Cult Smashers: Part Seventeen

When they got back into the Jaguar and headed out into traffic, Sally announced that Nate had an appointment with a tailor. “We’re going to get you some clothes that will help you make the right impression.”

They drove around to one of the smaller neighbourhoods off “the main drag” and parked in front of a branch of one of the old established banks. Sally walked Nate over to an ordinary-looking door and tapped on an intercom. “Hey Nadine, it’s Sally. I’ve got that kid that I talked about on the phone. We need you to take some measurements and look at cloth.” The door buzzed and she opened it.

Behind the door was a set of very old wooden steps that had wrought iron treads screwed onto them to halt the wear that had already scalloped the wood. She bounded up them two steps at a time, with Nate hustling to keep up. She was in pretty darn good shape! They stopped at the top landing and went in a door with a number on it and a faded, fly-specked sign that said “Tailoring”.

They were greeted by a 60ish blonde woman with stooped shoulders, pinz nez glasses with a fine chain pinned to her vest, and, a tailor’s tape hanging around her neck and down her shoulders. She saluted Sally with a smile “Great to see you.” and turned her gaze to Nate. “So this is the turnip you want dressed up into a truffle?” Nate didn’t have a clue about her accent other than to place it in the Eastern part of Europe. “Well, first we get some measurements.” She pulled a moleskin notebook out of a side pocket and a mechanical pencil from another.

“OK. Stand still while I size you up.” She wrote something in her book. “Lift your arms to your sides. Good.” She mumbled something unintelligible and scribbled some more. “Now snarl at me so I see all your teeth and the pupils of your eyes---like this.” She made a fierce face. “Hmmm.” More notes. “OK.”
Nate asked her “Aren’t you going to take measurements?”

She laughed, “Honey, when you’ve done this as long as I have, all you need to do is look.”

Then she addressed Sally, “Now let’s look at cloth.” She walked over to a long table with various bolts on it. “Sally, what do you think about this for a suit?”

“I see what you are thinking, but I’m not sure. He needs something to make him look impressive but also ‘free-spirited’ at the same time.”

“Yes. I thought you might. As you can see, there is a bold print---but the colours are muted. More importantly, this type of cloth keeps a crease well and drapes just like an conventionally expensive suit. I was thinking a two piece suit with a four button top. He could wear a tailored silk shirt with a Nehru collar under it. Think Madame Blavatsky mixed with Conrad Black.”

“Yes. You get what I’m looking for. Why not make three different suits following your own ideas?”

“Fine. Will that be all?”

“No, we also need some ‘dress down’ and ‘at home’ clothes. I’m thinking home clothes and work out togs. Not everything needs to be ‘power presentation’---but they have to be expensive quality and ‘out there’ enough to present the image that he’s a man of mystery.”

“OK. How about a couple cheongsams for ‘at home’ wear? I can knock out a few with expensive cloth. I can also add in a couple matching pill-box hats, trousers, and, an embroidered vest.”

“Yeah. That would work. And for exercise clothes?”

“I’ve got some pictures. How about this French cheese-maker’s smock? Only instead of the tough denim in this picture, we can use a fine linen. We can make matching, draw-string pants out of rough linen, in a different colour. I’d say earth tones---green tops and brown bottoms.”

“It’s certainly worth a try. How long do you think it will take you to be ready for the first fitting?”

“Well, I’m moderately busy---but for the Elders I will put these to the top of the list if necessary.”

“It is.”

“OK. How about the second Thursday of the next month?”

“That will do fine. See you then.”

“Always a pleasure. See yourself out.”

When they’d got back to the car Nate was a bit concerned. “Really, you want me to wear all that stuff? I think I’d feel like a clown wearing that get-up.”

“Of course you would. That’s why I am going to bust your ass with work to get you to the point where you will act as if you are totally at home wearing that sort of nonsense!”

&&&&&

Furthermore I say unto you, the Climate Emergency must be dealt with!