I’d heard about this tour for a couple of months but had never managed to orchestrate it so that I was in London on the right day. And then as luck would have it (or more a case of the tour guide, Russell Nash, being clever and knowing his audience) a tour was planned for the same day of the Chap's Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball (more of that later).
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| On the steps of the Athenaeum Club with George V in the background (he didn't join us for the tour) |
Meeting on the steps of the Athenaeum Club just off Piccadilly, we were treated to almost two hours of anecdotes and facts about some of the greatest figures in the history of menswear. The tour takes you round St James’ and Mayfair, making stops at Jermyn Street, Savile Row and Burlington Arcade, among many other sartorially significant locations.
Russell Nash is clearly very passionate about his subject and this comes across in the engaging way in which he reveals interesting details about people you may already know a little about (such as Beau Brummel, Tommy Nutter and Bunny Roger).
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| With the statue of George 'Beau' Brummel at the bottom of Piccadilly Arcade |
The tour charts the history of menswear over the past 200 years, starting with George IV and is brought up to date by the injection of (relatively) new talent on Savile Row such as Ozwald Boateng and Richard James.
I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and would like to see what Russell’s other walking tours of London are like. I won’t reveal anymore about this one as I think you should all go and see it for yourselves!
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| Outside Lock & Co, St. James' Street |
The last tour of this year – ‘Mayfair: High Born and Low Life' will be running on 12th December at 11am. The Men Who Made Menswear and other tours, will be running again in the New Year.
Let me know what you thought of the tour if you've already been or are planning on going - or even if you just like the pictures!
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