P.S. Personal Style: Jeffrey Scott, The Artistry of Bespoke

Photography by Ellie S. Photography

I’m scrolling through my Instagram account and I see a message from someone I didn’t know. Then over a few weeks, more messages.  I don’t remember what the exact words were, but this guy was talking about having your clothes specially made.  Bespoke clothing. “Like I can afford that,” I thought. But these ads coincided with a time in my life when I wanted to make a change in my appearance - to look better. Being “morbidly obese” is not an encouraging thing to be monikered with by a doctor, and the reality is, the clothes that one must buy from a Big and Tall store to clothe a large frame end up costing more than half the amount of having them made.  So, I decided to call - just for information. Jeffrey Scott returned my call and before I had a chance to second guess myself, I had made an appointment with him to order a waistcoat - a staple and symbol of the new, better-appearing me.

The day came. I met Jeffrey at his office, and there he was, stunningly handsome; the fitting model and face of the Jeffrey Scott Clothing brand, who provided more than one would ever expect from a bespoke designer. Because of insecurities about my weight, I found myself comparing myself to him, and in my mind, I was on the losing end of the comparison, but Jeffrey took every negative I used to down myself and he changed its direction, turned it around, and transformed it into a positive which to my surprise, built me up. I have never in all my years of dealing with personal services, felt so cared for, so validated and so encouraged about myself and my appearance - and he hadn”t even made anything yet! I realized then, I’d buy anything from this man. He had a customer for life.

It is said that one might not remember what someone said, but you will always remember how they made you feel.  Jeffrey made me feel special. Jeffrey made me feel handsome. My clothes turned out impeccably, but Jeffrey elevated the beautiful clothes - which are an art form in themselves, into an experience which was an art form in itself. What follows is our interview with Jeffrey Scott, CEO of Jeffrey Scott Clothing.

Tell me about the Jeffrey Scott story: the man and the company.

I have always had an interest in men’s style and suits however, my passion for it grew significantly after working at a men’s suit retailer 13+ years ago. I was looking for a part time job while attending college and this was the perfect place. From that point on, I knew that this was something I wanted to pursue I just didn’t know it would be through my own business. After 2 years, I left that store and worked other part time jobs until I finished school and started a career in corporate sales, 9 year ago. At that same time. my colleague from the clothing store, who I had stayed connected to, started a custom clothing business. I helped him out on the side while working sales. Fast forward 3 years…I learned so much about the business world that I felt comfortable pursuing my own business. At that point, I asked my colleague how he would feel about me being a part of the business. He said absolutely and gave me half the company. This was 6 years ago. A year later, I bought him out and the Jeffrey Scott Brand was born.

For me, the most interesting aspects of the bespoke suit process are the attention paid to detail, the ability to be creative with fabrics, buttons, styles, etc., and the ability to solve the problem of not being able to find a suit that fits! A bespoke suit will fit and feel perfect because it’s created based on your measurements, posture, shoulder slope, roundness of back, and several other factors. It is truly a science, an art, and a lifestyle.

We are a bespoke clothier. We make suits, tuxedos, sportcoats, trousers. overcoats, shirts, ties and pocket squares for Gentlemen and Ladies completely from scratch. What sets us apart is the attention to detail (I am a perfectionist so I will not let one thing slip by when it comes to the final product), the quality of the fabrics, and the quality of construction inside and outside of the garment. Every Jeffrey Scott suit is fully handmade and full canvas which provides the highest level of comfort, fit, and quality.

We stand by our clothing and promise to deliver a perfect fitting garment that our clients love, otherwise their money back. We also cover alterations for the life of the garment, as we understand sizing may change.

What is your philosophy: personal, business or otherwise.

My personal, and business philosophy is to do the right thing, be kind, positive, and driven. I strive to inspire others and provide an unmatched level of service.  

How do you see clothing as an extension of art and creativity in everyday life?

When you truly appreciate how you dress, and put some thought into it, it acts as an expression of yourself and your personality. It is a way to show people that you care about how you look and how you present yourself. I draw inspiration from movies, tv, nature, and several other avenues and take that inspiration to create my own personal style which I see as an art form. I see mixing patterns, colors, ties, pocket squares, shoes, etc all as pieces of art that you mix together creating a beautiful (or horrendous) synergy.

In what ways do you believe your garments inspire self-expression and individuality for your clients?

 I believe clothing in itself is an expression and extension of your personality. My garments are a way to really dive deeper into that as my clients are able to individually design each aspect of their garments by choosing the fabric, lining, buttons, etc. 

For those dapper gentlemen who have a bubbly and bold personality it’s fun for them to choose some bold patterns and colors to express that. On the other hand, the gentleman who want to present themselves as more classic, have that option to do so as well with more subtle patterns and colors.  A lot of personality is also expressed with the interlining as that can get very funky in terms of colors and patterns.

How do your designs incorporate artistic elements that go beyond trends and enter the realm of timeless cultural engagement?

A lot of these design elements come down to proportions, to create a well balanced and timeless look. For example, the width of the lapel should be kept within a certain size depending on the clients chest measurement in order to achieve a timeless look. However, some clients like to have fun with this and take the vintage approach of a very wide lapel, which can also be seen as timeless but slightly more unique and less common. 

The shoulder construction can be used as an artistic approach to create a prominent look by adding what’s called “roping” to the shoulder ends. This is where the ends of the shoulders are slightly raised. This is timeless and artistic at the same time. A connoisseur of bespoke clothing would appreciate this. 

What role does beauty and craftsmanship play in how your garments influence the daily lives of those who wear them?

Our goal with craftsmanship is to create a garment that fits perfectly, is comfortable, and functional. We achieve this by making every garment completely by hand. The hand stitching through the shoulders, chest, and canvas allows for the best possible mobility and comfort. We also make sure to use the best quality canvassing that we can find. The canvas will form to your body overtime, and get even better overtime, almost like a leather jacket.

Our clients often say that our suits feel like wearing pajamas. That’s certainly a positive influence for their daily life

How do you balance the artistic integrity of your designs with the commercial realities of fashion? 

We balance this by creating garments that are timeless in design and fit. I am more about building a wardrobe and a style that can be worn forever.  The fashion industry is constantly creating new trends that eventually die down. Now what do you do with those pieces that are no longer “in style”? You get rid of them. 

I’d rather invest in something that I know will always look good. 

How do you see your clothing influencing the way people perceive and navigate the world around them?

Our clothing gives a level of confidence that is hard to achieve otherwise. When you wear a suit that you’re comfortable in, you tend to walk a little taller and feel better about yourself. People also treat you differently, in a positive way. It attracts attention in a good way. This helps my clients navigate their world to be more successful in their careers, relationships, etc. 

What are the key artistic principles that guide your design aesthetic?  

A timeless approach. I strive to create garments for myself, and my clients, that will last a lifetime and rarely go out of style. Fit, function, and proportion are the key principles to establish this. 

In your view, how does the experience of wearing one of your pieces differ from simply putting on clothing—how does it elevate one’s connection to art and life?

 I’ll share a client story for this one…This success story happens often, which is the most rewarding part of what I do, however it was very powerful for one specific client. This client struggled for several years with confidence issues as well as poor experiences when having suits made. His weight played a huge role in how he felt and the lack of success with having suits fitted properly really took a toll on him, to the point that he never wanted to wear suits again. His suits didn’t feel comfortable or flattering. However, he trusted me with making a suit. The final product fit so well that he finally felt confident, and comfortable, to the point that he cried during the final fitting. It gave me chills. It’s a blessing to be able to give my clients this level of confidence. This is how wearing one of our suits differs from putting on your everyday clothing. It gives you a different approach to life, leading to more success and happiness. It provides you with a way of expressing yourself, as mentioned before, using the art of dressing.

Who is the man who eears a Jeffrey Scott Suit?

The Jeffrey Scott man is a true gentleman. One who treats others with kindness and respect, always tries to have a positive attitude, and appreciates the way he looks. He has a well established life and career and strives to be the best version of himself. He understands that clothing makes the man and provides a level of confidence you can’t find anywhere else.

Thank you Jeffrey Scott for taking the time to spend with us at Studio Tour Magazine

Thank you for featuring me! I’m blessed to be a part of your magazine and I hope what I have been able to provide to your viewers has been helpful. For anyone interested in having a continued conversation please find me at www.jeffreyscott.com or Instagram @jeffreyscottclothing