POOLE GIVES APPROVAL TO THE GENTLE SEX

Savile Row has been a bastion of masculinity since it began, providing a sanctuary for men on a par with their traditional clubs.

Ladies were sometimes allowed in as adjuncts of their husbands, kitted out in hunting tweeds that varied little in style from that of the male equivalents. And other ‘ladies’ were sometimes given access for trysts, safe in the knowledge of Savile Row’s legendary discretion

But Hollywood stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Katherine Hepburn and Garbo made masculine tailoring chic for the feminine sex. And though they have remained steadfastly masculine in image, an acceptance of women customers has been gradually creeping in at many of the Row’s houses.

Now, that acceptance has been given the final seal of approval by Henry Poole, the grandee responsible for starting the Row. Window displays here for the festive season are to have some suitably glamorous women’s designs by Roubi l’Roubi alongside their own classic jackets, and this is the precursor to providing a couture service for female customers in the year ahead.

“I thought it would be rather nice to have something for the ladies in our Christmas display,” said Simon Cundey, director. “I met Roubi at the recent Savile Row promotion day (see Style p7) and that lead to us working with him.”

Based on a silvery theme, the  display will focus on a Poole smoking jacket, as above, in their exclusive midnight blue silk velvet, with one of Roubi’s outfits featuring the silver dress, left, with tailored jacket, supported by the image of a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud.

“We do have lady customers and have made classically tailored outfits for them. But really its better for us to concentrate upon what we do best and we'd like to provide a full couture service for them. That is what we will be looking at in the New Year.”

The midnight blue silk velvet used for the Poole jacket is as used for Court dress and is exclusive to them.

NOT JUST A SHOOTING STAR

SINCE FIRST being featured in savilerow-style last year, Roubi l'Roubi has gone on to establish himself in a number of new directions, including a full ladies country collection for Holland & Holland, a men's shooting collection for the GunsonPeg sports club, a link with fine jewellers Bentley & Skinner, now another ladies shooting collection in the pipeline for the Shooting Society, and this latest link with Henry Poole.

This meteoric rate of development stems not only from his talent but an application to work and attention to detail that marks him out as a rising star in the London firmament.

"I'm over the moon," he said at the prospect of working with Henry Poole. "And Simon Cundey of Henry Poole has also invited me to be one of the judges of next year's Golden Shears awards."

Roubi is pictured here with Claire Zambuni of the Shooting Society at the recent reception he held at Bentley & Skinner to launch his collection there, with Mark Evans of Bentley & Skinner in the background. One of Roubi's slinky evening dresses above.