Stories
from The Row
NEWS
Stories
from The Row
NEWS
Fall from grace of London ’ s first dandy
ome 30 years before he died in
S 1840 , penniless and insane in an asylum outside Caen in France , Beau
Brummell was one of the most influential figures in regency England . A friend of the future king , he was an arbiter of men ’ s fashion and dominated the way people dressed around town .
He certainly had style and is credited with establishing the modern suit while rejecting more ornate fashions . According to legend , he took five hours a day to dress and recommended that boots be polished with champagne .
The word “ Dandyism ” was invented to describe his world of fashion and fun – and it was a world which has been brought to life at the Jermyn Street Theatre which presented Beau Brummell – An Elegant Madness to enthusiastic theatregoers .
The play , starring Sean Brosnan and Richard Latham , is set in the winter of 1819 . As the most stylish man of his day lives in exile in a madhouse in Calais , George Bryan Brummell revels in past glories when he dominated the worlds of fashion , wit and dress . He is convinced his old friend and patron the Prince of Wales ( by now King George IV ) will visit him and restore his position in society . Today , the King is coming to Calais ! Brummell ’ s valet , however , fired by revolutionary zeal , has other plans for the British monarch ...
This black comedy by Emmy awardwinning Ron Hutchinson had not been seen in London for 15 years so the script was updated to reinvigorate the text which seems even more resonant in today ’ s celebrity
Sean Brosnan as Beau and his valet , played by Richard Latham , at the Beau Brummell statue in Jermyn Street . Picture courtesy of Emily Hyland
obsessed world . Director Peter Craze was delighted to bring Ron Hutchinson ’ s play back to Beau Brummell ’ s spiritual home of Jermyn Street . “ Two years ago we dealt with the fall of another dandy in The Trials of Oscar Wilde ,” said Craze . “ Now , we are telling the story of the original wit and man of fashion . Brummell once said that : ‘ To be truly elegant , one should not be noticed ’ and now he is largely forgotten . We hope this production will go some way to restoring his reputation .”
The tailors of Savile Row exist largely because of Beau Brummell ’ s patronage of tailors and his legacy is celebrated with a statue on Jermyn Street . Take a closer look when you next walk past it . Q
Head Cutter Nicholas De ’ Ath discussing design of a bespoke piece being made for London Craft Week in May , with his apprentice Alex Hills
De ’ Ath promoted at Dege & Skinner
icholas De ' Ath has been
N promoted to the position of head cutter at Dege & Skinner ,
taking responsibility for managing production and the team of bespoke makers in its Savile Row workshop .
De ’ Ath is delighted with his new role . “ Along with the makers based here at 10 Savile Row , I look forward to leading Dege & Skinner ’ s bespoke team into the next chapter of our history ,” he said . “ We were established over 150 years ago so we have a strong heritage in bespoke tailoring .”
William Skinner , managing director of Dege & Skinner , added : “ Since joining our family business as a cutter 16 years ago , Nicholas has been involved in the creation of some of our most noteworthy bespoke tailoring , something we recognise with this welldeserved promotion .
“ Nicholas will head up all bespoke tailoring production , including day-today management of the team of talented makers in the bespoke workshop located underneath the Savile Row shop as well as continuing to travel overseas for our regular trunk shows .” Q
SAVILE ROW STYLE MAGAZINE 7