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#109183 08/03/03 07:22 PM
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of troy Offline OP
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i used the word bespoke with a friend, (who is very book-learn'd, but has no knowledge of common social trends or fashion) and he looked at me as if i was speaking in tongues.

I have always used bespoke to define custom made to measure, hand taylored suits (well, men's suits!)

does anyone else use this word?


#109184 08/03/03 07:34 PM
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Well, I know the word, but would normally just say tailored, or custom-tailored, since it's not a word in common use here.


#109185 08/03/03 07:45 PM
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wwh Offline
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Dear of troy: I never heard or saw the word until about a year ago here, but can't remember which thread. My father had all his suits tailor made. I had just one. There used to be three tailors in the small town where I grew up. Now there isn't a single one. Only the wealthy and ultrafastidious, plus those unfortunates who can't find what they need at Wal-Mart "bespeak" clothing now.

Here's the URL to first post on "bespeak"
http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=14319&Search=true&Forum=All_Forums&Words=bespeak&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=allposts

http://makeashorterlink.com/?Q26415A75

by Capital Kiwi


#109186 08/03/03 08:21 PM
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yep, i'd recognise it, as the opposite to off the peg clothing.


#109187 08/04/03 01:43 AM
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I don't think I've ever used it myself, but I recognise it from signs for bespoke tailors.

Bingley


Bingley
#109188 08/04/03 02:56 AM
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addict
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I have heard this word used/used it, more commonly in the, 'be indicative of' sense. As in, 'his appearance bespoke wealth and breeding'.

What is the etymology of this usage (customised tailoring); does anyone know?

Here's wwh's link again:

http://wordsmith.org/board/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=words&Number=14319

#109189 08/04/03 03:09 AM
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So, gathering from Maverick's off the peg clothing above, we could have at one end of the spectrum an off the peg tailor and, at the other end, a bespoke tailor? How very odd. I've never heard either term in Virginia--but here on AWAD--ah! There's a difference here!


#109190 08/04/03 01:14 PM
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I, too, have never heard bespoke except in the way maahey references. I think here in the US, we'd say "off the rack", or perhaps "off the shelf". I've never heard "off the peg".



formerly known as etaoin...
#109191 08/04/03 10:50 PM
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http://www.leeds.gov.uk/armleymills/armpeg.html


Google trawls about 11,800 pages, a random survey of which seems to confirm this is at least predominantly a UK expression.

#109192 08/05/03 01:46 AM
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Last I knew, the world consisted of a bit more than Leeds...
I saw Ponden Mill, for whatever that wool's worth.


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