Savile Row Houses To Consider

Gieves & Hawkes

Gieves & Hawkes

Sitting at No.1 Savile Row, Gieves & Hawkes has always had a wonderful location, but had lost a little of its bespoke reputation until Davide Taub took over as head cutter a few years ago. The bespoke department is now blossoming, and is one of the few houses to do all of its work on site.

Historically the house was a naval and military tailor, and has made for many British royals, including the now Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex (William and Harry). The style is of the first group listed above, traditional and military, with occasional flair from Davide thrown in.

Huntsman

Huntsman

Huntsman’s heritage is as an equestrian tailor, making hunting and riding clothes for European aristocracy. Today of course it makes everything from three-piece suits to tweed jackets, but there is still a leather saddle mounted in one changing room, where a customer would have sat to have his riding breeches fitted.

Huntsman also does a particularly strong line in tweed, making up exclusive versions every year or two, and today often running an online competition for the best design. It is the Row tailor that travels furthest, around the United States and the whole of Asia. The house style is distinctive – of the military type, but with a particular emphasis on a padded shoulder and a one-button jacket.

Anderson & Sheppard

Anderson & Sheppard

The glamorous civilian tailor. Laurence Olivier, Duke Ellington and Rudolf Valentino were its customers, all brought in by their friends and then staying for the soft, flowing cut created by Frederick Scholte and passed to Per Anderson. A&S also uses a few tailoring quirks, such as making its own shoulder pads and cutting its chest canvas at an angle, creating more stretch and comfort.