Murat European Custom Tailoring

I live approximately 2 blocks off of Montana Avenue so I am very familiar with the over-​priced nature of many of its stores. I can’t blame them given that the street is a tourist destination and thus must command very expensive monthly rent payments. When I frequent such a restaurant I don’t mind because pretty much every destination on Montana Avenue is very cool and there are always beautiful women around so … Well, I had never used a «Service» business on Montana because I figured I would spend much less if I simply drove a few blocks East away from the beach. However, I deviated from this Global Economy survival plan earlier today at the encouragement of my Optician friend (who is also located on Montana Avenue) after I asked him for a Tailor recommendation.
I get a kick out of my Optician and I suspect that we could or will become genuine friends as he is very funny, talented and simply a nice guy. Accordingly, when he recommended «Murat’s European Custom Tailoring» with the proviso that they are «a little expensive» I had a good idea of what the tailoring would cost me since I come from New York and in a prior professional life I had to actually wear nice clothes to work. However, out here in Los Angeles my work «uniform» consists of pressed Blue Jeans, a nice Collared Shirt, casual but respectable shoes and when the occasion calls for it — a nice Sports Jacket.
Since I won some cash on the Super Bowl and hadn’t splurged for nice clothes since Tom Brady led the Patriots to their first Super Bowl win, I took advantage of the amazing sales at «Macy’s» and went on a clothing shopping spree that might now technically categorize me as a «chick.» Well, as part of this «Pretty Woman» shopping experience I got me some BAD Sports Jackets — but they needed to be slightly altered to fit my 46-​year old «Jewish James Bond» physique. Enter — Mr. Tailor.
With the qualified Optician recommendation in my mind, I walked into the very nice and quaint store and met Mr. Tailor — a very nice guy and judging from his workmanship on display — a very talented professional. I explained the James Bond thing and how the world’s security could be affected by how well my two (2) new Sports Jackets fit my body and he seemed to be on board with the plan. I then tried on the firts Jacket and he started with the Pins. It looked like I needed the Cuffs fixed, the back of the Jacket «taken in» a bit and another minor alteration up by my collar. As he was wrapping up his measurements, I figured I might as well ask him how much it was going to cost because this is the city where spending money is a game and I don’t think my Bookie would have appreciated me spending all of my winnings on a Tailor. That is just a guy thing — the unwritten rule is that gambling winnings must be spent on «broads, booze and buddies.»
With the application of the «Macy’s» promotional discounts and various other customer loyalty discounts, each Jacket cost me approximately $ 300.00. Mr. Tailor obviously thought the Jackets each cost about $ 2,000.00 because he started to add the alteration costs out loud and before he got to my collar he was up to $ 150.00 — for just ONE JACKET!!! I explained that I knew he was going to be on the more expensive side and it looked like his work was excellent and should command such a premium price but when the cost of the alterations to a Sports Jacket start approaching the cost of the entire Sports Jacket there is something seriously wrong. I think I was very nice about my concerns and Mr. Tailor was certainly a consummate professional but I don’t think he understood the failed logic behind his store’s pricing policy. He didn’t own the store so I can’t blame him but …
I thanked him for his efforts and took my Sports Jackets with me in my search for another Tailor. However, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to stop by my Optician’s store and thank him for referring me to the world’s most expensive tailor. Now I wonder what he pays for haircuts?
In summary, this is a very nice store and Mr. Tailor seemed to be a very skilled professional but unless you literally have money to burn — find a more reasonably priced tailor or sew your own.