Shop like a gentleman
London has the finest of everything on offer
WORDS | Maggie Davis and Charlotte Williamson
Umbrella by Swaine Adeney Brigg
Where? 54 St James’s Street SW1, +44 (0)20 7409 7277, www.swaineadeney.co.uk
How much? From £210
For the discerning gentleman, an umbrella is not just for keeping the rain off, but is a telling status symbol. Swaine Adeney Brigg is as traditional a company as they come. Originating in 1836, it has been making umbrellas for the British royal family ever since. The company’s signature pieces include the Brigg Malacca umbrella handle, fashioned from Malaysian Malacca cane, but the ultimate in luxury has to be the ebonised wood umbrella. There is also a ladies’ parasol with rhino horn handle, a snip at just £1,200. You wouldn’t want to be leaving that on the train now, would you?
Luggage by Globe Trotter
Where? 54-55 Burlington Arcade W1, +44 (0)20 7529 5950, www.globe-trotterltd.com
How much? From £195
Established in 1897, a Globe Trotter, with its old fashioned charm, is the archetypal English suitcase. Their suitcases are made from Vulcan Fibre, a unique, patented material that is as light as aluminium but as hardwearing as the finest leather, and can therefore last a lifetime. Each piece is lovingly hand-crafted at the company’s Hertfordshire factory by the same machines that were used in the early 1900s. Globe Trotter now offers a bespoke service that invites clients to choose from a selection of colours, exclusive Liberty-print linings, contrasting leather corners and personalised initialling.
Boxer Shorts by Schiesser
Where? Bread & Honey, 205 Whitecross Street EC1, +44 (0)20 7253 4455, www.schiesser.com
How much? Around £30
Specialising in fine-gauge cotton jersey underwear, German-brand Schiesser provides the most stylish boxer shorts around. Apart from the fine quality and easy shapes, what gives Schiesser its style credibility is the simple, graphic, retro packaging and its exclusivity – they are only available at a handful of small boutiques in London and New York. Who ever thought boxer shorts could be so desirable?
Bespoke suit by Henry Poole
Where? 15 Savile Row W1, +44 (0)20 7734 5985; www.henrypoole.com
How much? From around £2,915
From the streets of Milan to Paris and London, Europe has a rich heritage of bespoke tailoring, but nowhere has quite the same reputation as London’s Savile Row, the established home of the bespoke suit. But where do you go for the ultimate? It’s tough to pinpoint the absolute best – there are around 10 genuine bespoke tailors on Savile Row – but Henry Poole is certainly one of the most respected. The company, which celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2006, has been making bespoke suits for royalty ever since Edward VII (a renowned arbiter of taste) granted the company a royal warrant in the early 20th century.
The process is thorough and meticulous: it takes at least three appointments to get the ideal suit. The tailor starts by taking your measurements to make a pattern for the body. This is finely tuned at the second fitting, where the tailor checks details, such as the distance between the back collar and the shoulders as well as the trouser break in the shoes. At the third fitting, final details and adjustments are made. The end result is a slick suit that fits like a second skin. As Henry Poole’s managing director Simon Cundey says: “The aim is to feel like you’re not wearing a suit at all.”
Fountain pen by Mont Blanc
Where? 13 Old Bond Street W1, +44 (0)20 7629 5883, www.montblanc.com
How much? About £335
Mont Blanc was founded in Germany in 1906 and was innovative from the start, making fountain pens with blades instead of nibs for architects and engineers during the 1920s. But its most popular style is the Meisterstück, in particular the chubby, cigar-shaped 149 model. Made of black resin with a gold trim, the cap is topped with a signature Mont Blanc white star, a motif that represents the snow-covered summit of Mont Blanc itself. The nib is made from 18-carat gold with a platinum inlay. Mont Blanc has resolutely resisted the urge to use cartridges and so pens must still be filled with ink from a bottle.
Coat by Gieves & Hawkes
Where? 1 Savile Row W1, +44 (0)20 7434 2001, www.gievesandhawkes.com
How much? From £700
Based at one of London’s smartest addresses – no. 1 Savile Row – this British label dates back to 1771. With a history of producing fine military attire, Gieves & Hawkes’s contemporary designs utilise the brand’s rich heritage; its recent coat designs have included biker, trench and woollen pea coats.
Brogues by John Lobb
Where? 9 St James’s Street SW1, +44 (0)20 7930 3664, www.johnlobbltd.co.uk
How much? Bespoke brogues from £2,000
No other shoe has such classic appeal as a pair of finely crafted leather brogues, and nobody does them quite like John Lobb. Established in 1866, when Lobb designed a smart pair of riding boots for the Prince of Wales and was promptly awarded a royal warrant, the brand has since become a favourite with numerous well-heeled business men and celebrities including Cecil Beaton, W Somerset Maugham and, more recently Hugh Grant and Prince Charles, all of whom appreciate the classic style and superior craftsmanship of the house.
Stationery by Smythson
Where? 40 New Bond Street W1, +44
(0)20 7629 8558, www.smythson.com
How much? Bespoke from £187 for 100 cards and envelopes
Smythson stationery will earn you kudos. They are the Queen’s favourite stationers, with three royal warrants, and have been used in the past by everyone from Sigmund Freud to Grace Kelly. The company was founded in 1887 when Frank Smythson started producing lightweight diaries. Stationery quickly followed, as did a bespoke service, which nowadays includes hand-engraved motifs; tissue-lined envelopes in a variety of colours; hand-painted borders and different type styles.
All these items and more can be found in Charlotte Williamson and Maggie Davis’s book 101 Things to Buy Before You Die, published by New Holland and recently updated for 2010
