Benson and Clegg – The tailors of Picadilly Arcade
It must have been in 2012 that I entered the Benson & Clegg shop for the first time. I came very often in London and checked out every shop window in Mayfair and Picadilly looking for something to add to my wardrobe. British style has always been something that got my interest and walking along the gentleman’s outfitters, tailors and shirtmakers in London is the most enjoyable activity I can think of. My eye caught a pair of yellow gold cufflinks with a Fleur de Lys on it in Benson & Clegg’s shop window and before I reached the end of the Piccadilly Arcade I turned around to enter the shop of Benson & Clegg. In there I met the lovely Ken Austin, an older man who had a long lasting career in the London bespoke tailoring scene already. He carefully packed the cufflinks for me and before I paid we had a conversation of probably more than 1 hour about the bespoke tailoring scene in London. We appeared to have a lot of mutual contacts and out of my interest in bespoke tailoring I was so direct to ask if I could see the workshop, which wasn’t a problem for Ken at all. The shop in Piccadilly Arcade is tiny but it was able to fit a cutting room and a coat and trouser making room all in the shop which highly impressed me. I stayed in touch with Ken and every time I came in London I popped in, at one day the man who is now Managing Director was introduced to me at the shop and it was made clear to me that Ken would retire soon after. So I continued my relationship with Mark Gordon who took over in 2014.
Benson & Clegg’s history
The history of Benson & Clegg is, although they are certainly not the oldest bespoke tailoring shop in town, a very impressive one. It was in 1938 that Harry Benson and Thomas Clegg started a tailoring shop on 34 Bury Street in London. They decided after a career in the London bespoke tailoring scene as cutters to start their own business and bring their own unique style of tailoring to customers. The company expanded in their skills and services over the years and they got beside their exquisite bespoke tailoring also big in accessories like ties, buttons, badges and cufflinks. Of course all in the unmistakable British style. This accessories part got so famous that some people even might forget sometimes that they are fine bespoke tailors too. But the bespoke tailoring part of Benson & Clegg should not be underestimated as it got even Royal Attention from a very early stage.
In 1944 Benson & Clegg got already granted with a Royal Warrant to His Majesty King George VI after years of dedicated service to His Majesty. Benson & Clegg was responsible for making the formal attire and the military uniforms of His Majesty the King. This includes his famous Naval jacket in which one can see him on many photos from the past. In general His Majesty King George VI was known for dressing sophisticated and in a way that showed the essence of traditional British style. The Royal Family remained faithful to Benson & Clegg and in 1992 they were granted again with a Royal Warrant which was from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales this time. He was supplied already for a while with buttons, badges and military neckwear. Regimental ties are another specialty that Benson & Clegg developed quickly after they were established and got famous for.
The Regimental ties were not only noticed by the Royal Family but also the world of movie and TV knew to find their way over the years to Benson & Clegg for their specialties. In 1973 Benson & Clegg supplied a Royal Navy tie to the James Bond production Live & Let Die which was worn by Sir Roger Moore in the movie. It started a special relationship with the white screen as for nearly 50 years agent 007 and some of MI6’s top men have been wearing an array of accessories of Benson & Clegg. Also for other movie and TV productions like Peaky Blinders, The Crown, Poirot and Dracula Benson & Clegg has been favored to provide essentially British accessories and clothing.
Benson & Clegg ties & accessories
The wide range of ties and accessories from Benson & Clegg keeps being overwhelming me every time I visit the shop. The various colors, stripes, motifs, crests and structures make one feel like a child in a candy shop. There’s a wide range of Regimental ties of course which are reserved only for people who are serving that particular Regiment and actually shouldn’t be worn, at least not in the UK, by the civilians. Hard to resist since most of them are so incredibly beautiful. But thankfully there is a good selection of stripes that are safe to wear for civilians too and which will give a rather similar look with a wonderful club blazer. Another field of ties that is always attractive are the Ancient Madder silk ties. These are handprinted in England and have a very soft touch and rich color palette. It’s another part of the classic British wardrobe that many people recognize.
The blazer buttons are probably the most impressive of it all. I haven’t found a shop in the world yet or a supplier that has a better and larger selection then Benson & Clegg. Bespoke tailors from all over the world order them at Benson & Clegg and I know some famous gentlemen who only visit Benson & Clegg because of the buttons. For nearly 40 years this is their specialty and they have them made in the famous Birmingham Jewelry Quarter. Made in a way that hasn’t changed in centuries. This specialty of the blazer buttons has given Benson & Clegg a reputation of the leading authority on the traditional club blazer that has become an icon of British Style.
From blazer buttons it’s an easy move to cufflinks and badges which are two other specialties of the tailoring house that people from all over the world know to find them for. The badges which are often from a club, a regiment or a university are sewn on the pockets of traditional club blazers and at Benson & Clegg one can find them in a large variety. Cufflinks are of course the finishing touch on every outfit and one of the few items of jewelry a men can wear. Benson & Clegg has a wide variety in steel and sterling silver and in particular the enameled ones are stunning. Besides fun designs, classic designs and minimalistic designs we also see in cufflinks crests of clubs, regiments and universities coming back which fits wonderfully to their badges and blazer buttons.
Braces, tie bars, collar bars and shirts are also available at the bespoke tailors of Piccadilly Arcade. For the latest James Bond movie ‘’No Time To Die’’ Benson & Clegg even delivered a pair of braces and a tie bar which Daniel Craig alias James Bond is wearing.
Benson & Clegg bespoke tailoring
Since Benson & Clegg are bespoke tailors they are of course still having the right skills for bespoke tailoring in the house. And was before Ken Austin their cutter and after, Tony Martin, since a couple of years they have the very talented Oliver Cross at the head of their tailoring atelier. Oliver is probably one of the most passionate tailors you ever meet. He was inspired already by the craft of bespoke tailoring at the age of 17 and developed his passion and his skills over the years. He spend time with the famous cutter Malcolm Plews at Meyer & Mortimer which are very old and famous tailors who once cutted for Beau Brummel, the King of Dandies.
Every single garment is still cut and made in St. James’s the area of London where Benson & Clegg is located. In fact it’s all done in their own premises. In every garment over 50 hours of work goes in and it goes through the stages of cutting making, doing a fitting, making further, doing a fitting and possibly adjusting. Well, the well-known bespoke tailoring process basically. They’re working with the best British fabrics and trimmings and they take the best care possible of every garment. Since so much handwork goes into every garment this is a costly but definitely worth it purchase. But in the occasion this is not in your budget yet and you would love to be dressed in the unmistakable British style of Benson & Clegg you can choose for their Made to Measure option. You will be measured and fitted by the skilled tailors eye of Oliver Cross but your garments will be produced in a factory. However the fit will be second to none since Oliver looks to this from a tailors perspective, and yes there is a difference whether Made to Measure is measured by a skilled tailor or somebody who just had a course of a few hours. A bespoke tailor trained for years to observe the anatomy of a body like a doctor and sees every slight thing that has to be taken care of at the measurements.
The international service of Benson & Clegg
Traveling to London is of course the most delightful experience one can have to have a bespoke suit made or just buy some accessories. But for those who rarely travel there Benson & Clegg is doing Trunk Shows in the USA and sells their accessories as well as some Ready to Wear online and ships to all over the world. With the clear pictures and prompt delivery you won’t have to be afraid for a less delightful experience and it brings for sure a piece of St. James’s to your doorstep. For more information of their accessories, bespoke tailoring and their Trunk Shows it’s worth it to check out their website.
Benson & Clegg
9 Picadilly Arcade
Jermyn Street
London
SWIY 6NH
United Kingdom