Sources: www.customshirt1.com

Years after he closed his Manhattan retail location in favor of life in rural Long Island, shirtmaker Alex Kabbaz realized he had a few dozen pair of unsold Zimmerli underwear in storage. He placed an ad on eBay, expecting to sell the goods in a couple of months. Instead, he sold out in a week and placed a call to Zimmerli asking if he could re-open his account. Three years later he sells more of that underwear than anyone else in the world.

Customshirt1.com has evolved over time into an online version of the past's great haberdashers like Sulka and Bowring & Arundel. Kabbaz is one of the world's best bespoke shirtmakers and he offers only carefully selected products that complement his customers' bespoke shoes and tailored clothing.

His newest line, hand made neckties from English tiemaker Seaward & Stearn was shown for the first time at last week's Collection of Sartorial Elegance exhibition in New York. S&S joins Zimmerli underwear, nightwear, sweaters and polos; hose by Pantherella and Marcoliani; Alex Begg cashmere scarves and Kabbaz's sublime custom shirts. All are available over the web (the neckties are not up as of this writing but should be soon) except for the shirts, which must be measured in person.

As you might expect, the service is as good as the merchandise. In stock items are shipped within 24 hours with package tracking and every effort is made to ensure that the items will be satisfactory. If all else fails, there is an equitable exchange policy.

A Plea for Striped Socks

Whenever I've noticed socks in a particularly stylish Apparel Arts drawing, they've tended to be versions with horizontal stripes, worn with suits. And since I first noticed them, I've been searching for over the calf versions with little success. You'd think someone would recognize opportunity knocking.

Granted, Edward Green's London store had several colorways about five years ago but they've stopped offering them. Mine are worn out. And since, whenever I've heard of some they've turned out to be sport socks. Or atrocities.

I've come across several sources for interesting socks along the way.

A source for polka dots in a cotton sport version is Buffalo's O'Connell's Clothing. You can view the merchandise but need to call to place an order.

Another is the Kabbaz Kelly online haberdashery. In addition to being the leading source for Pantherella hose on the planet, Kabbaz offers some wonderful wool OTC Marcolianis in a variety of restrained and not so restrained polka dots.

But stripes are nowhere to be found.