David Reeves interview
David Reeves is an English tailor living and working in New York. His style is ‘unapologetically British’ and in this episode of the Podcast, Matt Spaiser of Bond Suits frequented his tailoring house and sat down for a one-on-one interview.
David Reeves how did it all begin for you?
I started of at Gieves and Hawkes when I was 19 years old, I was in college at the time. I got recommended to run a store in the lower east side (New York) by a friend of mine. They were looking for a store manager, I worked for 18 months, met a girl, ended up staying.
Has James Bond influencer your style?
That James Bond look is very important. He is a British icon. Stylistically there is a back catalogue you can look at; progression and trends. If John Wayne is your American Icon, we have James Bond.
There is more of a cache of Italian tailoring here in the US, English has a reputation of being stuffy but it’s not that. The traditional James Bond aesthetic is what I like. When I think of James Bond it’s simple immaculate put-together pieces.
Roger Moore in Double Breasted Angelo Roma suits (photo sourced from www.thunderballs.org)
Which James Bond has inspired you most?
Roger Moore is the best for me. Sean Connery did the minimal well, Roger had the best and worst of styles. The double breasted suit in The Spy Who Loved Me and the dupioni silk suit in Moonraker.
How do you feel about Tom Ford?
Tom Ford’s work is fantastic. He’s very much of his time which is now. And James Bond is always of his time when he is at his best. At the same time its a real shame that the British brands that were in the running to tailor James Bond – they dropped the ball terribly there. It should be a British brand that’s dressing James Bond.
Look at the bigger brands, Dunhill, Burberry, then Savile Row names. They should be dressing James Bond.
Ralph Fiennes in Skyfall Timothy Everest Suit (photo sourced from www.thunderballs.org)
A lot of tailors I know we all agree that Ralph Fiennes suits are better, (made by Timothy Everest) and Ralph would have been an amazing Bond if you got him in the 90s.
Outside of Bond what films stand out for you stylistically?
I love the suits that Doug Hayward did in Get Carter. That’s my house staple and house style. I like mohair, I like a very english looking suit.
Listen to the podcast
You can listen to the full interview on the podcast episode 08, on iTunes, Stitcher or Spotify. Or listen in the player below. Special thanks to Matt Spaiser from Bond Suits for conducting the interview. David Reeves is open to appointments and can be contacted through his website.
Leave A Comment