I’ve often extolled the virtues of penny wisdom- making a few crucial luxury investments, mixing it up with the affordable; in tandem, a look that makes you look dressed above your paygrade. Thus far, I’ve been sensible (the wife would disagree) but just sometimes a boy can dream (the wife will frown at the expenditure) because just about everything can be custom made these days.

Custom Made from Head to Toe

Head: Eyewear – Oliver Goldsmith

A family run business of over 80 years, Oliver Goldsmith was instrumental in elevating this humble vision enabling eyewearl into the ranks of must have fashion accessory- starting with shades and eventually, handmade frames under the auspices of Claire Goldsmith (Yes, it’s a family business). Working with craftsmen in England, Italy, Germany and Japan, the Goldsmiths create bespoke custom sized frames- Get your Michael Caine on with Oliver Goldsmith or indulge your inner Clark Kent with Claire.

Torso: Shirts – Turnbull & Asser

I mentioned Indochino not too long ago but since we’re talking about the stuff of dreams, I shall cast our sights a little higher- Monsieurs, turn your gaze towards Turnbull & Asser. Weighing in at £275 per shirt, Turnbull and Asser are amongst the premium haberdashers of the upper crust. Favoured by James Bond since 1962 and most recently in Casino Royale, the the world renowned Jermyn Street shirt maker brings “the Art of Detail to life”. Precision fitted and luxuriously finished, don’t let the sub-par (I’ll be brutally honest, they can take it) website fool you. All Turnbull & Asser shirts are made in England, not homogenised in some back alley factory in Shenzhen somewhere. Think classic elegance. [Shop here]

The Tie – Ermenegildo Zegna

While Ermenegildo Zegna is best known for their suits, not many know that these Italian masters of bespoke not only make personalized suits but entire wardrobes- this concept is called “Su Misura”. This ideology espouses exacting sartorial excellence – apparel designed to meet your individual needs and exceed your desires. Ermenegildo Zegna’s “Su Misura” Service makes it possible to produce tailor-made suits, jackets, trousers, coats, shirts, ties in just a few weeks while maintaining the standards of quality for which Zegna is rightfully famous. [Shop here]

The Cardigan – Loro Piana

The biggest cashmere manufacturer in the west, Loro Piana sources the finest cashmere fibre from their offices in Ulan Baatar where the bales undergo ennoblement, dehairing and washing in Beijing before transformation in Italy into the luxurious yarns, accessories and knitwear we all love. [Shop here]

The Suit and Belt – Brioni

Specialising in hand made suits, Master tailor Nazareno Fonticoli and business partner Gaetano Savini opened their first suit shop in Rome’s Via Barberini at the end of World War II. Named for the Croatian Brijuni islands, Brioni has been the suit of choice Bonds Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig. It’s also rumoured to be the favourite of Donald “You’re Fired” Trump. [Shop here]

The Briefcase – Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton is synonymous to the hoi polloi (not meant offensively. maybe.) as luxury but props where props are due, they do know their stuff and they make some of the best trunks, suitcases and briefcases in the world. Everyone in the world carries LV but you can take it up a notch and go bespoke. [Shop here]

The Shoes – John Lobb

150 years ago, John Lobb himself began making bespoke boots and the heritage of designing and making shoes perfectly fitted to the contours of your feet continues today. It’s a painstaking and meticulous process involving 50 hours of skilled craftwork over a period of at least 2 monthsat their Parisian atelier at 32 rue de Mogador. Expensive? Yes. But you can’t really put a price tag on priceless art. [Shop here]