After examining myself in the mirror over the past few months, I’ve come to realize that I’m beginning to develop the same ‘issue’ that runs in my family. Our fair and sensitive skin tends to take on a more permanent reddish tint. Overall, I’ve come to terms with our family traits, but maybe not quite yet, especially at the age of 40. I’ve been reluctant to incorporate daily creams and serums into my routine because, well, I’m a guy, you know? However, in this article, I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone to try out some creams and serums from Routinely.

Last week, it was finally time to visit Léon Klaver. That day, I had quite the schedule. I had to quickly sand the last part of a woodworking project before bringing it to the paint sprayer. Then, I had to visit a friend and get into the shower, hopefully to remove all the dust from everywhere.

I dressed up in my most formal attire to expose any gaps in my current wardrobe and knowledge. This would be part of a talk about what would be best for a first proper wardrobe suit. I rushed a little but was just on time. I parked my bike outside the store and went in.

In the past months, I’ve set aside some money to treat myself to a new fountain pen. I have had my mind set on something with urushi lacquer as I wanted a writing instrument that was a step up and a little more formal than my currently owned TWSBI Diamond 580alr, Pilot Falcon or Sailor Pro Gear Slim – Vega.

One of the first and probably most important steps is finding a tailor whom you think is best for you. I have to admit, in the Netherlands, this is actually pretty hard. The bespoke tailors like Chifonelli, Anderson & Sheppard, Antonio Liverano, whom we see in videos in famous places like France, the United Kingdom, and Italy, are not found everywhere. (Pardon me if I forget to mention others.) Aside from that, buying my first suit on Savile Row may be a bit out of my league after owning two less-than-ideal off-the-rack suits. So I decide to find my tailor closer to home.

This post will be the first in a series about getting my first suit. A suit looks so simple to the eye. Pay a few hundred euros, get one off the rack, and you’re all set, right? Or not? In this first post, I’m going to make a plan for my first suit and provide some insights into where I’m coming from.