Custom Couture with William & Lauren
Welcome to the Bespoke World of Lauren Warkentine.
Would it surprise you to know that custom-made clothing is one of the purest joys on the face of the planet? Truer words may never be spoken. And since we’re speaking of bespoke, can you really think of any greater luxury than immaculately tailored clothing, lovely in every detail, made precisely the way you prefer and fitted to perfection? The experience of choosing every detail of a made-to-measure suit or jacket is a giddy one, astoundingly energizing and fun—but only if you are in the hands of an expert.
In Oklahoma, Lauren Warkentine is that expert. Her atelier, William & Lauren, is housed on the ground floor of one of Oklahoma City’s newest iconic buildings at (and named) 701 N. Hudson. Her studio and shop are awash in natural light, as relaxing as a spa or your best friend’s house, and the perfect place to craft the wardrobe you’ve always dreamed of.
Warkentine started her company in 2015, and for her, necessity really was the mother of invention. “I was working a traditional job and was often the only young female executive in the room. Finding suits and professional workwear that fit well was tough. Or I’d find something that fit, but I didn’t feel feminine in it,” she says. Warkentine remembers one particular dinner meeting as the watershed event that ultimately launched William & Lauren. “I felt so uncomfortable at that dinner. I just sat there in my uncomfortable suit, thinking that there’s got to be something better.”
Lauren Warkentine and client Katherine Mazaheri
William & Lauren clients often start with a jacket.
Loads of research turned up zero custom suit makers catering to women, so Warkentine began polling her friends and colleagues. Nobody was thrilled with the selection of suits available, and both men and women needed a better option. She embarked on a self-directed crash course in haberdashery, learning about pattern making, fabrics, fit and design. “Many places take a man’s pattern and adapt it to women,” she says. That explains a lot. Of course, William & Lauren engages in no such foolishness. Women’s suit patterns are cut for women; men’s are cut for men.
Some 800 suits later, Warkentine has more than hit her stride. Her clients rely on her for all manner of custom clothing and concierge shopping, including shirts, formalwear, suits, pants, skirts, ties, tuxedos, blazers, velvets and more. “My clients run the gamut; I’d say mostly from late 20s to 40s. They’re in their go-go-go years and want quality, and they’re willing to pay for quality.”
At William & Lauren, clients choose every detail, from button style to fabrics to stitching and more.
It often starts with a blazer. “We work together to choose every component,” she says. That means fabric, lining, buttons, buttonholes, monogram, lapel style, blazer cut and more. A bespoke blazer fitting involves 10 measurements; for a suit it’s 15. “The average appointment time is 45 minutes, but we never rush.” Someone who wishes to thoroughly investigate her fabric options, for example, may need two or more hours, and that’s just fine with Warkentine.
After measurements are taken and decisions decided, the next step is the waiting, and Tom Petty is right: It’s the hardest part. Four weeks or so later, the garment arrives back at Warkentine’s atelier, and another fitting ensues. “Sixty percent of the time, we don’t need to adjust a single thing,” she says. But the point is a perfect fit, so when fine-tuning is needed, it’s worth embracing. The resulting garments will be instant favorites, made for you and you alone.
Customize Everything
We’ve compiled a short list of talented ateliers who can make your bespoke dreams come true. Enjoy!
Stella Thomas Designs
Utopia Boutique
4817 South Peoria Avenue
Tulsa, OK 74105
(918) 712-7355
stellathomas.com
Beautiful custom women’s clothing, wraps, bridal, wearable art and jewelry.
Steven Giles Clothing
5850 N Classen Blvd
Bldg. B Suite One
Oklahoma City, OK 73118
(405) 607-4633
stevengilesclothing.com
Bespoke and ready-to-wear gentlemen’s clothier, both a complete attire companion and essential guide to style for those who seek fine clothing for today’s lifestyles.
Shorty’s Caboy Hattery
1007 South Agnew Avenue,
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
(405) 232-4287
Shortyshattery.com
Lavonna “Shorty” Koger started Shorty’s Caboy Hattery in 1990 in historic Stockyards City. Shorty has the only woman-owned and operated custom hattery in the United States.
Little Joe’s Boots
2219 Exchange Ave.
Oklahoma City, OK 73108
(405) 236-2650
littlejoesboots.net
Little Joe's Boots has been in historical Stockyards City since the 1950s and carries multiple lines of custom handmade boots and clothing.