Designed for Her, but Cut, Tailored and Ph-balanced for Me

My friend Abbie (a true Hong Kong aficionado) referred me to Daniel Fashions in the Tsim Sha Tsui section of Kowloon (located at 3 Bristol Avenue, G/F).  Even with the cacophony of sounds and smells assaulting us from every direction, entering Daniel Daswani’s store was like walking into a hermetically sealed vault.  Except that this elegantly appointed vault was lined with the finest cottons, worsteds, and silks – in every color and pattern one could desire.

It’s not that I’m short on clothes, but rather that I’m a bit wide.  Too wide, actually; and as a result, none of my designer armor has fit me of late.  So, when I was invited by my Dad to come on a cruise that ended in Hong Kong, I was all a’ flutter.  Finally, some swanky duds that are new, and don’t make me look like an over-stuffed sausage!

The tailor makes adjustments to my Sherwani-inspired dinner coat

Now, I’m not sure if any of you has noticed, but my tastes in fashion run toward the outlandish.  So, when I told Daniel what I wanted, he was a bit taken a-back.  Then I explained it a bit more carefully, and he decided that he was up for the challenge.  Basically, I wanted to utilize some of the design aspects from some pieces he had made for women, but have them cut to fit me.  Hey!  It’s gonna be a looooong time before Chanel ever makes a Tyrolean jacket for men, and if they ever do it will be for skinny men who haven’t digested food in a decade or so – not for those with moobs!

But that’s what I wanted.  And, after much consternation from the tailors, that’s what I got.  They didn’t think they could do it, but they did and the results were better than any of us had hoped.  That said, I had to return to the shop on four separate occasions to select my styles and fabrics, get measured, and then have a series of fittings, adjustments, and tweakings.  But, the more certain the tailor can be, the better guarantee you have for a well-fitting garment.

Sure, I got a bunch of shirts, and some fabulous slacks, but it’s the evening suit and the dinner coat with which I am most delighted.  And that jacket I was talking about turned out great.  It’s a Chanel-inspired wool jacket in black and white hounds-tooth check, with a Nehru collar, trimmed in quilted black satin.  It’s utterly absurd and completely glamorous at the same time (and while it’s as close to Alexis Carrington as I might ever be, it’s not nearly as swishy as one might think).  Best of all… It fits!