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Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
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?
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,230 |
Well, I know the word, but would normally just say tailored, or custom-tailored, since it's not a word in common use here.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 13,858 |
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
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
yep, i'd recognise it, as the opposite to off the peg clothing.
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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
I don't think I've ever used it myself, but I recognise it from signs for bespoke tailors.
Bingley
Bingley
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555
addict
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addict
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 555 |
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
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,296 |
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!
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 7,210 |
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...
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Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 4,757 |
http://www.leeds.gov.uk/armleymills/armpeg.htmlGoogle trawls about 11,800 pages, a random survey of which seems to confirm this is at least predominantly a UK expression.
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Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613 |
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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Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289
veteran
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veteran
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,289 |
Helen, I know the word, but have never used it since I have never been able to afford bespoke clothes.
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Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,624 |
When you're my shape, if you want a suit to fit then getting one made is the ONLY option, believe me.
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,154 |
Just got back from England and parts continental and heard "bespoke" everywhere. Bespoke suits, bespoke computer desks (customized to your gadget collection), and a tour bus we had to reserve space at least one day ahead as they only handled bespoke tours.
I love the fact that when you hear of something obscure once it will immediately start popping up everywhere.
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