Sartorial London: The Official Thread (UPDATED 9/6/2012)

[Infojunky]

If your around Savile Row I would really reccomend you pop into Lutwyche on Clifford st Just off Savile Row. I work in the tailoring business and did 10 years on Savile row. Their mens tailoring is made in Crew England and are drafted by one of the most talented pattern cutters I have ever met and worked with. The fabrics and colours they use can be a little super English but you cannot fault the product. Both inside and out.

 

[dopey]

The Huntsman people are great to speak with, though I have never been to their shop in London. Patrick Murphy, their head cutter, knows a lot about tailoring and can put things in context. Peter Smith knows his cloth.
Alan Bennett at Davies is a walking encyclopedia of Savile Row and tailoring history but I don't know how much time he would give you.
The people I think you may find most interesting are Andrew Ramroop at Sedwell and his erstwhile cutter David Taube who is now at Kilgour (I think). Taube seems to be one of the new creative superstars on the Row.
I think it is time you stepped up to the shoe plate. If you are going to be in London, see if you can be measured and have lasts made by Terry Moore at Foster & Son. Then you will be even more confident in using them when the come to the U.S. (I am sure other makers are fine, but I have no first hand experience on which to recommend them).

 

[Wrenkin]



Sorry but coffee and London just doesn't go together.

I moved to London from Vancouver. At first everything I found was comparatively awful, but there is nice stuff to be found. As I said, don't buy it from someone with an English accent.

Re Trunk, I never made it there but IIRC it's run by Tyler Brule's partner, so expect Monocle-approved looks. You'd be less interested in the fact that they are a UK distributor of J.Crew.

 

[Manton]

Basically, SR, Old Burlingnton, New Burlington, Conduit, Vigop, Jerymn, St. James, Burlington Arcade, Princess Arcade, Royal Arcade, Picadilly Arcade.

All the SR shops sell accessories, so it's worth poking in for that.

 

[TheFoo]



The Huntsman people are great to speak with, though I have never been to their shop in London. Patrick Murphy, their head cutter, knows a lot about tailoring and can put things in context. Peter Smith knows his cloth.
Alan Bennett at Davies is a walking encyclopedia of Savile Row and tailoring history but I don't know how much time he would give you.
The people I think you may find most interesting are Andrew Ramroop at Sedwell and his erstwhile cutter David Taube who is now at Kilgour (I think). Taube seems to be one of the new creative superstars on the Row.
I think it is time you stepped up to the shoe plate. If you are going to be in London, see if you can be measured and have lasts made by Terry Moore at Foster & Son. Then you will be even more confident in using them when the come to the U.S. (I am sure other makers are fine, but I have no first hand experience on which to recommend them).

Basically, SR, Old Burlingnton, New Burlington, Conduit, Vigop, Jerymn, St. James, Burlington Arcade, Princess Arcade, Royal Arcade, Picadilly Arcade.
All the SR shops sell accessories, so it's worth poking in for that.

As you both probably already figure, I have no intention of putting in any bespoke orders at these tailors. I'm very sensitive to wasting their time dealing with someone who's just there to chat it up and maybe buy a pocket square. I've only had exposure to the bespoke worlds of Naples and New York, where I would not feel comfortable swinging by a tailor's shop without the intention to do real business. Is it any different in London?

 

[Kuro]



I'm traveling to London at the end of the month. Never been. I thought we could start a series of threads for various cities well-known for classic menswear. London is clearly one such city. Personally, I'm not looking to spend a ton of money this trip and am not looking for a new tailor, but would love any and all suggestions.
As a bonus, if you convince me to go somewhere, I will take pictures and post them when I get back.
Initial thoughts: W. BIll and Drake's. I hope to pick-up an interesting tweed at the former. Savile Row is generally an obvious destination, but it would be great to know which shops are more okay to simply drop into to peruse.
Let's go.

Suggest Smith Woollens (though a bit quaint and in a basement).

Fortnum & Mason has a nice cheese selection. The savoy cabbage was tasty as well...

Nicolas has some nice, reasonably priced wines.

Otherwise St. Pancras Eurostar to Paris!

 

[Manton]

They are much more retail oriented in London, e.g., they are all at street level and they all sell ties, squares, suspenders and other accessories. They are quite used to lookie-loos and are reasonably friendly. I would not ask to see the head cutter and then waste an hour of his time talking minutia but popping in an looking at the merch is fine.

 

[TheFoo]



Otherwise St. Pancras Eurostar to Paris!

I kinda wish. I'd zip over to Charvet to order a shirt.

 

[TheFoo]



They are much more retail oriented in London, e.g., they are all at street level and they all sell ties, squares, suspenders and other accessories. They are quite used to lookie-loos and are reasonably friendly. I would not ask to see the head cutter and then waste an hour of his time talking minutia but popping in an looking at the merch is fine.

Ah, good to know. Great, so Savile Row could be truly awesome fun.

 

[dopey]



As you both probably already figure, I have no intention of putting in any bespoke orders at these tailors. I'm very sensitive to wasting their time dealing with someone who's just there to chat it up and maybe buy a pocket square. I've only had exposure to the bespoke worlds of Naples and New York, where I would not feel comfortable swinging by a tailor's shop without the intention to do real business. Is it any different in London?

I understand, which is why I made the comment about Davies. The others I mentioned should be o.k., though I have never met Taube. If they are busy, leave them alone, but they would be glad to chat for a while. I used to stop in on Huntsman in their NY Hotel room, not even their store, to talk with Peter Smith years before I became a customer. If they had time, fine. If they were busy, I left them alone. If you are genuinely interested in what they do, they should be glad to talk with you. Tell them you are a customer of R, that you are happy with R, but would like to know about what they do and how it might be different. You should also ask to see Huntsman's special fabrics. Apart from their tweeds, which go back years, they design some nice suitings every year. They did a great rope stripe recently, which reminded me of manton's ancient Lesser samples.

 

[ShayaEXQT]

All the SR shops sell accessories, so it's worth poking in for that.

I remember seeing some fantastic pocket squares in Huntsman, all their ties are Drake's but probably are 3.5" width.

 

[bengal-stripe]

Don't forget to visit the Dunhill flagship store in Bourdon House.

http://www.dunhill.co.uk/the-homes/london/

Bourdon House (22 Davies Street) is a Gorgian town house (more of a palace) near Berkeley Square in the heart of Mayfair and the former residence of the Duke of Westminster.

http://www.esquire.co.uk/2011/11/a-day-at-bourdon-house/

Whatever one feels about Dunhill's merchandise, the premises are absolutely spectacular.

 

[Kuro]



I kinda wish. I'd zip over to Charvet to order a shirt.

Well the door now has a helpful sign in English so you don't need to worry about gaining access.

 

[ShayaEXQT]

Don't forget to visit the Dunhill flagship store in Bourdon House.
http://www.dunhill.co.uk/the-homes/london/
Bourdon House (22 Davies Street) is a Gorgian town house (more of a palace) near Berkeley Square in the heart of Mayfair and the former residence of the Duke of Westminster.
http://www.esquire.co.uk/2011/11/a-day-at-bourdon-house/
Whatever one feels about Dunhill's merchandise, the premises are absolutely spectacular.

WOW! This thread is lowly becoming the London bible, kudos to you foo

 

[TheFoo]

No prob--selfishly, I needed some suggestions, so I thought it would make sense to turn it into a mainstay guide for everyone.

If people figure out a Top Three Must Visits, I'll drop in, take photos, write up some articles, etc. TITC could use some content.