I have to say that it has been a blessing and a joy to meet Mr. Nicholas Hansen, proprietor of Nicholas Joseph Chicago Custom Tailors, who has not only become a firm friend but also my main supplier of fine suits, shirts and gentlemanly accessories. I was lucky enough to go to Halo for Men’s Elm Street Salon and Spa for The Man and met both Bob Patrazi (owner of Halo) and Nick, who were already friends and turned out to be the perfect pair for my styling needs. With our common interests and hard work ethic, a trifecta flourished, and that trifecta was groomed by Halo, draped in Nicholas Joseph and rocked by The Underground.



The great thing about Nick’s clothing is it solves all those problems about dressing men we usually encounter. The choices are available to custom your suits, shirts and accessories are endless. Thanks to Nick’s years of extensive designing and travels for fabrics, he has amassed a huge selection of linings, materials, patterns, colors, buttons, lapels, vests styles, pant legs and pockets (my favorite being the Blackberry Pocket, a discreet but perfectly placed chest pocket making it easy for you to feel your annoyance vibrate). With so many options it is easy to put together suits that are unique and edgy or sophisticated and simple.

Nick’s obsession with custom clothing began when he returned from an overseas trip where he had purchased his first hand tailored custom suit and custom dress shirts - he was sucked into the moment he tried them on. “It is the fit… no wait, it is the styling options… no, it is definitely the custom fit,” he explains. Returning home he was disappointed to find that the only high quality, reputable custom suit shops that existed in the U.S. were charging four times or more what he had paid overseas. It became Nick’s mission to make men’s custom clothing a viable every day option and not just a special treat.



The prices at Nicholas Joseph allow men to fill their closets with well tailored, hard wearing attire and making it look effortless. Unintentionally Nick has given Chicago men the opportunity to be able to dress to the nines quickly and without much thought. Believe me there is nothing easier than grabbing a 3 piece suit, the perfect shirt and tie, chucking it on and leaving the house knowing you look great in record time. Any woman I’ve asked what men look best in the majority have said a suit and shirt and tie. Let’s face it men, it’s why we do what we do!



Now at 32 I have finally found a way to still give my clothing some attitude while still looking like a gentleman. Behind-the-scenes Nick has three lifelong expert custom tailors—shirt, jacket and pants. Each has European training and has been creating custom clothing by hand for more than 50 combined years. Each of the items they have created for me has been a joy to wear. In addition to the three locations in Chicago, Nick has clients across the U.S. and Canada and is constantly being introduced to other friends and associates by loyal clients every day. It seems that affordable custom tailored clothing is inspiring to others just like it has been for Nicholas and me.



Thanks so much Nick. You make it effortless for me to look good!

- Benjamin Newby, CoutURe Contributor