Hello everyone, and welcome to another of my reviews. In this article, I’ll review my image consultancy experience with the local tailor Sors Studio.
Unlike other tailors, Gary sees himself as an image consultant and prides himself on his stylish advice. I should know—I have visited Sors Studio on numerous occasions over the years and chronicled my experiences here, here, here, and here. So, when I was seeking to add a unique piece to my wardrobe, Gary was the first person I approached. Let’s see how my experience went.
Sors Studio – YouTube Video
Those interested in a short look at Gary’s image consultancy services can watch the YouTube video below:
Sors Studio – My 2024 Experience
Sors Studio is located along Arab Street on the second floor of a shophouse.
Just look for the patterned mailbox – you can’t miss it.
The showroom remains identical to my previous visits, save for different clothing on the mannequins.
The clothing on the mannequins is significantly more striking than that you usually see at tailors. Patterned shirts are proudly displayed, signalling Gary’s penchant for flashier styles.
The customers’ orders, which included an intriguing leather biker jacket, reflect the more adventurous style.
However, make no mistake – Sors Studio is a bona fide tailoring house and carries a wide catalogue of fabrics for customers to choose from. From Gianfranco Fila (HST’s made-in-Italy fabric) to European fabrics such as Huberross, Sors Studio carries every shade, pattern and texture that one may need.
When I walked through the door of Sors Studio, a cute patterned shirt caught my eye. After greeting me, Gary turned the mannequin around to show me the shirt’s nifty secret – a biker’s pocket at the back, which allows cyclists to store their phones. As a cyclist himself, Gary shared that biking tights often don’t come with pockets, so he thought of integrating one at the back of the shirt instead. This illustrates Gary’s creativity and exemplifies how he often thinks outside the box when it comes to clothing.
Sors Studio’s unique selling point has always been Gary’s ability to tailor (pun intended) his styling advice to the customer’s needs and body. As such, I decided to show Gary my current suit collection and informed him that I was looking to commission a versatile jacket that could be used for both work and events.
After analysing my suit collection, Gary suggested that I add a green jacket to the mix. Green is one of the most popular colours of the season and is an incredibly versatile colour. While I’ve done green jackets before—most recently with Suit Commune and Michael Tailors—Gary conveyed that a medium-shade green jacket would complement my skin tone better than lighter pastel greens or darker, cooler greens.
Gary then showed me a few different shades of green for me to consider. After pouring through multiple books, I eventually narrowed my choices down to a textured British Racing green (left, above) and a pine green fabric from Calvino (right, above). After some back-and-forth, I ultimately settled upon the latter as I felt the textured green fabric was a tad reminiscent of my suit from The Suited Label.
After deciding on the fabric, I opted to leave the design of the jacket to Gary and was excited to see how he would imbue his creative spin on the clothing.
After a month (which included a fitting session in between), I returned to Sors Studio to collect the finished jacket. I’ve previously elaborated at length on Gary’s measurement and basted fitting processes, so do read that article if you’re interested in learning more.
One of the surprises was that Gary opted for a bright pink floral lining for the jacket. I wouldn’t have expected pink and green to work together, but both colours complemented each other well. Gary shared that this is because both colours are on the opposite ends of the colour wheel, making them an ideal pairing. Furthermore, green and pink often occur in nature (think sakura flowers and green leaves/branches), making the floral theme on point as well.
Gary topped off the look by recommending a pink pocket square so that a touch of pink would be visible even when the jacket is buttoned. I immediately fell in love with the pine green jacket—it complements my skin tone well.
I decided to wear the jacket with the white shirt and grey/pink checkered trousers from my first Sors Studio commission. The garments still fit well, even though it’s been over five years since I commissioned them. The pink lining of the suit highlights the pink checks of the trousers, which is an added bonus.
Above all, I’m pleased that Gary understood the assignment perfectly. I wanted a jacket that could be worn for both work and events, and this pine green jacket definitely delivered on that front. When paired with a crisp white shirt and grey checkered trousers (as seen above), it’s a look that subtly stands out while remaining professional.
In fact, I loved the look so much that I decided to do an additional vest, trousers and shirt with Gary to transform the pine green jacket into a proper three-piece suit. I left the fabric and execution to Gary – I wanted to see what else he could cook up with.
After another 2-3 weeks, I returned to Sors Studio, where I discovered that Gary had made me a lavender shirt, forest green checkered trousers, and a matching vest.
The vest features a full lining at the back, which displays another floral artwork in its full glory. Gary is known for such lined vests—it was what drew me to Sors Studio over five years ago.
Worn together as a three-piece suit, the entire ensemble is striking without coming across as ostentatious. Gary’s use of mismatched green shades is deliberate—his intention was to create a look that was subtly intriguing, and he absolutely nailed it.
Sors Studio 2024 – Suit Review
Let’s now take a closer look at the suit.
Although the jacket fabric was not “branded”, the cotton-linen fabric still felt comfortable and breathable on the skin, with a subtle tweed-like texture for some visual intrigue.
To enhance the jacket further, there’s an intriguing machine stitching on the lapel (Gary’s spin on traditional pick stitching). We went with a more conventional notch lapel, as a peak lapel would have made the look a tad over the top.
As I initially commissioned the jacket as a standalone sports blazer, Gary decided on patch pockets for a more casual look. Nevertheless, I find that they work well with the three-piece look, giving it a slightly retro vibe.
The sleeves also feature surgeon cuffs and contrasting stitching on the third buttonhole. This is a signature at Sors Studio, meant to highlight the last buttoned button (and therefore also the functional nature of the buttonholes).
Despite the flourishes, Sors Studio does not compromise on fit. Gary took great pains during the fitting session to ensure that my back (my most problematic area) draped nicely. The end result is impressive, with one of the cleanest drapes to date.
The jacket is half-lined on the inside for added breathability. I love the resplendent nature of the pink floral lining – it’s really a sight to behold and juxtaposes perfectly with the pine-green fabric.
The vest is no slouch either, with Gary opting for a double-breasted design for more aplomb. Notice how the checks are aligned perfectly when the vest is buttoned – this pattern matching is a testament to Gary’s eye for details.
When worn alone, the forest green vest pairs surprisingly well with the lavender shirt. Gary shared that he once again drew his inspiration from flora, particularly lilacs (lilacs are naturally green and purple). The horn buttons, which are identical to those on the jacket, complete the look.
Of course, a Sors Studio vest wouldn’t be a Sors Studio vest without Gary’s signature back panelling. This time around, he went with a lovely aquamarine lining accented with pink lotus flowers. It’s a sight to behold and is definitely a conversation starter.
I also appreciate the crispness and intricate details of the floral print. Up close, the print is even more impressive and undeniably unique—this is not a lining one finds in a fabric book.
The same applies to the shirt’s cuff trimmings, which feature a gorgeous baby blue paisley print. Not only is the blue paisley print thematically coherent with the floral linings of the jacket and vest, but it also reflects the navy paisley trimmings of the trousers (seen in the background of the photo above).
This vest/shirt combo is stunning—even without the suit jacket. Usually, with the three-piece suit, one runs the risk of looking like a waiter/valet without the suit jacket. That’s not the case here, as the vest, trousers and shirt combination more than holds its own. If anything, the look is even more fashion-forward without the jacket due to the vest’s striking floral lining.
Overall, I love the look that Gary has crafted for me. From the get-go, I told Gary that I wanted something different to add to my (rather substantial) suit collection, and he certainly delivered on the assignment. From intriguing colour combinations to unique linings, Gary has created a three-piece suit that truly stands out.
Conclusion – so Sors Studio “shiok” or not?
If you’re simply looking for a cookie-cutter black/navy/grey suit, there are plenty of local tailors who can deliver. However, if you’re in the market for something a little more special to stand out, then Sors Studio will be right up your alley. To me, the raison d’etre of Sors Studio is Gary’s image consultancy services, and that’s something you can’t find elsewhere. And despite the bespoke nature of his styling advice and linings, prices are very affordable, making Sors Studio a great choice for both the styleless and the stylish.
For those interested in tailoring with Sors Studio, a half-canvassed 2-piece mixed wool suit starts at just $780, while a vest starts at $240. Meanwhile, shirts start at $170, and trousers start at $150. My specific ensemble (three-piece suit and a shirt) costs $1300: $220 for the shirt, $260 for the vest, $240 for the pants, and $580 for the jacket. That’s relatively affordable in today’s market, especially considering Gary’s bespoke design touches and the fact that he throws in a pocket square and lining for free. Furthermore, readers can also enjoy package pricing on shirts and pants – 10% off 3 pieces, 15% off 5 pieces, and 20% off 8 pieces. If you’re looking to flesh out your wardrobe with unique pieces, I highly recommend Sors Studio. Do note that appointments are heavily recommended.
Sors Studio’s Location: 34 Arab Street #02-01 Singapore 199733.
P.S: Check out The Shiok Store here – it serves as a curation of my favourite products from my favourite brands.
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P.P.P.P.S Shiok is a common word Singaporeans use to express admiration or approval. As of 2016, you can find the definition of the word in the Oxford English Dictionary.
