In Conversation With: Juan Carlos Benito, Bespoke Tailor at Monte Lys

When it comes to menswear, St James’s is already a spectacular sight, but new bespoke tailor Monte Lys will soon have your jaw dropping even further.

The newest addition to our neighbourhood brings a level of sartorial elegance that’s enough to make anyone frantically search for their next suit-wearing occasion, and there’s one man behind the brand who’s responsible for it all.

Enter: Juan Carlos Benito, third-generation tailor born and raised in Madrid, now with a host of industry accolades and experience that sets him apart as one of the greatest on the scene.

In honour of Monte Lys’s new home on Bury Street, we spoke with Juan Carlos to get a sense of what to expect from the menswear destination, as well as his top picks for the season ahead.

Can you tell us about how your own journey began as a bespoke tailor?

My journey as a bespoke tailor began at a very young age. I am the 3rd generation of Monte Lys. As such, as a child I spent many hours in the family workshop helping out my father with little tasks such as counting buttons and folding fabrics up until the point where I was old enough to learn the family tailoring style from him.

Really tailoring is all I have ever known; it's something that runs deep in the family. My brother is a fabric merchant, my sister is a bespoke shirt maker ...and my other brother is the one that got away and is an architect!

Albeit it's in the family, tailoring is truly my passion. I get to do my favorite hobby on a daily basis when I cut suits as I find the entire process therapeutic in many ways. And when I am at home you'll find me with in one hand a vintage tailoring publication that I collect and in the other a nice Cuban cigar, another passion of mine. There's no getting away from tailoring for me to be honest, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

What influences do you draw on in your work? 

The obvious influences come from the knowledge imparted to me from my father and grandfather. My cutting style derives from theirs but now with my own spin put on it from my own experiences, including from my time as a head cutter for one of the houses on Savile Row.

Most importantly, the clients I meet are a huge source of inspiration to me. I aim to capture a part of their personalities in the work that I do. Perhaps altering the curve of the lapel somewhat in a way that in my eye as a cutter best displays my tailoring and their personality.

Finally, let's not forget the sources of inspiration that can be found in old films and media. It's impossible not to watch a film featuring the likes of Fred Astaire (my grandfather actually worked on some of his garments when he apprenticed at Kilgour on Savile Row back in the 1930’s) and Cary Grant and not be inspired by their impeccable self-presentation.

What made you choose St James’s for Monte Lys?

The area truly has it all! Artisanal heritage businesses, members clubs, cigars, art galleries, restaurants you name it, St James’s has it. It feels to me like a community of artisans with the underlying spirit of a classic gentleman's playground.

I often find a vast amount of my clientele frequent the area almost daily whether it's for work or to lounge in their members club which makes it particularly handy for them to come and pay a visit to their favorite tailor and commission a garment or be fitted.

What sort of items can we expect to see at Monte Lys?

Predominantly, our items are made bespoke as per a customer's order. So, the items we are selling aren’t stocked but designed and built gradually from a collaboration between us as tailors and the clients as the end user.

This being said we do cater to the full menu of tailored garments both formal and casual. We proudly offer a small, limited run of ready to wear garments and accessories that are designed to capture the spirit of the brand such as: sports jackets, suede blousons, pocket squares and overshirts to name a few.

Do you have any personal style tips or advice that has stuck with you?

For me, the blueprint to follow is to keep it classic with a small injection of personality. There is a reason why classic features are considered ‘classic’ - it's because they work.

As such, there is no need to deviate from a tried and tested formula that is equally as correct today as it would have been 60 years ago.

What trends/styles are you predicting or hoping to see throughout the rest of 2026?

The return of the three-piece suit in daily wear. Jacket. Waistcoat. Trousers. You heard it here first!

Marking the arrival of Monte Lys in St James's, the brand has launched a new house tweed, aptly named "The Bury Tweed". Woven in Scotland, this design is exclusive to Monte Lys and is available now in-store on Bury Street.

Explore more fashion in St James's and see how to make the most of spring in the neighbourhood with our new-season guide.