Inside: Michael Andrews Bespoke for the Holidays

With Christmas rapidly approaching, Modern Fellows stopped in Michael Andrews Bespoke’s showroom off of Dupont Circle to follow up on our earlier conversation and see how they were getting along since launching their DC operations in October. We spoke with Michael and Carly about how their DC clientele compares with New York, and found the place all decked out for the holidays.

Spotlighting their well-appointed studio trimmed for Christmas seems as good a way as any to end the last full workweek of the year. To follow is a look inside along with a very brief update on how business is going two months into their venture:

We caught Michael on his last visit to Dupont Circle before a couple weeks away for the holidays.  He said that he feels like they have finally hit a groove in Washington, with positive press and word of mouth generating a steady flow of not just interest but actual customers.

Reflecting on his fist couple of months in the District, he noted a difference with New York:  “The challenge for us is that a large portion of our core clientele in New York [are] finance guys in their late 30s and early 40s.  That’s not a demographic that has a lot of depth here.”  In Washington, the kind of men that are able to walk into Michael Andrews and plunk down nearly $1,400 for their core suit “tend to be a little older and little more established.” Offering the proper mix of products, and making sure that the presentation reaches the right people in Washington, will be a priority going into 2013.

As for the design of the showroom, Michael reminded me that, “we really embraced the idea of laying it out as if you were coming over to a good friend’s house.” There is a bar in the kitchen, fabric books in the china cabinet, a sofa in the living room and a working fireplace to curl up to in the winter.  Upstairs was retrofitted with spacious fitting rooms framed by gorgeous floor-to-ceiling doors, which are pictured below.  Michael also plans to keep a tailor in-house for alterations, which currently have to be taken care of in New York.

My experience from visiting their New York location — a larger, open space with a small army of impressively kitted-out people buzzing about — is that it radiates an energy that is impressive but can be intimidating.  The DC spot feels cozier and is a much better fit for the city.  See for yourself below, or by visiting Carly, Michael and company at Michael Andrews Bespoke, 1604 17th Street N.W., 2nd Floor, Washington, D.C. 20009, by appointment, Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

For more with Michael, including his advice for DC men (excerpt: “They’re not going to get fired for wearing a little color”), see “Not your father’s custom tailor” in The Georgetown Dish.

Photos taken with permission.

— Main level —

— Upper level —

— Street level —