The Man who Made the Men who Made Menswear

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).

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).



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!



Outside Lock & Co, St. James' Street



The last tour of this year – ‘Mayfair: High Born and Low Life' will be running on 12^th December at 11am.  The Men Who Made Menswear and other tours, will be running again in the New Year.

For more information, see Russell’s website, or else follow him on twitter or instagram @MrRustyWoo

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!

The Savile Row protest and our first front page!

Well, yesterday was quite eventful.


As you may have read, The Chap magazine staged a protest yesterday on Savile Row, decrying the plans for an abercrombie kids [sic] outlet to open on this historic street.

  

After a 3 1/2 hour journey in Betsy, we finally got to the Row to uproarious cheers from the assembled crowd.  I was impressed with the turn out, all dressed in their finest, who were gathered outside No. 3.

Betsy made a subtle entrance as always

What surprised me most was the amount of press already gathered.  We spoke to people from various agencies, including The Times and the Express but there were numerous other photographers dotted about (only one Vintage News crew of course!)

As ever, we conducted a few interviews.  I spoke to Mr B, who led everyone in a rousing chorus of 'Give Three-Piece a Chance' once we were outside Abercrombie & Fitch's Burlington Gardens address.

Kieren interviewed Gustav Temple, the Editor of the Chap and the mastermind behind the protest.

I then interviewed Michael 'Atters' Attree, a most ahem, enlightening experience!  It mostly consisted of Atters telling me how lovely I smelt - but I think we managed to get a few sensible answers!

I think we can see why
I call it my 'Mary Poppins coat'

We were told by one of our contacts in the media (ooh, doesn't that sound fancy?) that we were on the front page of the Evening Standard.  Alas, as we are based in Brighton, we have yet to get our hands on a copy.  Anyone have a spare from 23rd April?  Here's a link to the article anyway.  There are pictures of us here and here as well.

Anyway, here are lots of lovely pictures from the action of the day.

 
 
    

 

 

 
 
 
 

 

 
 



This is why we felt it necessary to protest

Give Three-Piece a Chance

Just a quick post on the imminent protest to be held on Savile Row and nearby Burlington Gardens. Orchestrated by the Chap, the protest is a reaction to the application to open an 'Abercrombie & Fitch' children's shop (I suppose they would say 'kid's store') on Savile Row. 

Savile Row is the historic home of tailoring, not just for England but for the entire world.  Abercrombie & Fitch on the other-hand make t-shirts and deem themselves 'the original apparel and lifestyle brand'. I'm not sure what 'lifestyle' they are purporting to provide for the masses, but it does seem to require paying over the odds for what are essentially free advertisements for the American 'super-brand'.

Not only is Savile Row important for its sartorial history, the building in question (Number 3) is famous for other reasons.  It was the property that housed the Beatles' Apple Corps headquarters, and the rooftop played host to their very last concert.

Just a stones throw away from Gieves and Hawkes (at No. 1), one of the world's most famous tailors, the opening of this shop would be an insult to the trade that the Row has fought so hard to nurture and maintain, over the course of two centuries.

To work there, you have to go through 'casting' and only the best looking (and those apparently willing to work topless) are selected.  As all the advertisements for the adult Abercrombie & Fitch shops generally just feature topless models in jeans (not sure how that sells t-shirts), I'm intrigued to know how they advertise children's clothes?

This is a chance for those that value quality and expertise in the manufacture of their clothing, as opposed to slogans, to stand up and make a real difference in the future of this historic street.  Although the protest will be peaceful, one doesn't get a trouser crease that sharp without being forceful from time to time!

Apart from agreeing with the Chap's sentiments, I am also quite excited to be going to a protest organised by this esteemed journal.  In one of the earliest issues I bought (2006), I read of their exploits in showing their displeasure at the state of modern art by encircling and subsequently 'conquering' one of Rachel Whiteread's installations at the Tate Modern.

From The Chap.
Protesters are invited to produce their
own posters and slogans for the event.

 

On Monday 23rd April (St George's Day), a group of impeccably dressed people (including you I hope) are to congregate outside No. 3 Savile Row at 9am , before continuing on to Ambercrombie and Fitch's shop on Burlington Gardens at 10am.  As ever, there are plans to decamp to nearby establishments after the protest has dispersed, perhaps to plan our next move or perhaps (more likely) just take in a gin or two.

If you are unable to make it to the protest, then I urge you to sign the petition which can be found here: www.petition.co.uk/save-savile-row-from-abercrombie-fitch

The Vintage News will be there, capturing the action as it unfolds.