The Perfect Gentleman (The Pursuit of Timeless Elegance and Style in London) - 9780500023723

In an age of globalization with fashion trends that change by the day, the quality and workmanship of the great British luxury brands endure and flourish like never before. Valued for their craftsmanship, superlative quality, exclusivity, and the status they confer on their owners, these “heritage houses” have been synonymous with the nest production for hundreds of years. This lavish publication, now in a compact edition, celebrates the gentleman’s search for the perfect sartorial detail or the ideal accessory. It features six historical chapters, from the Regency period to the present, each of which presents classic British marques, including shoemakers, jewelers, shirt and tie makers, cloth makers, perfumers, hatters, and vintners. The final chapter showcases the new generation of designer-artisans who are redefining notions of quality and handwork in the era of globalization and digital technologies. A reference section opens up the London gentleman’s social world, from the shopping arcades—such as the Burlington—to hotels, including the Savoy, and the members’ clubs and restaurants in between.