Thread, scissors and collar — tools of the atelier

From the Atelier

The
Thread

What the workshop teaches. Cloth, construction, and the considered observations of a house that has been at this since 1974.

From the Workshop

Journal5 min read

Why L&S No Longer Does Alterations

Effective July 1, 2026, L&S Custom Tailors no longer performs alterations. An honest explanation of why — and what it means for the clients we serve.

March 30, 2026

Journal6 min read

The Sicilian Hand

L&S Custom Tailors was founded in 1974 by a Sicilian craftsman who brought a specific tradition to East 61st Street. That tradition still shapes every suit we make.

March 23, 2026

Guide5 min read

What Bespoke Can and Cannot Do

Bespoke tailoring is the most precise form of clothing available. It is also not magic. A guide to what the process delivers — and what it asks of you.

March 16, 2026

Craft7 min read

A Commission, Beginning to End

A full bespoke suit at L&S involves three fittings, six to eight weeks, and hundreds of individual decisions. Here is exactly what the process looks like.

March 9, 2026

Fabrics6 min read

Where the Cloth Comes From

The fabric is half the suit. An account of how L&S Custom Tailors sources cloth — the mills, the relationships, and what we are looking for when we handle a bolt.

March 2, 2026

Craft5 min read

Why Full Canvas Still Matters

In an age of fused construction, we explain why every L&S suit is built on a full floating canvas — why it moulds to your body, breathes better, and lasts longer.

March 14, 2026

Guide7 min read

Choosing Your First Bespoke Suit

Every first bespoke suit raises the same questions. Here is what actually matters — and what doesn't — at your initial consultation with L&S Custom Tailors.

March 7, 2026

Fabrics6 min read

A Guide to Fabric Weights

From 7-ounce tropical wools to 16-ounce overcoatings — a complete guide to fabric weight for bespoke suits, from L&S Custom Tailors on East 61st Street.

February 28, 2026

Craft4 min read

The Art of Hand Finishing

Buttonholes, pick stitching, and sleeve heads — the handwork details that separate a bespoke suit from everything else. Inside the L&S workshop process.

February 21, 2026

Seasonal5 min read

Spring/Summer 2026: What We're Cutting

Loro Piana linens, Caccioppoli cotton-silks, and Vitale Barberis high-twist wools — the L&S spring and summer fabric picks for warm-weather bespoke suits.

February 14, 2026

Guide4 min read

How to Care for Your Suit

How to press, brush, store, and clean a bespoke suit. Simple habits that protect your investment and keep a fine wool suit looking sharp for fifteen years or more.

February 7, 2026

Craft5 min read

The Anatomy of a Bespoke Trouser

Rise, break, pleat or flat front — every detail of a bespoke trouser is a deliberate decision that changes how you move and look through the working day.

January 31, 2026

Guide5 min read

Why Your Shirt Matters More Than You Think

A bespoke shirt is the overlooked foundation of every well-dressed man's wardrobe. Here is why getting yours right transforms everything worn over it.

January 24, 2026

Journal6 min read

New York Tailoring: A Living Heritage

From New York's garment district to the Upper East Side — how five decades of bespoke tailoring on East 61st Street shaped the L&S Custom Tailors tradition.

January 17, 2026

Guide6 min read

Black Tie Decoded

Peak lapel or shawl? Grosgrain or satin? Midnight navy or true black? Everything you need to know before commissioning a bespoke dinner jacket at L&S.

January 10, 2026

Guide5 min read

The First Fitting: What to Expect at L&S

What to expect at your first fitting at L&S — measurements, conversations, and the decisions that set every bespoke commission in motion on East 61st Street.

March 28, 2026

Craft4 min read

Silk Ties and Why They Die

Silk ties last years or weeks depending entirely on how they are treated. An honest guide to knotting, storage, cleaning, and the Como-woven ties we cut at L&S.

March 21, 2026

Seasonal5 min read

Summer in the City: Dressing for New York Heat

How to dress for New York summer heat without sacrificing precision or authority. The cloths, cuts, and colours L&S recommends for July and August dressing.

March 14, 2026

Guide5 min read

The Overcoat: A Once-in-a-Decade Investment

A great overcoat is bought once per decade if chosen well. How to select the cloth, silhouette, and construction for a bespoke overcoat built to last at L&S.

March 7, 2026

Guide5 min read

Made-to-Measure vs. Bespoke: The Honest Difference

Made-to-measure and bespoke are not the same thing. An honest explanation of the difference, and why L&S Custom Tailors practises only full bespoke tailoring.

February 28, 2026

More Where This Came From.

New entries every week — cloth notes, craft observations, and the thinking behind a house that has been at this for fifty years.

Get in Touch

TheThread

From the Workshop

Why L&S No Longer Does Alterations

The Sicilian Hand

What Bespoke Can and Cannot Do

A Commission, Beginning to End

Where the Cloth Comes From

Why Full Canvas Still Matters

Choosing Your First Bespoke Suit

A Guide to Fabric Weights

The Art of Hand Finishing

Spring/Summer 2026: What We're Cutting

How to Care for Your Suit

The Anatomy of a Bespoke Trouser

Why Your Shirt Matters More Than You Think

New York Tailoring: A Living Heritage

Black Tie Decoded

The First Fitting: What to Expect at L&S

Silk Ties and Why They Die

Summer in the City: Dressing for New York Heat

The Overcoat: A Once-in-a-Decade Investment

Made-to-Measure vs. Bespoke: The Honest Difference

More Where This Came From.

The
Thread