Living Poetry

Photography: Thanos Asfis
Styling: Vassilis Bourtsalas
Location: Poseidonion Grande Hotel

Editor: Katerina Theocharis

It is more than obvious how I admire the people behind Sciamat, Nicola and Valentino Ricci. The reason is that they don’t just make beautiful clothes. They create poetry. They create clothes that are whimiscal, confident, sexy and they manage to travel you through time… To an era of elegant manners, morality, sophistication and most of all love for arts, crafts, materials and quality.

These utterly poetic tailors couldn’t be represented by anyone else than Vassilis Bourtsalas, the owner of Bespoke Athens, Sciamat’s official retailer in Greece. Mr. Bourtsalas, a person with a great culture in men’s tailoring and high fashion, but most of all with the vision to initiate Greece into the worldwide circuit of haute couture for gentlemen, recognized Sciamat’s singularity straight away. Therefore, he became part of their development as a businessman, but most of all as a true and loyal friend.

On my latest trip to Spetses, I lodged in one of the most historical and vitally luxurious hotels in Greece, Poseidonion Grand Hotel. The hotel, which first opened in 1914, represented the cosmopolitan face of the picturesque island and soon became one of its famous landmarks, a favorite destination for high society, royalty and wealthy Athenians. Therefore, I am really proud to present this aristocratic suit into this beautiful and elegant hotel.

The look

Valentino and Nicola Ricci deeply respect and adore handmade, therefore they are dedicated to bespoke tailoring. A Sciamat jacket could be recognized among thousands due to the unique tailoring. Their British-Italian style jacket with the high collar, the wide lapel, the bold breast and the delicate waist looks gracious and majestic, yet artistic, boheme and rock.

The aristocratic suit that accompanied my stay in Poseidonion Grand hotel consists of a 4-button pied-de-poule double breasted jacket and matching pants. The exact jacket, due to Sciamat’s main aim to achieve liberation through the freedom of movement, is totally unlined, as they have even avoided the use of canvas. The result is a super-light, comfortable, yet stylish and luxurious garment.

Pied-de-poule, is a pattern originated in Scotland in the 1800s, firstly worn by shepherds as an outerwear. During the 1930s pied-de-poule (or houndstooth in English) was commonly worn by the upper class as a symbol of wealth. It is a duotone textile pattern characterized by broken checks or abstract four-pointed shapes, often in black and white. A distinctive and sophisticated pattern that could be proudly worn anytime, bringing severe sartorial elegance to every outfit.

A 100% silk black tie, my favorite watch by Longines, a pair of bespoke Oxford black leather shoes, a white 100% cotton pochette by Simonot Godard and a vintage black leather bag that belongs to mr. Grigoriou’s personal collection, beautifully complemented my outfit.