Chester Barrie

The best of American trendiness and British tailoring skill come together at Chester Barrie on Savile Row. Founded in 1935 by Englishman Simon Ackerman, his vision was to create a classic formalwear brand aimed at the American market, having lived and worked in New York for many years. The result is quintessentially dapper looks made to the standard of bespoke with the convenience to buy off the peg. There’s also an oomph of American branding behind it with their suits regularly featured on the red carpet, notably at the Olivier Awards, and on the big screen including Sean Connery in Dr No and Steve McQueen in The Thomas Crown Affair.

Whilst most tailors are named after their founders, Simon Ackerman, the man behind the label, knew that he had to find an even more British name to appeal to his demographic. An amalgamation of the North Western English city of Chester and the last name of Peter Pan playwright J.M. Barrie, the company still prides itself to this day on capturing the best of British.

Three ranges exist under the roof of their sleek and spotlit flagship: Black Label, Gold Label and Chester by Chester Barrie. Black Label is their core collection, built on their affordable luxury promise for men who value Savile Row heritage but also want to make their money go a long way, Gold Label takes a more fashion-forward approach with sartorial attention to detail, while Chester by Chester Barrie offers timeless workwear for discerning businessmen. Ties, pocket squares, and tie pins, are also available for the finishing touches as well as casualwear.

Keeping with the times, the brand has become a favourite of the relatively new London Fashion Week Men’s, always putting on a good show of their latest collections. They have also introduced Click & Collect from their online store for top notch service in the 21^st century. After all, they were the pioneers of quality ready-to-wear on Savile Row.