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March 31, 2006
bobby's boys...
[The very relaxed Brian Staples, and myself]
Whilst working on Savile Row the other day I had the usual mix of pleasure and pressure that this business affords you. A busy day seeing customers, then a few drinks after work with the other tailors. Always good for a few tales.
That day Brian Staples [a super tailor who I've known for years] asked me if I would see one of his customers here in Cumbria, and sort out a few tweaks for him, as the gentleman in question doesn't get down to London very often.
This is typical of this business- if we can help one another, we will. We don't worry about the "competition" possibly stealing your customer. It's not a concern, because we don't really have "competition" at this level of bespoke, just friends and colleagues.
We know who are The Real McCoy and who aren't. So do our customers. So what is often a near lifetime of service and friendship is never encroached upon.
Whiling away the last ten minutes of the day, before I escaped to buy Lucy supper in Mulligan's and plan our next US trip, Brian was telling me about about his 50 years in the business. Incredible. He started his apprenticeship with Bobby Valentine, henceforth he was referred to on the Row as one of "Bobby's Boys".
Bobby Valentine was one of the Savile Row's most flamboyant characters, who would certainly give Burlington Bertie a run for his money. A superb craftsman, especially popular with many customers in the music and theatre business.
[Miss Lucy Adams, who assists me on my U.S. visits.]
I remember Mr. Valentine coming in to talk to me in the front shop of Anderson & Sheppard one Spring day, wearing the most outrageous of clothes, but still looking impeccably stylish. He was giving me advice on life on the Row. Within minutes my boss, Mr. Halberry arrived. The immediate visual contact between the two men was enough to bring our polite conversation to an abrupt end. I remember laughing loudly to myself, at the stylistic clash of having Mr. Halberry and Mr. Valentine in the same room. Just look at the pictures of each man and work it out for yourself [Mr. Halberry's photo is here, Mr. Valentine's picture is posted below.].
After his apprenticeship, Brian moved to Denman & Goddard for a while. Then after that, for 12 years he managed the shop of one of the Row's most famous celebrity tailors, Doug Hayward. Mr. Hayward's shop was more of a private gentleman's club than a shop, where customers like Michael Caine, Tony Bennett and Sammy Davis Jr. would just randomly call in for a drink, or even throw an impromptu party.
After he parted his ways with Mr. Hayward, Brian started on his own, like myself, and has been that way ever since. He's as relaxed as he looks, and has no need for a website, because as he says, at a very youthful 66 years old, "I have no customers except old friends and new friends. There are no strangers here."
Says it all, I suppose.
If you fancy a new suit, he's one of the best. Hardcore old school. Brian Staples: +44 (0) 207 734 5069.
[Bobby Valentine on the left, with Tommy Nutter, the latter another wonderful character from the old days. This picture comes from the classic 1988 book, "The Savile Row Story" by Richard Walker. Highly recommended.]
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Posted by tom at March 31, 2006 12:55 PM
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