Saturday, October 25, 2014

Part II of III: Celebrating Retirement In A Most Fitting Fashion

A few years ago my father made the decision to retire from his profession.  He had worked tirelessly since his teens and wanted to scale back his work commitments.  He envisioned a more leisurely life of gardening and travel, punctuated by a healthy dose of grandfatherly antics with his adoring grandchildren, all of which sounds terribly exhausting, especially for a septuagenarian.

It was difficult for me to actually imagine him truly retiring from his craft, no longer to be surrounded by bolts of fine cloth, the ever present dusty mess of his tailoring chalk, and a seemingly endless trail of errant threads and misplaced needles.  But, retirement was firmly on his mind so he hung up his shears, dismantled his workshop, and entered into the next phase of his life.

Actually, it was not quite that simple.  Some very special projects came knocking at his door which culminated in a spectacular apotheosis to his lengthy career.

It all began early in 2011.  My father was approached with the idea of working on an item of clothing that would be photographed as part of a series of Royal Mail postage stamps commemorating the best of British Fashion.

He was charged with replicating a jacket he had originally tailored in the early 1970's for Ringo Starr of The Beatles.  The original was designed by Tommy Nutter and cut by his colleague Edward Sexton, a master at his craft.  As my father had tailored the 1970's version, he was the only tailor considered for the remake, and rightly so.

Chronica Domus
The nattily dressed Ringo Starr wearing the jacket my father tailored in the early 1970's, designed by the flamboyant Tommy Nutter


Make no mistake, this was no ordinary commission. The design incorporates a unique one-piece rolled collar that is highlighted with contrasting trim.  The sleeves, slightly upturned where they connect to the shoulder line, give the jacket an unusual silhouette. Only the most experienced of tailors would be able to successfully replicate the look of the original. The garment was more akin to a sculptural work of art than a piece of clothing.

Procuring the identical striking black and white Prince of Wales tweed to that of the original was next on the agenda.  Fortunately, the British mill that weaved the fabric in the 1970's is still in existence, but production of the pattern had long ago ceased. Apparently, very good records were kept because a little sleuthing through the mill's archives unearthed an adequate sample allowing the weavers to replicate the cloth especially for the stamp project.

I was intrigued to see the final result of this unusual collaboration with the Royal Mail. Fittingly, the stamp would be issued in the spring of 2012, just as my father was about to retire. Would you believe it if I told you he only shared the news of the stamp commission with me in passing, as though he was relaying a trivial tidbit of neighborhood gossip over the garden fence?  It was the eve of my departure from London, having visited with my parents during the prior three weeks of my winter holiday. Over cups of tea seated around the old pine kitchen table, he told me the story.  I'm so happy he did as it gave me the opportunity to put in my order for a first day special issue set of stamps that would be canceled at a post office located in W1, the same central London postcode shared by Savile Row, using a special ink stamp to commemorate the occasion.  The word proud falls vastly short of how I felt the day I received my stamps.

Chronica Domus
The replica jacket my father tailored as shown on the first class Royal Mail stamp


My colorful first day issue cover of the complete set of British fashion stamps
Photo: Chronica Domus

I just love the special needle and thread spool ink stamp designed especially to cancel the first day issue covers
Photo: Chronica Domus

During the same conversation at the kitchen table that evening, my father relayed another bit of exciting news.  He casually mentioned the fact that he had been asked to give a talk on the opening day of a spacial exhibit that had been shown several months earlier at London's Fashion and Textile Museum.  Sadly, he had politely declined the invitation. "What?" I spurted, almost spilling my tea everywhere.  To make matters worse, I wondered why it was that I was only now learning of this news after the exhibition had closed. My father, as it turned out, did not think it "a big deal".

Chronica Domus
An advertisement for the Tommy Nutter: Rebel On The Row exhibition

Actually, it was. Titled Rebel On The Row, the exhibition showcased many of the suits my father had tailored during the heyday of his career working at Nutters. It told the story of how Tommy Nutter revolutionized British tailoring.  I could barely believe my father's nonchalance towards this very exciting event. Suits he had tailored such as Mick and Bianca Jagger's wedding outfits, Elton John's colorful moire tailcoats, along with many other distinctive examples, were among the stars of this exhibit, and my father had made them all.

Chronica Domus
Mick and Bianca Jagger on their wedding day wearing the jackets my father tailored while working at Nutters (note: Bianca began the trend for cleavage-bearing attire decades before the likes of Jennifer Lopez and every other female celebrity caught on)


Chronica Domus
Two of the many memorable tailcoats I watched my father make for Elton John's 1984 "I'm Still Standing" tour


I suppose his relaxed attitude should not have come as such a great surprise.  My father has always shied away from the spotlight and self-promotion, preferring instead to take pleasure in his work from behind the scenes.  I truly wish I could have seen this event firsthand to revisit some of my father's most memorable work.

The final jacket of my father's long career was to be worn at a very distinguished milestone celebration. Queen Elizabeth II would be celebrating her diamond jubilee throughout 2012.  To mark the auspicious occasion, a festive pop concert was to be staged directly in front of Buckingham Palace. Many of Britain's biggest musical talents would take the stage to entertain Her Royal Highness and other members of the royal family.  My father had been asked to make a particularly special jacket for one of the entertainers to be worn during the evening's grand performance.

The design, resembling a vintage British Bobby's jacket, would have a little decorated stand up collar and cuffs, and be set off with shiny silver metal buttons shaped into coronets. When my father took delivery of the cloth to be used for the jacket, which had been dropped off at his workshop by runner in a nondescript heavy-duty paper bag, he noticed it contained more than the expected bundle of pre-cut cloth.  He was a little bemused to discover a bedraggled vintage Union Jack flag which, upon closer examination, revealed it had formed part of a moth's banquet.  It was riddled with tiny holes. The flag turned out to be a 1953 model, manufactured the same year of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation.  I'll return to the flag a little later in the story.

On June 4, 2012, the day of the diamond jubilee concert celebration, we all eagerly awaited the appearance of Paul McCartney, not for his noted singing abilities mind you, but for the sheer pleasure of ogling at the jacket my father had made for him.

Chronica Domus
Performing on stage for Her Royal Highness and millions of viewers around the world during the diamond jubilee concert celebration


Riveted to the television screen, we were more than a little delighted when, at the conclusion of his performance, Sir Paul whipped off his jacket and flashed his 1953 Union Jack to the world. Bravo Sir Paul, bravo! What a patriotic showman you are!

Chronica Domus
In glorious patriotic spirit Sir Paul flashes his vintage Union Jack which now forms the lining to his jacket


And with that, dear reader, my father's career had come to a glorious end, in front of millions of viewers across the world, upon a stage in front of Buckingham Palace and The Queen of England, in the most fitting British way.  I could not imagine a more memorable retirement celebration than this grand spectacle, can you?

Chronica Domus
I'm sure Her Majesty was suitably impressed with Sir Paul's patriotic sartorial flair

In the final installment to this series, I will show you what my father tailored for my lucky husband and I as his retirement gift to us.


22 comments:

  1. I just love this story of your father and his nonchalance at all these impressive commissions. Paul, Ringo, Elton, Mick, and Bianca (just for starters) is quite a client list and he's definitely someone whose tongue I'd try to loosen over a scotch or pint....oh the stories he could tell !!!

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    1. Dear GSL, my father likes nothing better than a good chin wag as he is quite the social animal. My dear mother would sometimes be told, with a few hours notice, that my father was inviting extra guests for dinner, in some cases people he might have just met earlier in the day. However, no tailor worth his needle will ever disclose his clients' intimate details (measurements, or whether they'd dress to the left or right!).

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    2. CD, after the 3rd or 4th round I'd be reminding dear Father that the damn needle has been decommissioned, and he needn't name names as we could certainly refer to hypothetical former clients as: "the Unsatisfied", "would be astronaut"....that sort of thing...

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    3. Well, dear GSL, in the spirit of "hypothetical former clients" I can share a tidbit about a well known figure in the world of music who used to request clandestine little pockets be sewn into the linings of his jackets. We soon figured out why when watching the news one evening and seeing said figure's arrest at an international airport on the way to kick off a world tour. Was that the sort of juicy morsel a round or two would reveal?

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    4. My dear CD, a juicy morsel for 2 schoolgirls is rather thin gruel for GSL..

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  2. CD,
    You could write a book about your dear father...what an amazing and talented man. I love this installment and I truly admire your father's talents and integrity. I look forward to the next chapter. Thank you for sharing this wonderful story.
    Karen

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    1. Hello Karen,

      So glad you enjoyed reading through this installment. I could certainly write a book about my father, but truly, it would be full of his life stories outside the scope of his work. Somehow, he has remained very child-like in is outlook to life and is always chipper and never fails to be delighted by the smallest thing. A grumpy old man he is not!

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  3. Dear CD,

    What a wonderful story. I'm lost for words except to say thank you so much for sharing it.

    Spud.

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    1. Spud, thank you. I know you have a keen interest in tailoring and sewing and I'm sure you'll enjoy the next part of this story for that reason.

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  4. All of these accolades for your father show the depth to which he was part of and influenced a remarkable period of radically changing culture. Your stories about his craftsmanship illustrate that execution was every bit as important as design in these clothes transmitting their intended effect. I can see why you are so proud of your father, even if he takes his own accomplishments in stride.
    --Jim

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    1. Thank you, Parnassus. Yes, my father had always remained very grounded about his work, enjoying it from afar. As children, it would always be so exciting for us to catch a glimpse of his work in the newspapers or on television. We knew who's jacket he had tailored and would be on the lookout for it. When Prince Charles married Diana, my father made the suit worn by her dress designer. It was such a huge deal for us children as we were glued to the television set in hopes of seeing my father's work. We were handsomely rewarded when the cameras caught the sight of the designer standing in St. Paul's Cathedral adjusting and fussing with Diana's billowy concoction. The world's eyes were focused on the dress, but ours were firmly on my father's suit.

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    2. I have been unable to check in on my friends until now and I was delighted to come upon this story of your father's. What a wonderful career and to know he has suited up most of Britain's music royalty (at least the ones that really matter!) I can't wait to see the outfits he created for you and your husband. At least from the photo we now know you are a brunette!

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    3. Hello Lindaraxa, welcome back! I'm sure you've been keeping busy cooking up a storm to please MM.

      I'll be posting soon on the wonderful garments my father made for us so do come back soon. Oh, and no, not quite brunette but definitely raven.

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  5. Oh what a wonderful read this is! I have been gobbling it up.
    Happiest of birthdays to your wonderful father and congratulations on his well-deserved retirement from a successful and fascinating career! My husband is a slave to the bespoke suit and we have a trip to England in our future which is really more of a Saville Row pilgrimage so he can pay homage
    Will your father still create sartorial treasures in his retirement, maybe just for family? When I was little my grandmother made me my most treasured possession: a cream colored polyester bell-bottomed pantsuit with multi-colored rhinestones on the lapels, cuffs and hem. Oh my lordy did I love that suit!

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    1. ps. If Downing St should seek my opinion in the matter, then there will be a little something for your dear father in the NY Honours List....

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    2. Hello Bebe, how exciting to learn of an upcoming trip to Blighty and that Mr. Bebe is a bespoke fan. Does he have a favorite tailor he frequents?

      My father has yet to make anything for the family since his retirement, besides some curtains at my mother's request.

      Your pantsuit sounds very haute 1970's to be sure. How fabulous you must have looked in it.

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  6. Fabulous story! I remember Sir Paul's jacket from the concert.

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    1. Hello PD,

      I'm pleased you enjoyed the story and the background of what goes on behind the scenes in the higher echelons of the tailoring world. I debated even writing this story but on balance I thought it might interest those of my readers that have an interest in fashion.

      Thank you for taking the time to comment.

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  7. "Her Majesty's a pretty nice girl, but she doesn't have a lot to say..." Maybe your father shared her sangfroid and lack of pretension.

    It makes his talent the more worthy and remarkable.

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    1. Hello Columnist,

      So clever! Thank you for reminding me of this McCartney lyric, which could have served as the perfect caption for the final photograph of this posting. Incidentally, my father made the suits on that LP cover (at least for the three not wearing jeans).

      Sangfroid is not a word I would associate with my father, although he certainly has no pretensions to be sure. Even in his retirement, he still maintains all the enthusiasm of a small child discovering his world, which makes him "cool" in a good way.

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  8. Dear Chronica,
    Part II is even more interesting than Part I. Your father is definitely and modestly "old school"-he stands aside and lets the clothes speak for themselves. How rare that is in these days of blatant self-promotion. I hope his retirement is as rewarding as his remarkable career.
    K.L. Gaylin

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    1. Hello K.L. Gaylin,

      Thank you for your nice comment. I'd have to agree, daddy is certainly not the self-promoting type and yes, he is thoroughly enjoying his retirement although to my much younger eyes, seems busier than ever!

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