As it happens, I was in one these establishments this afternoon, I had been setting up a deal for a vintage Rolex Oyster Perpetual Date from a bonafide dealer in Berlin, but the trail went cold and silent, it was in mint condition, but too cost effective to be for real. Why else would I be zeroing in on it?
So I took myself out at lunch time and stocked-up on some Thomas Mason cloth shirts, some Madder ties and such like. And who walks in, but this Italian dude and his wife, Embassy for sure, you know when they speak in English to themselves in front of you to show their diplomacy in not speaking in their native language. That's the educated embassy ambassador type at ease. They must of looked at me and thought: who's this hoho?
There is a wonderfully crappy looking shop in Lewes - Hugh Rae. The building is 14th century but the shop front looks 1950s. An old blokes clothes shop. It might be lacking a sort of superior atmosphere and extremely expensive stock that this thread suggests though. Sells tweeds, old blokes shirts etc. Looks as though it could do with a refit. I am glad such relics survive in an age of clone town centres.
https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz_photos/hugh-rae-lewes?select=cdFf_fuoF-O-pJnfe2IGKg
May not survive much longer though
http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/historic-retail-premises-in-lewes-put-on-the-market-1-7228308
Last edited by Kingston1an (2016-11-19 07:36:10)
Robert Old in Bournemouth is another good example. They had a very good line in their own brand knitwear the last time I went in (a couple of years ago). There is also a funny old-school menswear shop in Tunbridge Wells, whose name escapes me but they do things like Magee tweed jackets and Alan Paine sweaters for the local retired colonels...
I also thought of Sayers in Ealing. Another time warp establishment. A bit more Brooke Taverner than finest cashmere though. The area had changed. No longer Queen of the Suburbs. More cosmopolitan. No call for an old blokes menswear shop or in this case no younger family member looking to take it on. It has been gone a few years without me noticing.
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/ealing-menswear-shop-close-after-5964120
A bit more 'Midsomer Murders' kit than the finest most expensive clothing available....
Beeston might prefer Mitchell and Webbs of course. No chance of finding a button down collar in there. Proper old school:-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9cP-1kC3So
^ Baileys, home of the red trouser and the worst alterations guy in the South.
You buy at Baileys and then pop up the road to Hardman for your alterations.
http://hardmanandhemming.co.uk/
I am not talking crappy/dusty, I am talking "rich". In Curzon Street (FNB: That is in London, England, Europe) there is San Carlo,St. Charles Brioni and a few others which sell crocodile loafers and other nice things for the Saudi embassy employees from nearby.
yes like the one in high street near the exams hall in oxford. no, i am talking "old new money", catering to non-british "rich" people, middle east businessmen etc
the shops near the dorchester are a good example.
Crocodile loafers?
Oh dear!
even C&J has jumped on that bandwagon
An iGent associate of mine once bought a pair of crocodile shoes from the US and got a nice letter from the Dutch customs advising him that they wouldn't be prosecuting him this time, but to be aware that his postal purchases were under surveillance for special attention and if he should try this again, they would relentless hound him and prosecute him to the full extent of the law: ideally a jail sentence.
He left The Netherlands soon after.
I too feel that I am under surveillance, but only so they can harvest me for the maximum amount of import duties possible.
Croc or 'gator?
Good question, I can only assume making an ass out of u and me, that it was 'gator. Too long ago now to be sure.
one is protected, the other isn't. you aren't rich enough to know that.
Correct, only a court case could tell in that case. The customs weren't going to err on the side that this must be alligator as it hails from the US.