, I was looking for something more smart casual. When I reached out to JJ, he suggested going for a polo tee and Gurkha pants combination, paired with a sports blazer. That sounded good to me, so I told him to get them based on the measurements that he had on file.
Gentlemen’s Pursuit – the Video
For those interested in commissioning something with Gentlemen’s Pursuit, I did a short interview with JJ below:
Gentlemen’s Pursuit – Smart Casual Tailoring
I visited Gentlemen’s Pursuit to try on the finished garments, and was happy to discover that the clothing fit well. Just look at the sleeve pitch of the jacket in the photo below – it drapes beautifully.
I left the choice of fabrics and colours to JJ, and was pleasantly surprised that he opted for a tone-on-tone green sports jacket with a green polo tee, as well as white Gurkha trousers. It reminded me stylistically of my three-piece suit from Sors Studio, but significantly more casual. I’ve also previously chronicled my tailoring experience with Gentlemen’s Pursuit here, so please check that out for my views on the tailoring process.
JJ also shared that Gentlemen’s Pursuit now offers a variety of trouser options, including double-extended waistbands and buttoned coin pockets. If you’re looking for trousers with a touch of flair, these will be up your alley.
I’m pretty pleased with the final look – green and white wouldn’t have been a colour combination that I would typically opt for, but that’s what the younger tailors, like JJ, are for: to push my stylistic boundaries. I have also grown to appreciate the polo tee with jacket look, which I first did with JJ last year. It’s a great way to dress down (especially in Singapore’s heat) while still appearing rakish.
For an even more casual look, I can remove the jacket. Both the polo tee and the trousers are made from pure cotton, meaning they are breathable even in our tropical climate. In particular, I noticed that the material of the polo tee is thinner and more plush than that of its fast fashion counterparts – it’s very comfortable against the skin.
It’s worth noting that the polo tee is not off-the-rack, but also tailored with JJ. As such, it’s meant to flatter my (rather unassuming) body, which it does terrifically. For example, I don’t have the most enormous biceps, but the polo tee accentuates my arms, making them appear more muscular than they are. The same goes for my shoulders, with the cutting making me appear broad-shouldered.
I also appreciate the high-waisted nature of the Gurkha trousers, which helps elongate my legs and essentially makes me look taller. However, I do feel that the cutting of the trousers is a tad narrow, and I would have preferred a wider cut, especially around the calves.
I did like the Gurkha trousers, which provide an elegant sartorial touch due to their clean, seamless aesthetic. It’s a great way to stand out, but in a subtle fashion.
Overall, I like this smart casual look from Gentlemen’s Pursuit. Most of us are accustomed to having our formal attire tailored, but this experience makes a compelling case for tailoring even our casual clothing as well. I know there’s always Uniqlo, but it’s worth getting some casual outfits tailored for those special nights when you want to dress to impress, without appearing as though you’re trying too hard.
A 2-piece mixed wool suit (half-canvassed) at Gentlemen’s Pursuit starts from $688, with 100% wool European fabrics (VBC, Drago, etc.) starting from $888. For more casual options, the polo tees start at $89, while the Gurkha trousers start at $169. For my readers, Gentlemen’s Pursuit is offering a $100 discount per suit order, and a 10% discount on all other orders (shirts, polos, trousers, etc), with no minimum spend. Quote “WAHSOSHIOK” when making your appointment to enjoy the discount.
Those looking for handcrafted, customisable shoes can also head down to Gentlemen’s Pursuit to try on CustomWelt shoe samples. For those unfamiliar with the brand, I run CustomWelt and partner with tailors like Gentlemen’s Pursuit to display size samples, allowing prospective customers to try them on before placing their orders online. To learn more about CustomWelt, do check out this article here.
Gentlemen’s Pursuit’s Location: 1 Genting Link, #08-01A, Singapore 349518
Book an appointment with Gentlemen’s Pursuit via WhatsApp here.
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