Goldfinger Reunion
JDRF has one mission. . . to find a cure.
James Bond and friends have one mission. . . to help JDRF.
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation excels in diabetes research and advocacy, and in conjunction
with JDRF donors and sponsors worldwide is campaigning to accelerate the cure for diabetes.
For teens, kids and collegiates living with Type 1 Diabetes, JDRF is the world's best hope.
This was a party to celebrate and further JDRF's many accomplishments as we benefit the Foundation...
Morning at Turnbull and Asser
I am quite lucky that my occupation allows me to travel quite a bit and my on my last business
trip to
In this particular case I spent an hour at Turnbull and Asser before my first meeting of the day
which was happily only a few blocks away. T&A were expecting me as I had ordered one of
the limited edition tuxedo shirts which had to be ordered from the UK and I told them I
wanted it to be altered (the shirt is a classic cut, rather droopy and baggy) in the store.
It was a crisp morning and NYC was already in high gear as I approached the store front.
Those of you who have had the pleasure of visiting the store know it absolutely reeks of
class even before you walk in the door.
This visit I noticed an unusual amount of vans outside…construction seemed to be
the word of the day. Once inside the establishment I was greeted by an attractive
young woman who announced me. As I was looking for Felix Berrios, the gent that
helped me on the phone and ordered my tuxedo package, I was shown to the
second floor where a few construction types were altering some lights. Along
the wall were glass displays of Winston Churchill’s robe, pictures of the different
James Bond actors, and other vintage Turnbull and Asser clothes. All the clothing
and accessories were displayed with meticulous detail and care giving one the feeling
that the smallest item had great meaning. Other than myself and one other patron the
store was empty. Felix greeted me enthusiastically remembering right away that I
was the patron on the phone that was coming in to have a Casino Royale tux shirt
altered. He asked me to try on the shirt in a beautifully appointed dressing room and
as I buttoned the shirt I noticed the shirt was much softer than I expected. For some
reason I can’t explain t thought the shirt, with its waffle weave would be a bit starchy.
The 140s fabric draped, as I expected, in a baggy fashion and I was immediately
relieved I was in the
I just didn’t know how well. As I exited I saw Felix holding a series of measuring tapes
waiting for me. Instead of approaching him I moved slowly to my bag and dug around
finding my camera. I sheepishly pulled the camera out and steadied myself for the
strangest of looks as I asked Felix if someone could take pictures of me being measured
in the tux shirt, like the different Bond actors have done so many times before.
I began to OVER explain myself telling him I was a huge Bond fan and this was
a big deal for me. Much to my surprise, and happiness, I was not met with strange
looks at all. In fact Felix grabbed the camera from me and said, “Mr. Zaritsky, let’s
make this a memory you will have forever. Come with me.” I followed him up to
the third floor where the majority of construction was going on. I glanced to my
right at a pile of beautifully glazed wood. “The bar for our clients,” Felix stated in
a matter of fact way. Lovely. A stiff drink and a soft shirt. I loved the concept.
As the third floor is their bespoke area there were more clothing assistants on this
level, all of them impeccably dressed, and me with my baggy tuxedo shirt. Felix
asked me to stand in front of a series of wooden shelves and he would be right
back with a surprise. Inspecting my surroundings I saw patterns and swatches
everywhere and a huge book opened to a series of pictures of Sean Connery
being measured for a shirt and suit. As I was taking in the atmosphere of gentlemanly
stations I heard Felix enter the room again. “Mr. Zaritsky, I would like to introduce
you to James Cook. “ I greeted this new gentleman who had an instant air of
confidence and a firm handshake. Then he said it---“James measured Daniel Craig
for his tuxedo shirt and now he is going to measure you for yours.” So this is
one of those fan boy moments when you muster up all your maturity and act
nonchalant about it…but inside I was a screaming girl.
How cool would this be? In Turnbull and Asser, wearing a Casino Royale tuxedo
shirt, being measured by the tailor that measured Bond, James Bond. I silently
gave a prayer that Felix was a decent photographer as James Cook went about
measuring me.
A tuck there, a nip there, need to bring this in, shorten the sleeves and he was
done. These two gents could not have been more patient and nicer to me.
I truly believe they knew they were creating a special Bond moment for me.
Cook chatted with me for some time after the fitting explaining how he
moved from
grandfather used to swim in Ian Fleming’s pool when Ian was in
to the second floor by their VIP elevator. Once we were settled in
again he showed me the reissued Bond ties they carried. Most of
them I had and there was one from Goldeneye that I didn’t have yet
so I had to pick it up. As I was paying for the shirt and tie yet another
gent who works there approached me and mentioned he heard I was
a big Bond fan (word travels quickly in a NYC store). He began to
tell me all the anguish that Turnbull and Asser corporate has had since
they announced Dunhill would be the next clothier for Bond 22.
They felt a bit jilted, I would say and he mentioned many of the product
placement companies were being left behind for “new faces”. Felix
explained to me that Simon was one of the Turnbull and Asser tailors that
flew to the
producers actually told Craig at one point to stop his workout regime because
he was getting too big. Cannonballs on his shoulders, is how Simon described
them. They gave me a good twelve hours of excitement when they mentioned
they did the white
the next day and they verified that it was a Diesel shirt that THEY only altered…rats).
All of this transpired within a one hour time period but I was never made to feel
rushed or that I was inconveniencing them. It was a special morning and gave
me an extra skip and jump for my meetings that I was a part of for the remainder
of the day. Less than a week later, the memory still fresh in my head, I received
a beautifully wrapped box from Turnbull and Asser with my perfectly altered
shirt, box and bow tie. And I tell you, that shirt may fray over time, but my
memory of that morning at Turnbull and Asser will not.