Darryl Tyler, the owner of what Ladue News has called Best Men’s Fashion Store for the last three years, has continued to see success at Tailored Gents of Savile Row.
“People style with us because they receive a more forgiving garment,” Tyler said of Tailored Gents, which is in downtown Clayton. “[Something] more detail oriented to really achieve the results we know the client wants.”
Among those clients is NBA superstar Jayson Tatum. “Who’s making your suits?” Tyler asked Tatum after they were connected through a mutual friend. He offered to make him one. That simple question and gesture led to a style partnership that has been going strong for three seasons.
Tyler credits the success of Tailored Gents to their process. It includes five to eight weeks of detailed measurements and fittings to help customers obtain a perfectly tailored suit.
“I don’t think it matters what fabrics you have on if it doesn’t fit,” Tyler said. “Our fitting process is the most efficient and achieves the best results in the market because we’re willing to take the time.”
For him, there are three critical elements that are non-negotiable for the creation of a great suit.
“You need a great fitter, someone who can make posture observations,” said Tyler. “You need great inner materials like canvassing, buttons, stitching – and lastly, you have to have great fabrics.”
Tailored Gents of Savile Row has hundreds of prints and fabrics to tailor their suits. They also carry ready to wear items like polos, knits, khakis and jeans – that can be customized – as well as luxury footwear.
Tyler started in the custom business while searching for clothing to fit his unique measurements. As a banker he wore professional attire, however he would often have to purchase larger sizes to achieve the correct arm and leg length.
He found a solution in an online ordering platform, J. Hilburn, where he worked with a stylist to create a wardrobe to fit his professional needs. He received many requests from staff to join the team, then in September 2013 he officially became a member of their team.
Tyler sold garments to his friends and colleagues. He worked for the company for two and a half years – and amassed a strong book of business. During his time there he became one of the top 10 male stylists. That was no small feat for a part-time employee.
While working with J. Hilburn, he was invited to a trade show in Chicago. He spoke with various companies and factories. He solidified vendors for his own business, Tailored Gents, which he founded in 2016.
He still worked as a banker when he launched the company.
“Putting my banking hat on I said, ‘It would be great to have a business I could run and also get my clothing at a discount,’” said Tyler.
He established his first storefront in 2018, in the location that once housed Doncaster women’s boutique. He still worked as a banker spending nights and weekends at the storefront.
“It was attractive to have that storefront even though I wasn’t there during the day,” Tyler said. “Because there was a well-known tailor next door, and we would feed each other.”
For four years, Tyler took on customers looking for custom suiting and sent those who already had a suit and just needed alterations to his neighbor.
This exchange was how he landed his first celebrity client. He was contacted by another tailor who had a client coming to St. Louis who needed alterations. He referred this client to his neighbor, not knowing it was veteran sportscaster – and St. Louis native – Joe Buck. Tyler was able to catch him while leaving an appointment next door. He struck up a quick conversation that ended with Buck agreeing to purchase a suit.
Last year, he finalized his merger with David Stockley – then owner of Savile Row. The date, February 28th, is one that he won’t forget. It was the same day, one year earlier, that he took a leap of faith after working in the banking industry for more than 22 years to work full-time as a custom clothier. The merging of his brand Tailored Gents with Savile Row has undoubtedly helped him grow his business. “I was looking at Savile Row,” he says, “They were our benchmark. Now with our combined volume, we feel we are the biggest custom shop in St. Louis and can shape what custom really is.”
Six years after he set up shop in his first storefront, Tyler is settled into his new space at 8101 Maryland Ave. He calls the location “the sexiest corner in Clayton.”
“We try to create an environment where people aren’t afraid to come in,” Tyler said. “I think it helps that everyone here is passionate about helping customers – and our product just happens to be clothing.”
For more information on Tailored Gents at Savile Row, visit www.tailoredgents.com