NEW YORK
- The man who dresses Tom Wolfe is a
Sicilian tailor who makes bespoke (handmade and
custom tailored) clothes in a tiny shop on Madison
Avenue. For more than 20 years America's most
fastidiously dressed writer has trusted Vincent
Nicolosi to make his garments.
The trust has been
earned. ''The first time I make a suit for Tom Wolfe
it takes seven fittings,'' says Nicolosi, dressed in
shirt-sleeves but wearing tie and cuff links.
``That's because I was making clothes for someone
who really knew tailoring, so I wanted to make sure
everything was perfect.''
The typical
bespoke suit takes no more than three fittings.
Nicolosi, who
makes clothes for important men from all over for
$4,000 to $7,000, insists Wolfe wears more than just
white. ``I make different color suits for him,
tuxedoes, overcoats.''
On a mannequin and
destined for the writer is a camel-colored cashmere
English riding overcoat. Elsewhere there are Wolfe
garments in the making -- and Wolfe photographs,
paintings and other memorabilia.
A white flannel
suit with a Norfolk jacket (deep pleats on the
shoulders and a belt of the same material in the
back). A silk dinner jacket, also white.
Nicolosi opens the
garments to reveal the workmanship as well as the
many inside pockets. ''Six pockets -- for comb, pen,
cellphone, everything,'' says Nicolosi. He adds with
pride: ``nothing false, everything true.''
Which sounds like
what his client would say about his writing. Two
fine craftsmen made for each other.
