I’ve at all times had a smooth spot for Dunhill – in some ways it must be the flag-bearer for British luxurious menswear, however there hasn’t at all times been one thing there for me.
Not too long ago, nevertheless, issues appear to have actually improved. I used to be within the Bourdon Home retailer final month and the standard of the knits, the tailoring and significantly the suede outerwear was distinctive. It felt like what I hope to search out at Purple Label, however not often do.
There’s a shearling automobile coat, for instance, that appears comparatively unusual within the lookbook – an uncommon gray color, positive, and a barely uncommon size, however nothing to leap out at you. However in individual, the shearling is de facto substantial, virtually stiff, and there are nice particulars, like calf-leather trim on the cuffs.
Design sensible the gathering appears to take a seat in the course of a tough Venn diagram: pure British traditionalism on one facet, outlined by somebody like Cordings; British fantasy on one other, all Polo suede and gray flannel; and that quirky Englishness of florals and brilliant cords.
It’s not a simple place to get proper, however they appear to be doing it fairly nicely. There’s suede outerwear, for instance, however not as light-weight and smooth as you’d get from an Italian model; there are brilliant cords however they’re dusty pink and citrine, moderately than one thing louder.
And most curiously, there are refined up to date facets to plenty of the cuts. Among the knitwear is somewhat larger, somewhat off the shoulder; some coats are intentionally roomy and flowing. For me that is an space with plenty of potential, as a result of it locations Dunhill in a candy spot between the massive vogue manufacturers and the normal outfitters – a spot few individuals are actually occupying.
Traditional menswear usually wants a push, however not an enormous one – and that appears to be what the artistic director Simon Holloway is giving it.
Under are a few of my favourites, intentionally chosen from totally different classes. I additionally bought a while to speak to Simon final month, so I’ve added in his feedback for element.
1: Wool pea coat
The fabric of this pea coat is a thick, English merino, however it’s softer than a extra conventional melton, which may get moderately board-like. You get the identical feeling of substance with the pocket linings, that are executed in sturdy corduroy on the highest, hand-warmer set, and with the strong brass buttons.
“The collar on a pea coat has to pop, actually get up, in any other case it’s one thing else,” stated Simon. “We tried so many materials, English and Italian, earlier than we bought this mixture of durability however softness.”
The match is barely modernised, with a small drop within the shoulder and massive match within the chest; conventional pea coats are very a lot straight up-and-down. The one factor I’d change if I may is the Martingale-style belt on the again, however some will most likely like that element.
2: Cashmere intarsia high-neck jumper
Match is the very first thing I’d give attention to right here. As quickly as you set it on, you realise this isn’t actually a bit of basic menswear – the physique is wider and squarer, the shoulders dropped. It’s slouchy but doesn’t really feel overstyled. It’s just like the type of factor Connolly do of their shared-wardrobe assortment, and the course Loro Piana has trended extra not too long ago with knitwear.
The color is actual menswear navy, very darkish, and the windowpane is satisfyingly uncommon but refined. It’s additionally intarsia knitted, so all these checks have been labored in by hand. “This can be a barely extra up to date piece, however it was made in Scotland,” says Simon.
“I believe Dunhill has a freedom in its collections that comes from its different previous. We began with driving clothes and automobile equipment, however then did ladieswear at one level, have been finest identified for tailoring at one other, and beginning making in Italy within the early seventies. We’ve sought out the most effective elsewhere and tied it to British custom.”
3: Silk belted night jacket
This tailor-made jacket is a working example, as a result of it has fairly a pointy silhouette but may be very gentle, with smooth canvas within the physique and little or no within the shoulder. The design is a tailor-made jacket that occurs to have a belt. It fastens with common buttons, however you possibly can put the belt spherical for somewhat swagger and even tie it simply on the again.
I’d by no means actually thought-about silk for night put on till I attempted on this specific printed navy. “That’s an English silk, printed in Macclesfield,” says Simon. “We’ve pretty subdued colors usually, however I additionally love how these English prints are extra matte than elsewhere.”
The Dunhill tailoring is usually nicely made: a hand-attached collar, hand-attached lining, one piece of dealing with across the in-breast pockets. The lapel buttonhole is sewn by hand, which provides an ornamental element, whereas the remaining are by machine.
4: Wool/cashmere double-breasted coat
“This comes from an archive piece from close to the start of Dunhill’s historical past, within the Edwardian period,” says Simon. “The unique was in a heavy tweed, but in addition had a button-out leather-based lining, to behave as a windstopper.”
The fashionable model continues to be an enormous, roomy coat, however the materials is far lighter and softer: a reasonably loosely woven wool/cashmere mix with Donegal-like flecks within the twill. It’s enveloping however not heavy, and fastens up properly throughout the chest and neck. It seems to be like an archive piece however seems like a up to date one.
The lower gained’t be for everybody, because it’s lengthy and straight and the belt on the again is extra ornamental than practical. However that is the purpose in some ways – leaning somewhat extra into vogue means the piece is extra distinctive, which additionally means it isn’t everybody’s type.
5: Mount two-piece leather-based slipper
Grecian slippers have loved a little bit of a resurgence each amongst basic outfitters (eg Bryceland’s) and vogue (eg Lemaire). They match very nicely alongside the silk jackets and robes at Dunhill: “An excellent portion of our night put on is aimed on the man who doesn’t need to put on a daily tux, so we give plenty of totally different choices to play with,” says Simon (under).
“Once more we went on the lookout for the best by way of building and that was extra Italian than English – a positive calf, a extra versatile building. We additionally labored laborious on the final form, to make it comfy and somewhat extra masculine.
The padding and building are actually very comfy, and the only real is made to be wearable outside in addition to in. In truth the one place you get extra stiffness than in some makes is within the heel cup, however that makes it sit higher across the foot as nicely.
The costs of the items and precise product names are listed under. It is all costly, however that is what you’d anticipate from a designer model. The numerous factor for me is that the standard of the merchandise truly lives as much as it – that is a number of the best-made menswear anyplace.
And the designs are nice – I might like to personal all of the above, and several other extra items moreover. There are only a few manufacturers I can say that about at present.
Particulars, full names and costs, so as:
- Wool peacoat, £4,100
- Cashmere test intarsia high-neck jumper, £2,150
- Wool-cashmere twill windowpane archive double-breasted coat, £4,200
- Silk printed bourdon double-breasted night jacket, £3,100
- Mount two-piece slipper leather-based, £775
