The English Gentleman at The Cabinet War Rooms

Working on a project in which I have been living and breathing everything luxury, menswear and bespoke for the last six months, London Collections Men Autumn/Winter 2014/15 had been highlighted prominently on my calendar since the Spring/Summer 2014 event. The amazing biannual array of shows, events and parties at LC:M are always exciting, however, for A/W 14/15, The English Gentleman Presentation in collaboration with The Woolmark Company was my most eagerly anticipated invitation!

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After a spectacular S/S14 presentation at Lords Cricket Ground in June, what was Savile Row going to do next? The top secret letter I received a few weeks before the event soon revealed all...

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Presenting the modern face of timeless British elegance, the presentation showcased a selection of the finest tailors of Savile Row alongside London’s best shirt, shoe and hat makers. However, set in the warren-like Cabinet War Rooms, 20 feet beneath Her Majesty’s Treasury, this was no ordinary presentation; models acted out live wartime scenes inside the museum exhibition rooms and corridors to create a truly one-off experience.

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Not only could the audience of international buyers and journalists admire the beautifully crafted creations from Savile Row tailors such as Anderson & Sheppard, Chester Barrie, Gieves & Hawkes, Henry Poole, Huntsman and Richard James Bespoke to name a few, guests were also immersed in the fascinating history of the War Rooms themselves.

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

As the location where Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, sheltered during the Nazi bombing raids in London during the Second World War, the rooms have scarcely changed since late March 1945. Such was the authenticity of the presentation, I half expected to walk around a corner and see Winston Churchill himself plotting and planning among the immaculately dressed models...

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

What is so wonderful about LC:M is the breath of talent on show; from the world’s most innovative emerging designers and global menswear brands to the traditional tailors of Savile Row, each celebrating and contributing to the rich cultural landscape that is fuelling the growing inspiration and success of the luxury menswear sector.

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Much of my recent work has explored how traditional tailoring brands can build on their heritage to find innovative ways of connecting with the younger generation and communicating tailoring to the modern world. By playing a key part in the LC:M schedule, Savile Row continues to assert its relevance in the contemporary menswear market, and the presentation acts as a strong reminder that London remains the world capital of masculine style, as it has done for over two hundred years. After such an engaging combination of classic fashion and vivid history, I cannot wait to see what Savile Row has in store for Spring 2015.

All images credited to photographer George Garnier. Here are a few from behind the scenes:

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman

Image credit: George Garnier. The English Gentleman