Introducing Louis Purple, New York
I was introduced to New York’s latest made to measure suit shop through a very polite e-mail some months ago simply asking me to get together to discuss suits from founder Charles Brunold. Hailing from France with a very specific vision of affordable made to measure Charles and his Louis Purple line has been has been on my radar from conception to execution.
It’s been well worth the wait.
When you first step into Louis Purple you are greeted by the affable Charles or one of his compatriots, are offered a coffee and some conversation, and then it’s on to fabrics. The beauty of the initial meeting is just how low key and nonchalant it is. It almost feels as if you are just hanging out with the option of buying a suit. This kind of approach to sales is not only refreshing, but a true rarity in the trendy, high pressure locale of Soho.
Charles Brunold, Founder of Louis Purple
There is a fiercely modern feel to the shop with whispers of Radiohead or Charlotte Gainsbourg emanating from the large computer Charles sits behind whilst you go through the tremendous selection of fabric books that range from unbranded Italian super 120′s ($700 to start) to the higher end Holland & Sherry and Dormeuil collections ($1,100-$1,400). Halfway through your search, an attractive young woman may enter through the front doors, ask for your name, and offer you another coffee. A very nice perk to the entire experience indeed.
Charles is not a tailor, nor does he claim to be, so measurements are taken in the shop then sent through electronic tailor sheets to his master tailor who resides in France. After close review they are once again forwarded to a French owned and staffed factory in Romania for assembly. Three weeks later your suit arrives and should any alterations need to be done to the piece, Charles has a local New York tailor take care of them within a week or two.
There are other offerings such as fully customizable shirts made from fine cotton (from $129 – $169, Package of 5 shirts for $548) as well as handmade Italian ties ($99), and finely crafted shoes by Doucal’s ($349).
The clientele at Louis Purple so far range from young professionals to nightlife promoters looking for a stylish option of suiting without shelling out major coin. To me, this is an advanced entry to made to measure suiting as you are dealing with some pretty fantastic fabrics and construction.
To give Louis Purple a try, please visit:
Full disclosure – did you receive any suits/gifts from them for free Dennis? Its not that I don’t trust your reviews, but rather that I would rather knows these things as a principle when blogging etc.
Thanks.
I would write about Charles’s shop whether he made me a suit or not because:
A) I believe in his vision.
And
B) He’s a stand up guy.
-Dennis
Well you didn’t quite answer the question with all respect Dennis. Did the company provide you with anything free of charge or otherwise at a discount?
It’s just that knowing full disclosure is helpful and I have asked as politely as I can.
David,
I politely answered back and since this is my space my final answer is just that. This is a blog not an interrogation room. Please move on.
Thanks,
Dennis
Idk, kinda seems like a Michael Andrews Bespoke rip off to me… similar suiting styles, the color palette of the store, the drinks while waiting. Just my two cents.
Also, who are those shoes by in your last picture, and do you know how much they cost? They look perfect for what I’m after, but I don’t have much extra $ to spend at this moment in time sadly (unemployed).
Thanks.
The shoes cost $349.
-Dennis
On an unrelated note, I kept waiting for your cameo in the latest episode of Put This On, but was disappointed.
HA! Thanks, Jason. Yes, I was behind the scenes for that shoot. The only time I’m in front of the camera is almost only for this blog.
Take Care,
Dennis
WOW….for what I pay for suits (of the rack mind you) I should have been going here all along. Yikes!
Thanks for your introduction Dennis!
No kidding; $700 for a custom suit? Why am I still buying OTR?
Dear Dennis,
I have to wholeheartedly agree with David on this – it is common courtesy/etiquette on menswear blogs, or indeed any blog which is writing about/advertising a particular service, to outline any conflicts of interest in advance.
I am currently myself looking towards getting some suits from the NY area soon, so I avidly read your blog for your thoughts in this regard. However, whilst you may believe in Charles’ vision and indeed think that he is a stand up guy (something which I don’t contest in the slightest for that matter), it is standard procedure to inform your readers as to whether you were offered any free or discounted items from this retailer; be that in the lead up to or indeed following this post.
I’m assuming your lack of a direct answer to David’s question means you have been given freebies and/or discounted items from this retailer then? Whilst I can’t speak for David, I would just like to say that I certainly don’t mean this to sound like an “interrogation”; its just as a reader, avid fan of your work and potential customer to this retailer, I would just like to have all the facts upfront to make an informed decision – particularly as I am not an individual of rich means, and such purchases are doubly important for me to get correct.
Thanks.
Yours Sincerely,
Eric
Ok gentlemen since it’s so important to you both I review places whose product I would stand behind and I ask them upfront if they are willing to send me a sample or make me something so I can honestly stand behind it. If this seems like payola to both of you you’re not in the right frame of mind. Charles made me a fantastic suit and from that I can now 100% stand behind him. Imagine if I told all of you to go to his shop and the suits looked like shit? You all would have me strung up by my ball sack.
Food critics don’t pay for their meals.
Music critics don’t pay for music (then again no one does).
Movie critics don’t pay for movies.
If you guys think I’m some sort of heretic for wanting to give my readers an HONEST opinion of a retailers wares I can’t really change your minds.
But for those of you who get my point, cheers.
I also don’t get paid any money from this blog. So if someone wants to make me something you’re sure as shit I’m going to say HELL YES.
Fondly,
Dennis
As long as Dennis would still say the suits looked like shit despite having received one (if in fact they did), I don’t see the problem. If his opinion is based at all on the fact that he were gifted a suit, then his opinion wouldn’t really be valid. I get why some people would want to know up front so they know if its an “honest” review. But to be honest, can one really give a valid opinion on a custom suit maker without having a custom suit made?
I think its important to keep in mind that this is in fact a blog. Basically that means that Dennis can do whatever he pleases and we have the choice of reading or not, and upon reading it, believing it or not.
Anyone who thinks they would write a blog like this, be offered a free custom suit and they would turn it down because of some perceived ‘journalistic integrity” issue, more power to you. I’d take the suit and I wouldn’t think twice.
While I was curious about any arrangements with the some of the items Dennis reviews, I like to work on referrals. After having a couple of suits made by Imparali (at Dennis’ suggestion), I can honestly say, I don’t care if someplace is paying for his Metrocard every month, I have gotten enough good advice and info from this blog that I will freely refer it to friends.
Anyway, about those shoes. I’m going to have to go check those out. They look incredible in the photo. The starting range for the suits is a bit much for my budget right now but if things change, I will definitely use their services. I’ll stick with Imparali for now, Matt and I get along.
Are you alive Dennis? Miss the updates.
MintCastle.com has a pretty sweet promo! You can get a complimentary shirt to go with a suit purchase, not bad! http://www.mintcastle.com/deal/view/69
Hey Dennis,
I really appreciate your blogs and Indochino has been phenomenol for me and I want to say thanks for sharing. I know I’m super to this blog but, can you tell me the brand of those dress shoes as well as to where I can purchase them? Keep up the good work when you can and I look forward to your future post.
Nick