Gieves & Hawkes, No1 Savile Row, the best address

After reading the Times newspaper, it is sad to say that the Royal Tailor with the best address on No1. Savile Row; Gieves & Hawkes freehold flagship store has been sold to the parent Chinese group Wing Tai Properties for a whopping £8.5 million

According to Companies House reports Gieves & Hawkes made a loss £2.4 million at the year ending December 2010. Their turn-over was 15.6million as compared to the previous year of £16.6 million. This just basically means that they have made losses for at least two years in a row.

In addition this has led Gieves & Hawkes to close a further 8 concession stores 7 of which are in House of Fraser. Never-less the company still has 4 concessions in Harvey Nichol and Selfridges and there are still 10 stores dotted around.

The original founders were Gieves founded in 1785, and Hawkes founded in 1771. Gieves and Hawkes merged in the late 19th Century. The tailors started as suppliers to the British Army and Royal Navy. It makes bespoke suits for the Royal family such as Prince William and Prince Harry. Gieves & Hawkes are tailors that are not afraid to re-invent it-self. It was the first on Savile Row to make ready to wear suits. To this day 20% of its turnover is from making bespoke suits and the rest from ready to wear but that still has not saved it from the recession that started in 2008 as its brands continue to slowly diminish and fade in the ever challenging UK market.

Savile Row - Normally misspelt as Saville Row. This is the place where the rich and famous from all over the world such as Royal families, billionaires, footballers, pop stars, film stars and even gangsters get their suit's tailored.

There are as many tailor shops as there are townhouses some would say as you walk down Savile Row. Most people view Savile Row as the Mecca of Tailoring; even Huality Tailoring has a fitting room down the Row.

Savile Row, the east side

This is a look at Savile Row – Who’s Who- The Main Players in the tailor game. The top of the line shops have been called the Godfathers of the Mayfair mafia. But we let you decide what you think of each of them as we cover them.

Savile Row was not only where the most famous tailors in the history of the world have are or were established, but it was originally the home of the rich and wealthy. There is no other way to describe it other than that some bright minded people thought it a brilliant idea to have their shops in close proximity to the upper class, and those who lived in the Savile Row area. The tailors have been there since before the 19th century.

Finally the World Cup 2010 in South Africa is here. Since we are suit-a-holics we will discuss the new England Single Breasted 3 piece suit.

Looking at the photo from left to right we have: Theo Walcot, Emil Heskey, Matthew Upson, Steven Gerrard, Michael Carrick, Joleon Lescott, David James,Robert Green, Jermain Defoe, Gareth Barry, Stewart Downing and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

The England squad looks very suited up and very fashionable indeed. This is a Single Breast 2 Button grey suit made from Marks and Spencers. I always prefer two buttons because somehow it looks slicker and defines the body better than a 3 button but more formal than a 1 button. Looking further at the Jacket details we have the notch lapel and slanted pockets, a timeless look.

The waistcoat is simply a single breasted 5 button pointed bottoms, another classic timeless look added to the 3 Piece Suit.

According to my sources, the pure wool with black and white birds-eye woven fabric are made by Alfred Brown, a Yorkshire Mill in Bramley Leeds. This family company has been running since 1915, currently at its third generation and has been suppliers to great Savile Row tailors down London.

As you can see from the picture the tailored suits all fitted beautifully. No doubt these are tailored according to the player’s measurements and body shape.

Where can you get one of these you and how much you may ask? Well the suits are made by Marks & Spencer so no doubt M&S are quick to offer these. The damage, its only £199 but as with all off-the-peg or ready to made wear these are not going to be fitted like the way it fits the players as in the photos.

I was watching the first televised prime ministerial debate the other day. Due to the fact that this is the first in the UK Election history it is no wonder that there is so much debates about who came out on top in terms of best and worse policy.

For me, not being too political, here you have 3 men in 3 fitted suits, let’s analyse their styles and find the best fitted suit.

David Cameron went for the typical Tory old boy look, blue tie with the Dark blue suit. David Cameron suit costs £3,500 by Richard Anderson of Savile Row. David has started to wear Savile Row suits since late 2009 (before then it was off-the-peg). When news first broke out about his newly fitted suit he was quite embarrassed about it (quoted by the Telegraph) because at the time the Conservative Spin doctors were getting acres of coverage’s about his Wife Samantha Cameron wearing a £65 dress from Marks and Spencers. This did not bode too well for Mr Cameron as his wife is seen as down to earth and in touch with the working people whereas he is donning around in a £3.5k suit.

Clegg(gold), Cameron(blue), Brown(Pink)