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Sat parallel to Piccadilly, and in the heart of theatre land, Jermyn Street has a rich and fascinating history that is palpable even today. It seems the little stretch has been spared by the brashness of modernization, which has to be said is a bit of a rarity nowadays.

Its past dates back to 1664, when the Earl of St Albans, Henry Jermyn, was ordered by none other than Charles II to develop a fashionable area close to his abode, St James’s Palace. It was to be somewhere for the elite to brush shoulders with the elite; a place where the sophistication of royalty could be brought to the high street.

Aristocratic beginnings made way for an aristocratic future, and Jermyn Street developed a world renowned reputation as the place to be for elegant and refined gentlemen’s fashion, in particular bespoke, tailor-made men’s shirts.

Using the finest cotton in the world, Jermyn Street’s shirtmakers most likely measured, cuffed, and collared some of history’s most prominent figures, including Sir Isaac Newton and the Duke of Marlborough, who famously lived in the area.

Even Louis Napoleon took up residence there, staying at the Brunswick Hotel after his escape from captivity in the fortress of Ham. Using the alias Count D’Arenberg (he couldn’t of thought of anything less conspicuous?), he may have had time to nip out for a spot of shopping. After all, it’s important to look your best even if you’re on the run!

And let’s not forget the famous Highwayman, William Plunkett, who also lived on the street. Given his notoriety as the ‘gentleman highwayman’, he could well have donned a bespoke shirt while he went about his business as an outlaw!

Fast forward a few hundred years, and Jermyn Street continues to house the cream of the crop. But one anecdote is rather tragic – big band singer Al Bowlly was killed by the explosion of a parachute mine outside his Jermyn Street flat during the Blitz of 1941.

Through this rich tapestry emerges a street that has remained firmly on the discerning man’s fashion radar. But nowadays Jermyn Street not only upholds its reputation as the world’s most renowned place for men’s tailor-made shirts, it also brings quality and elegance to ladies clothing, fine dining, theatre goers, and bars. If you want sophistication and class, it’s certainly the place to be.

So next time you walk down Jermyn Street, have a think about its rich history, and the fascinating historical figures who walked the same pavements over three hundred years ago.

It just shows that quality is timeless, and whether you’re a 19th Century Lord, or a 21st Century lad, nothing beats a tailor made shirt from the one of the world’s most prestigious and fashionable streets.

Alex Smith providing Linen Shirts,Made To Measure Shirts,Oxford Shirts,Formal Shirts,Button Down Shirts

Nowadays we know where cotton comes from, and most of us will know how it’s produced. But take a look at the history of cotton and you’ll realize that people haven’t always been quite so savvy about its origins.

Cast your minds back to the late medieval period, when cotton became known as an imported fibre in northern Europe. Most people had no knowledge of how it was derived, only that it was a plant that came from far away and somehow ended up as a piece of cloth, or indeed a lovely, tailor-made shirt.

People did, however, notice cotton’s likeness to wool, and very amusingly deduced that, of course, it must come from plant-borne sheep. Now, I don’t know about you, but the image of a lamb stuck helplessly on the end of a branch is really quite amusing. It’s hard to believe that anyone could ever think such a phenomenon was possible.

Nevertheless, the belief was so strong that many European names for cotton are derived from the misunderstanding. For example, the German word for cotton Baumwolle, translates as “tree wool”.

We now know that cotton isn’t sheep related at all, but is in fact the produce of the cotton plant. Its flowers turn from a milky white, to a dark red, and once they have died and fallen off, they reveal a luxuriously soft and fluffy ‘boll’. Interestingly, because the boll has seeds within it, it is considered to be a fruit, but I doubt it’s going to take the place of oranges in anyone’s five-a-day.

Despite its bizarre place in the imagination of the public, cotton became one of the most sought after materials in Europe. Its soft, light quality made it perfect for the discerning man’s clothing, and soon developed into the most popular fabric for top-quality men’s shirts.

Thus, the fashion trade boomed, and places like Jermyn Street in London became world-renowned for its high quality cotton shirts, all tailor-made to perfection for the elite, fashionable gentleman.

Over time certain cotton mills became the leading companies in the international textile industry. The Tessitura Monti mill, established one hundred years ago, is one of them, and continues to supply cotton fabrics to the leading UK shirtmakers, Curtis & Dyer included. A hand-made shirt deserves nothing less than simple, elegant, natural and innovative fabrics, and these mills have hundreds of years experience in producing just that.

Nowadays cotton is used for much more than shirts. You’ll find it in the sofa you’re sitting on, and even the light shade above your head. Your blinds, curtains, and book bindings will most likely contain the stuff, as will fishnets, coffee filters, tents, and, strangely, gunpowder.

So, as you can see, it’s just as hard to imagine a world without cotton, as it is to imagine a sheep-plant. It’s developed a reputation as a highly sought after, high-quality fabric, and will continue to be used to dress the high and mighty in gorgeous, cotton-rich, tailor-made shirts.

Article written by www.curtisanddyer.co.uk bespoke shirtmakers.

Alex Smith providing Bespoke shirts,Jermyn Street,Cotton Shirts,Tailor Made Shirts,Long Sleeve Shirts

Off the peg shirts are available in a array of fits – if you have a chest size of under 38 inches, it’s best to go for a slim fit as this will flatter the your appearance. Obviously, the best fitting shirts will have to be made to order – the fit of off the peg shirts is always going to be a compromise.

Fabric
Pure natural fabrics will give the best results, and cotton is generally accepted as being the classic shirt fabric, being light, airy and cool in hot weather. Cotton shirt fabric comes in a vast variety of qualities – aim for a good two fold cotton with a yarn count of at least 100 for a soft fabric with a great sheen. Singles cotton is available at a lower cost but is more prone to pilling. Linen shirts are also a good alternative for the summer season as they remain extremely cool on hot summer afternoons.

Color
White remains the classic shirt colour for formal occasions. Originally worn to indicate that the wearer could afford to wash his shirt before every wearing, this tradition has carried on today and is the default choice for all formal shirts. Cream can also be worn on these occasions.

For less formal shirts, the choice is wide open. Stripes can flatter the wearer, and checks are great in less formal summer wear.

For more information on mens shirts, please visit Curtis & Dyer’s website at www.curtisanddyer.co.uk.
Alex Smith providing Curtisanddyer Bespoke Shirts, oxford shits, Long Sleeve Shirts

The next step is to choose the fabric and design of the shirt. When opting for a bespoke shirt, a vast array of fabric choices is available, but the most suitable fabrics are cotton and linen. These are both naturally occurring fabrics, and as a result offer great comfort. Cotton is most suitable for formal shirts, while linen remains a favourite for less formal summer shirts as it remains cool to the touch even in hot weather.

There will be a good range of collars to choose from. These range from the everyday (Classic) collars to the more exotic band collars and wing collars. Band collars give the shirt a more relaxed look, whilst wing collars are generally only used for very formal occasions, such as wedding and dinner parties.

The cuffs chosen will also denote the formality of the shirt. Single cuffs (called barrel cuffs in some regions), will give a more relaxed feel, while double cuffs (French cuffs), which are fastened with cuff-links are more suitable for formal shirts.

There are also many secondary style options to choose from. The tails of the shirt will be available in a variety of patterns, from the most traditional tails and gusset to a flat hem with side splits for use in informal shirts. A range of buttons such as mother of pearl may be available as well as the chance to truly personalise your shirt by having your initials embroidered on it.

Now that bespoke shirts are so affordable, everybody can have the chance to own a shirt designed personally for them. For more information on mens shirts, please visit Curtis & Dyer’s website at www.curtisanddyer.co.uk.
Alex Smith providing Bespoke Shirts, Mens Shirts,Slim Fit Shirts