Matthew A. “Duke” Weaver Jr. lived life with his best foot forward, along with his best slacks, vests, coats, hats and glasses.
Weaver was a haberdasher and style consultant to two generations of Atlanta men and women. He dressed his clients well, including former Real Housewives of Atlanta sidekick Dwight Eubanks, but clothed himself well and then some.
Atlanta lawyer Thomas. G. “Woody” Sampson, joined his father’s firm, Thomas Kennedy Sampson & Tomkins, and needed a nice spread of suits, and Weaver was there for him.
“He was doing suits for my dad for 30 years,” he said.
Famous for his personal touch, Weaver would not just sell suits and walk away. He would come to Sampson’s home to help him pick out his best dark suit and tie combinations for big trials. His father, Thomas Sr., would get a little more colorful with his own wardrobe, but Weaver himself wore cutting-edge ensembles.
“My dad has a little more flamboyant style than I do, but Matthew was on a level beyond that,” Sampson said.
His outfits were impeccable, of the latest style and cued up with personal flourishes. And he did not dress only for events. He dressed impressively whether out for an evening or just dropping in, Sampson said.
His sense of style and his reputation turned him into a set-piece on the African-American fashion scene in Atlanta.
Faith Swift, who photographs fashion events in Atlanta, would always shoot him when he showed up, and she put together a collection of those photos on Weaver’s Facebook page for his friends to enjoy.
He died suddenly June 27 from a stroke, said Sampson’s father, Thomas Sampson.
The elder lawyer said he met Weaver in the Buckhead men’s shop The Rogue, decades ago. The shop sold the latest European fashions and fine clothing, leading one wag of the day to say he would not be surprised to see Cary Grant in the boutique.
Weaver, who was born in Petersburg, Va., later started his own shop in Stone Mountain with the loyal clientele he had developed through his service and personal touches.
“He could find clothing for any taste,” Sampson Sr. said. “And if he told you he was going to do something, you could set your watch by it.”
William H. Sumrall III, an events planner in Atlanta, said if Weaver could not be with him while picking out an outfit, he could text Weaver photos of the clothing he was considering buying or wearing. Weaver would ask about the event Sumrall was going to, then advise him.
With Weaver, choosing clothes for someone was never about just picking what is in fashion. Weaver based his choices on getting to closely know the client, lifestyle, the social set and season and the client’s personal taste.
Weaver could help select clothes off the rack and accessorize them to begin building a wardrobe, or he could provide custom clothing and design through his contacts in New York and Canada, and he advised everyone from pastors to sports celebrities.
He leaves behind four children and a former wife.
Thomas Sampson said the question for him now is not where he will go to buy clothes.
“The question is what am I going to do without Matthew, my good friend?” he said. “There’ll never be another Matthew.”
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