The London Lounge

An alternative view: “As a matter of fact, this little deliberate omission on the part of the well dressed man, although a fashion now and a habit clung to closely, is in reality the unconscious concealment of a defect. Men’s waistcoats have for years been made too long: the result being that if one...

Most shears are rarely retired but passed from one generation to the next. My own shears are rather old but they are made by Wilkinson. Wilkinson have probably now ceased production or been taken over by others. I expect the Chinese now have a monopoly on producing (inferior) knives and shears. I be...

They aren't cheap but they are very good:

http://www.morplan.com/ProductDisplay/B ... 6251/62406

The following may be of interest: When rationing was introduced in 1942 Hugh Dalton, President of the Board of Trade, announced a series of measures to be take effect from 1st May that year. All men’s jackets were to be single-breasted, with no more than three pockets and only three buttons at the f...

Double vents came into being in the second half of C20. There is an interview with Louis Stanbury (of Kilgour French Stanbury) in the book, "Today there are no gentlemen" and he confirms the introduction of double vents in Savile Row. I do not have the book to hand but I believe this was in the late...

Hello. It is my understanding that shirt gussets are an historical relic from when ordinary shirts were put on and taken off over the head. (By “ordinary” shirts I mean “working” shirts as opposed to dress shirts). In these shirts, strains are set up in the side seams when the wearer is pulling his ...