New boutique for luxury menswear brand Richard James is inspired by its archival designs.
Down on Clifford Street, in central Mayfair, sits a white Georgian townhouse. Confident in its demeanour, the only all-white house on the street has a secret. Hidden behind its neutral walls lies a world of colour. Richard James House is the new boutique and workspace of the rebellious Savile Row tailor, Richard James.
Taking reference from the brand’s archives, international interior designer David Thomas saturated the walls in the rich hues of Blue Pearl, Noon Whiskey yellow and deep Georgetown red tones, while adding in Richard James’ signature silk-tie patterns, including polka dot stair runners and striped curtains, as well as custom rugs inspired by its pocket square designs. Speaking about the £2m refurbishment, Thomas says, ‘I knew Richard James was known for colour, and is different from the rest of the Row. But I always do my research first. Sean [Dixon, the co-founder and MD] gave me a copy of the Richard James book, and one of the first things I did was to go through the fabric archive with Toby [Lamb, the design and brand director]. The idea for the astrologer wallpaper [found in the store’s first-floor fitting room] came from watching Irene [Luk] embellish an evening jacket with Swarovski crystals. I worked with Kevin [Medley, the bespoke manager], to make sure the clothes rails were the right height.’
‘Richard James House is the new boutique and workspace of the rebellious Savile Row tailor, Richard James’
While ready-to-wear, bespoke, exclusive limited editions and in-store one-offs greet customers on the ground floor, the first-floor space has been reimagined as a new-age gentlemen’s club, with a delicious cocktail bar and mid-century seating, the confident use of colour, texture and pattern reflecting the brand’s approach to tailoring. Sean Dixon says, ‘The first-floor fitting room is sizeable but, importantly, it is also intimate. Having a bespoke suit made with us is a special, very personal process and the environment has to be conducive to that.’
‘We know that the Savile Row experience can be little intimidating, and we want to break away from that perception. I hope people will feel free to come here to check it out – even to come for a drink. As well as being a store, our new home is supposed to be just that – a home, and not just a tailoring “house”.’ The space will also be used to host events and special guest talks, as well as offering a platform to young menswear designers to speak about their collections.
‘The confident use of colour, texture and pattern reflects the brand’s approach to tailoring’
Beloved by Hollywood A-listers and music icons alike, Richard James House pays homage to Britpop and the part it played in menswear’s success with magazine covers of Robert De Niro, Dustin Hoffman and Hugh Grant adorning a tailor-made lift connecting all floors. But perhaps even more impressive than its stellar clientele is the boutique’s selection of fabrics. Underneath a vintage 1970s Murano chandelier are some 10,000 British and Italian-milled examples, from naturally dyed tweed to lightweight linens – one of the biggest selections ever offered in luxury menswear. In doing so, the brand stays true to Richard’s core belief: ‘A tailor is nothing without the cloth he cuts.’
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