SAVILE ROW AT LORD'S

The pleasing thwack of ball against willow gave way this summer to the click of cameras and the clink of glasses as Lord's cricket ground became the setting for this summer’s Savile Row extravaganza, the high spot of the London Collections: Men showcase.
The tout monde of British menswear, international press and a gaggle of beautiful young male models converged upon the hallowed heart of cricket on a quintessentially English summer’s day in celebration of bespoke clothes and accessories.

With the immaculate sward of the cricket ground as a backdrop, the models in white and light tailored outfits presented tableaux that were at once intrinsically English yet at variance with the casual mode now more commonly favoured.

Yet it underlined Savile Row’s ongoing ability to make such beautiful styles, which thankfully are still in considerable demand, if not by all English men then certainly by all men of discerning taste.

Top, out on the terrace; left, cream suit by Huntsman; right, outfit by Davies & Son; below, Gieves & Hawkes white d.b. suit.

Tailors taking part ranged from the most venerable - Ede & Ravenscroft, Gieves & Hawkes, Davies, Henry Poole, Huntsman and Dege & Skinner – to the most recent additions – Lutwyche, Richard Anderson and Kathryn Sargent, a history line starting in 1689 through to last year.   In between came Kilgour, Anderson & Sheppard, Welsh & Jefferies, Chester Barrie, Maurice Sedwell, Hardy Amies, Edward Sexton, Chittleborough & Morgan and Timothy Everest.

They were joined by the exclusive gentlemen’s suppliers of Jermyn Street, with a similarly impressive time line, hatters James Lock topping the lot with  a birth date of 1676.

For connoisseurs of the very best of men’s clothing and accessories, this was a smorgesbord of luxury and style. Accompanied by fine Chivas Regal whisky, with tea and pastries on the terrace, and the support of the generous Woolmark company, it  was the high spot of summer in the city.