Dear all,
as promised, a short report from my visit to this exhibition last week.
The exhibition is a wonderful hommage to a personality who has brought fresh air to the Row when he opened his business in 1969. I was most impressed by the first suit coming out of his workshop, made for Tommy Nutter himself. If I recall the story well, it was Hardy Amies who saw Tommy wearing it, and became a loyal customer immediately. This suit still looks spectacular and impeccable - one can see the immaculate handcraft that went into it.
The curators did a great job. They managed to secure a representative number of lounge suits, wedding attires and Elton John frocks and jumpers to give a good overview on the creations coming out of 35a Savile Row. You can admire Nutter bespoke vintage coming from the Prince Rajpipla, Peter Brown, Cilla Black, Mick and Bianca Jagger, Charlie Watts, Neil Sedaka, Twiggy, Elton John, Edward Sexton and others.
The impression the creations made on me can be simply described: great cloth, impeccable craft, and I had the impression to feel the fun people had both making and wearing a Tommy Nutter dress. The exhibition closes with three coats made very recently - references to the Nutter style and craft by Vivienne Westwood, Timothy Everest and Edward Sexton.
There is some memorabilia of course, and a brief history of the Row putting things into context. On Everest's blog, I understand he and his wife are doing guided evening tours (
http://blog.timothyeverest.co.uk/2011/0 ... erest.html) - something not to miss probably.
David
