17 questions to a well-dressed man – Jonathan Sothcott
Photo credit: Jonathan Sothcott
Jonathan Sothcott is one of the most prolific and successful independent film producers in the UK. He worked as a film journalist and produced documentaries for the burgeoning DVD industry. He has worked with British film icons including Sir Roger Moore, Sir Christopher Lee, Ken Russell, Bryan Forbes and Euan Lloyd, about whom he made an acclaimed documentary, The Last of the Gentleman Producers. By the age of 24 Jonathan was the youngest Television Executive in the UK setting up and launching The Horror Channel in 2004, where he was Head of Programming. Moving into the film industry he began his long collaboration with Martin Kemp with the short film Karma Magnet starring Gary Kemp. Jonathan and Martin have worked together half a dozen times since on films such as Top Dog for Universal Pictures and Age of Kill for Starz. Jonathan has worked with a galaxy of stars including Mark Hamill, Jason Statham, Richard E Grant, Sheridan Smith, Dexter Fletcher, Nick Moran, Ray Winstone, Steven Berkoff, Rik Mayall, Charlie Cox, Eve Myles, Freema Agyeman, Craig Fairbrass and BAFTA nominees Phil Davis and Kierston Wareing. Recognised as the “DVD king” (The Raygun) in the UK, Jonathan’s movies have sold over a million units and won a plethora of awards, including sweeping the board at the British Film Awards in 2014 and the prestigious British Lion Award in 2012. In 2018 he won ‘Best Producer’ at the inaugural Britflix Awards and the prestigious ‘Most Innovative Film Production CEO’ at CEO Monthly’s Global CEO Excellence Awards. His 2013 film Vendetta starring Danny Dyer was the most successful independent British film of the year and gave Dyer his best role in years. Jonathan subsequently co-wrote a book entitled The Film of Danny Dyer with GQ journalist James Mullinger which was described by The Telegraph as “strangely delightful.”
In 2014 Jonathan negotiated a landmark international co-production deal with American studio Starz to make 4 films per year for them. The films included the cult classics We Still Kill The Old Way and We Still Steal The Old Way. In a 2021 profile The Telegraph described his films as having “saved our film industry.” In 2020 Jonathan set up Shogun Films to focus on high concept action films for the international market. Styled on the 80s home entertainment powerhouses Carolco and Cannon, Shogun has already attracted talent such as Lee Majors, Danny Trejo, Patsy Kensit and Louis Madylor and is the only business of its kind in the UK and Western Europe. Jonathan is recognised as a successful entrepreneur both in the film industry and the wider business community. He was ranked 92 in the 2019 London Power 100 List and 12 in the Britflix Independent Film Power 100 list. He is married to the actress Jeanine Nerissa Sothcott.
Away from films, Jonathan is an occasional author. His latest book, sartorial coffee table volume The Jermyn Street Shirt was featured in The Daily Express which described him as a “sartorial authority”. An interview with him about his book will follow in the new year but now I was first very curious to hear him answering the ‘’17 Questions to a well-dressed man’’ as Jonathan has a fantastic taste level and a good sense for style. I’m sure you will love to read it as this gentleman has some inspiring answers and was introduced to his shirtmaker by a legendary gentleman when it comes to film and style. Well, you will read this all in the answers. And if you are still looking for a good book, Jonathan’s book; The Jermyn Street Shirt, I can only highly recommend.
What are you wearing today?
I’m at home today so I’m wearing grey flannel trousers from Brioni, a check Frank Foster shirt and a cotton sweater from Anderson & Shepherd. That is pretty much my casual uniform, though I might swap out the flannels for cords or jeans and the sweater for a cashmere one from Brioni or Purple Label or a wool one from Cordings. I wear mostly Pantherella socks but never slippers. Skydweller on the wrist.
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
A watch every time. Partly because I have a lot more suits than I do watches but also because a watch is something for you to enjoy – everyone sees your suit, but you can keep your watch under your cuff if you choose, enjoying it all to yourself.
What jewellery could a man wear?
For me a watch, a wedding ring and very occasionally a collar pin which is a rare dandyish flourish I allow myself. I do wear cuff links from time to time but the vast majority of my shirts are made with cocktail or mitred one button cuffs, which I prefer both practically and stylistically. I love cufflinks though, they are a wonderful accessory and another sartorial rabbit hole to fall down. I’m not a fan of tie bars at all but that’s very much my choice – if you’re into skinny ties they’re part of that look. Similarly chains aren’t my thing but I can appreciate them so long as they don’t stray into medallion man territory. I really don’t like bangles I think they are too fussy and never look very fresh – grubby clutter. And all male piercings fill me with dread, that just isn’t something a gentleman should entertain.
Tie or a bowtie?
Tie. I love ties. I have over a hundred and really enjoy wearing them, even as they depressingly become a significantly decreased component of men’s wardrobes. I still wear Hayward ties from 20 years ago – if you take care of handmade ties they will last. I have a few from Brioni and Stefano Ricci but today I mostly buy them from Anderson and Shepherd – they still make them of a sufficient width – I loathe today’s trend of skinny, child-like ties, if you’re going to wear a length of silk around your neck make it look luxurious, not thrifty!
Do you remember your first jacket?
My first ever jacket was, I believe, a navy double breasted Daks blazer from Alders in Croydon in my late teens. I was a sartorial devotee from around the age of 17 and my embryonic style was summed up quite well in that purchase. My first bespoke jacket was a light grey sports jacked made for me by the late Doug Hayward which was my entry into the inescapable world of tailoring. It was – like everything he made – a thing of beauty.
What is your favourite watch?
Now that is tricky – like asking me to pick my favourite child! Of mine I think It is a four way tie between the gold Yacht Master II (the ultimate Summer/Holiday watch), the black and rose gold yacht master 40 on the oyster flex (the Ninja Rolex), the blue two tone submariner with a factory diamond dial because it’s the watch everyone wears but just a little bit different and the champagne sky dweller my wife bought me for my birthday – it is so elegant and understated. Everyone has a grail watch and mine is the outrageously ostentatious SARU GMT – a mesmerising piece but not one for daily wear!
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
Fountain Pen. I collect Montblanc pens and usually veer towards the fountain pens: another addiction. I like the rollerballs too but ballpoints make everything feel like filling out a form in a post office. Montblanc pens are exquisite. I love them all from the JFK to the Walt Disney, they are one of the great design classics and I really take pride in writing with them.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
For me it is my bespoke Frank Foster shirts – Roger Moore introduced me as a client to Frank in my mid-twenties and I’ve been a devoted customer ever since. I have bought more expensive (Stefano Ricci) and flamboyant (Angelo Galasso) shirts sporadically over the years but in terms of style, construction quality and élan nothing can compare. If I’m not wearing Frank Foster I feel like I’m wearing someone else’s shirt.
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
My wife – the only thing I truly want in life is more time with her.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Dirty Martinis. I’m not much of a cocktail drinker but having been introduced to these by a particularly salubrious character whose sole useful contribution this was, I found one I adore. Make ‘em fast and drink ‘em quick, it takes a fourth to make an appetite! It is also a decent gauge of the quality of a bar – if they look confused when you request such a simple drink to be made, it probably isn’t best to loiter.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
Sir Roger Moore. His James Bond movies opened my eyes to how men should dress and comport themselves and his personal style was clearly a huge influence on the character. He epitomised powerful elegance and always got it just right. Connery Bond’s colour palette was so monochromatic – Moore brought flair, colours and warmth to the character’s wardrobes. The best Bond ever looked in terms of what he wore was in the 3 80s Moore movies when Roger collaborated with Doug Hayward. I have a wardrobe bursting with navy blue blazers entirely down to his influence.
The best book you ever read?
The best is impossible, as an author myself I wouldn’t give myself the platform to say who is the best – favourites, however, include The Forbidden Territory by Dennis Wheatley (I love all that boys’ own derring do), The Box of Delights by John Masefield and the outrageous Sap Rising by AA Gill whose deliciously fruit prose never fails to make me laugh.
Which city should one go shopping?
Even without the depressingly endless cycle of lock downs we seem to find ourselves in, for me it has to be London. There’s nothing I can’t get there – clothes, watches, shoes, groceries (Fortnum & Mason is the global gold standard of food shopping and Partridge’s runs it a close second), there’s everything you want. And the Arcades around Piccadilly, particularly the Burlington, are exquisite. I do love European clothes, particularly Italian tailoring (as well as Brioni - D’Avenza and Castangia) and the district around Place Vendome in Paris is utterly joyous for sartorialists (I adore the store Hartwood – and the much-missed Aramis) but London is my home and in this case where my heart is.
Tweed or flannel?
Flannel. Grey flannel trousers are my absolute favourites – there’s virtually nothing they don’t compliment perfectly. As a Brioni fan I prefer country patterns in soft cashmeres and super-graded wools.
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
Now that is tricky because opulent surroundings don’t necessarily equate to an elegant experience. Wilton’s on Jermyn Street is certainly up there and I was a great fan of the much-missed Le Caprice. Out of London in the UK our favourite restaurant is a very authentic Italian called Rostick in Eastbourne on the South Coast. We recently took Tom Parker Bowles there to review it for the Mail On Sunday and he compared it to Scott’s. Outside of the UK in Paris I adore the Shang Palace under the beautiful Shangri-La Hotel, Rampoldi in Monaco and in Los Angeles Spago. But if I had to pick one truly elegant restaurant – and one that never lets you down – it would be The Ivy in West Street. A timeless, joyous retreat from the busy City.
Describe your style in three words?
Classic with flair.
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
I recently bought a Donegal Follifoot coat in Cordings that I’m besotted with – it is a real contrast to all of my other coats but I love the fit and the fabric. It has a real 80s New York feel to it… and is very warm!