Lordy! Lordy! What Are You Wearing Tonight?

 We walked up the path towards the house- following the large pairs of scissors - these were to lead us to the "Tailoring an Image" Exhibition inside.  "Lordy" Fairhaven had most of his clothes made by Huntsman of Savile Row, his shoes were handmade, and all his clothes were washed and ironed by a laundry in Saffron Walden
They were taken the 20 miles there and back by train. He did not want his shirts and 'smalls' hanging out on the line to be seen by visitors to the Abbey! 
He was certainly very daring in some of his fashion choices - evening suits in shades of ruby, sapphire and emerald velvet. His dinner jackets were midnight blue, because he said that at night they looked 'blacker than ordinary black ones'. His valet maintained his clothes with great care laying out the day's garments on the bed all ready to be worn. 

Because his garments were so meticulously made, and diligently maintained, they lasted him years. He was always a stylish dresser. He wore a red carnation in his buttonhole during the day, and a white one in the evening.

He loved bright colours and fine patterned cloths. His suits all had a lilac and cream striped silk lining to the sleeves.

Many of his clothes were in the exhibition, beautifully displayed- handstitched suits, silk pyjamas, his Home Guard Uniform [way smarter than poor old Pike's gear in Dad's Army!] The finest sheepskin coat you could imagine for "gardening wear"

Lord Fairhaven moved in the highest circles of British Society - with politicians, industrialists, bankers- and of course, Royalty. He was friends with Edward VIII - and many important Americans. Many of them would wear similarly created garments - handmade to fit them personally, in quality fabrics made to outlast their owners. Many folk continue this practice today King Charles is known to wear suits which are decades old. Patrick Grant wears jackets which were his fathers. And actor Damien Hurst wears his grandfather's handmade overcoat!
Below is a very informative 10 minute video produced for the exhibition by "Huntsman&Sons" - his tailors, still in business 60 years after his death [his personal paper suit patterns are still in their archives!] It is well worth watching. This 'proper' bespoke tailoring is the complete opposite of Fast Fashion. Oh dear, I must sort out my summer/winter wardrobe swap soon.