Meet The Member - John Styles of Herts Tailors
Herts Tailors, Harpenden
We interviewed our member John Styles of Herts Tailors, to find out more about his world of beautifully made clothing.
Hi John. We love having you as a member of We Are Community. We would love to know when your passion for beautiful tailoring started and if you have always had a love for clothes/style?
I have always loved nice things; I think we all get excited when new clothes are coming our way, don’t we?! I got into the trade just after 9/11. I was in the aviation business but needless to say, that collapsed overnight. Since then, I have worked for one other tailoring firm before starting my own company in 2009.
Do you have a favourite item of clothing and what Is your favourite material to work with?
My favourite item of clothing – and always will be, sweaters! I am a cashmere addict. I look forward to the colder months just so I can get the cashmere going again. Jackets sweaters and I even have a pair of cashmere trousers!
What is so special about a truly perfect suit?
Rather like when you have played your best round of golf or tennis match, you’re not quite sure what you were thinking about, but it has just happened with that feeling of ease. That is what I enjoy about perfectly fitted clothes - you don’t have to think about it. No more subconsciously pulling sleeves down, lifting your trousers back up to where they should be or just having to reshuffle yourself!
Other than suits, what are the most common items of clothing your customers request to be made?
There isn’t a common item anymore. People want to add sports jackets, jeans, and shirts more than anything.
You have travelled extensively over the years. What are the key findings you have found in relation to fashion and tailoring from your trips abroad?
The beauty of what I do is that I get to see a lot of different trends – most of which don’t make it to the mainstream!
There was a craze in Italy just before the pandemic of all men’s tailored jackets to be within an inch of their waistbands…I’m glad to say that didn’t take off and neither did the ‘watch hole’ in shirt cuffs so you could see the time without pulling your shirt sleeve up your forearm.
For the vast majority of clients, they come to me and ask for my guidance. I am at the very forefront of new fabric delivery so you really can get the most up to date fabrics on the market – that work and wont fade into the abyss within 6 months.
Tell us a bit about the journey a customer will go through with you when you are working with them to create a bespoke piece of clothing.
Once contact has been made I either travel to the client or they can come to me. In the first meeting we will just chat about their shopping habits – where and how they have found it and what they would like to improve. I need to get to know my customers so I can recommend clothes based on their personality as well as the need for function of the clothes.
Dressing to your personality creates a consistency that people are drawn to. Then the fun starts where clients look at fabrics. They can really add their own touches to the garments with buttons, melton, pockets, monograming, linings and a whole host more options.
After we have nailed the perfect garments look then I measure the client, take a deposit. The first fitting is about 6 weeks later where we try on all the clothes and sometimes make little alterations to make the clothes sit perfectly. With new clients there is normally two or three fittings, existing clients normally have one fitting to make sure the pattern is correct, and they keep the clothes that day.
I do keep in contact with clients once or twice a year just to make sure they are happy with their clothes and to see if they’d like to see what’s new to the market.
who do you admire in your field and what is it you like about their tailoring?
Kiton, Corneliani, Patrick Hellman and Pal Zileri. All these brands are at the top of their game in terms of just pure luxury. I love to work with the very best fabrics and these guys give me ideas as to what I can show my clients.
Is there one item of clothing you have created for someone that is your ultimate favourite?
That’s a hard one. I have had many moments when I’ve thought to myself “This is literally perfect in every way”. I am driven by customer experience and happiness. They can probably read my face before I even notice theirs!
I recently did a photo shoot for our new website. I am very pleased with the models and how the clothes they are wearing work with them. If I had to pick two, then the cream tux suit for Paige and the blue velvet jacket for Paul…. or the green velvet for Paige, or the grey Prince of Wales for Paul…..or the…!
You split your time between Perth, Australia and Hertfordshire. What are the creature comforts you enjoy when you’re back in the UK and where do you like to shop in Hertfordshire for anything fashion or styling related?
Creature comforts revolve solely around my dog Nelson. The world’s best pet – I wouldn’t swap him for my kids!
Shopping, I don’t find that I actually go to the shops all that often. Time is not a friend of mine. Most clothes I wear I make myself or I use a very good online company called Son of a Tailor who make t-shirts for me. I do love the glamour of Bond Street like anyone.
Shoes I do find very difficult to find so when I find something in my size then I will buy multiples. Zegna for casual and Russell & Bromley for my dress shoes. I am moving away from jeans and find myself wearing Kiton trousers and chinos and Zegnas version of the same thing.
If you really want to get into it, I love SpaceNK because of the Kiehls grooming products and choice of perfumes. My go to perfumes are from Tom Ford and Louis Vuitton.
What’s on the horizon for Herts Tailors?
That’s a very good question. I am toying with the idea of a more online level of shopping but that of course brings its own headaches. I took my son to Australia for a two-week emersion into what I do. He loved the experience and my clients warmed to him very quickly, so there’s hope for the future for my family and the company!