CELEBRATIONS FOR 25TH ANNIVERSARY

The more venerable names on Savile Row may look upon a 25th anniversary as a mere bagatelle compared to their own long histories but Ozwald Boateng is quite rightly chuffed at reaching it.

This fashionable designer and tailor marked his 25 years in menswear this year by taking over a new showroom in Savile Row, part of the building where once the revered Anderson & Sheppard were housed prior to its redevelopment.  And at London Fashion Week, he is staging a celebratory fashion show, featuring men’s and women’s wear.

Over the years, he has been creative director of menswear  at Givenchy, the subject of a TV documentary series, had a  retrospective showcase at the Victoria & Albert Museum,  and received an OBE from the Queen. His activities are by no means confined to the clothing field and he is set fair to becoming a global brand.

Born in Ghana, he came to the UK at an early age and by 16 was selling designs in London’s trendy Portobello Road. One of many to be inspired by the late Tommy Nutter, and also by Armani, he is passionate about bespoke tailoring but appreciates the wider opportunities that ready-to-wear offers. His early trademark was a penchant for more colourful suitings and particularly vivid coat linings.

Now, he has a star-studded customer base and plans to open stores in the US, Middle East and Moscow. 25 years may seem a short time to some but he has certainly crammed in a lot in that time.

Right, one of his latest pale check suits.

TOPPING HATS FOR ROYAL ASCOT

Ascot just wouldn’t be Ascot without hats. Its an event that gladdens the hearts and the pockets of milliners even more than tailors (or bookies), and persuades ladies who would never normally wear a hat to invest a small fortune in quite the most amazing of creations.

So it was no surprise to find top milliner Stephen Jones holding court at Royal Ascot this summer. Word is that he is about to link with a Savile Row tailor but here he was concentrating upon presenting a selection of his designs before some well-heeled punters lunching in the exclusive Bessborough restaurant.

From this vantage point overlooking the stands below, a sea of millinery confections may be seen. So he was competing not only with lunch and the horses for attention but a hatting panorama.  But in a sparkling show, that also included designs from Amanda Wakeley, Vivienne Westwood, Matthew Williamson and Mary Katrantzou, as well as menswear from Gieves & Hawkes, Jones showed why Italian Vogue says “he makes the most beautiful hats in the world”.

His hats have been worn by the world’s best dressed and most famous, from rock stars to royalty. Like Ozwald Boateng, he is celebrating 25 years in the business, also feted by the V & A, also with an OBE from the Queen. And a restrospective of his work at the MoMu-Fashion Museum in Antwerp runs from this September until next February.

To the average man, his hats may look fantastical but Jones is no mad hatter. His small collection of men’s designs is a foretaste of what may be coming soon to a tailor near you.

Above, a see-through topper. left a shiny homburg.