SAM SMITH
THE 22 YEAR OLD BRITISH-BORN SINGER-SONGWRITER GIVES AN INSIGHT INTO HIS WORLD, FROM HIS FAVOURITE LONDON LANDMARKS TO HIS STYLE INSPIRATIONS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES LONDON MENSWEAR SO UNIQUE?
To me, London menswear is timeless. We are so good at making things look modern but classic at the same time.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LONDON BUILDING OR LANDMARK?
My favourite London building is St. Paul’s Cathedral (above). I used to work in a bar around the corner and at the end of every shift I would walk there at 3am. It’s so incredible at night andit reminds me of Mary Poppins!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE LONDON NEIGHBOURHOOD AND WHY?
I come from a small village in Hertfordshire and so I love the village- like feel of Hampstead (right). I also love independent coffee shops. It feels like you’ve discovered them yourself – your own secret place.
IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY DECADE, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
I would say towards the end of the 1940s and the beginning of 1950s. People put in so much more effort, but it was also the beginning of things getting a bit looser and casual. I would have also loved to have witnessed Yves Saint Laurent working for Dior and the birth of his own brand.
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON?
My style icon is Tom Ford. After seeing his film ‘A Single Man’ (above), I was entranced. It's all about the tailoring and the fit. There is complexity in the simplicity of his clothes.
WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND VISITING FOR A NEWCOMER TO LONDON?
For a London virgin, I would say the walk from London Bridge to Vauxhall on the South Bank is perfect – you get to see all the landmarks. I especially love the markets on the South Bank.
WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST EVER STAGE OUTFIT?
I loved the blazer I wore for my Glastonbury performance. When on stage, I like to keep things simple. I don't want to take away from the music.
WHERE WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO A SEASONED LONDONER?
I would say go to JoseĢ Pizzaro on Bermondsey Street. That area has changed so much but this place has stayed exactly the same. The food is amazing, the wine is good and it’s great for people watching.
WHICH BRITISH BRANDS DO YOU ADMIRE THE MOST?
I adore Agi & Sam. I wore their coats in my first two music videos. I will always love Alexander McQueen. I also love Casely-Hayford at the moment – the clothes are so chic and well-made.
TEO VAN DEN BROEKE
THE SENIOR STYLE EDITOR FOR ESQUIRE GIVES THE INSIDE TRACK ON HIS FAVOURITE HANGOUTS AROUND TOWN AND TELLS US ABOUT WHY LONDON’S MENSWEAR IS THE MOST EXCITING.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES LONDON MENSWEAR SO UNIQUE?
As a city, London has always moved to its own beat. Consequently we tend to have a very distinctive, unrelenting approach to whatever we produce – be it food, art, music or clothing. Perhaps it’s an island mentality or perhaps we’re just stubborn. Either way, London’s menswear scene is the most exciting of its kind anywhere in the world right now. Designers in London are more willing here than anywhere else to take traditional tropes and turn them on their head. Just look at the most innovative creative directors at some of the world’s most important fashion houses – Kim Jones at Louis Vuitton, Brendan Mullane at Brioni or Christopher Bailey at Burberry Prorsum – they’re all British and brilliant (in part, at least) because of it.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE LONDON NEIGHBOURHOOD AND WHY?
I recently moved to Camberwell in south east London and I’ve grown very attached. The area benefits from a lack of tube station, meaning that it has a village-y feel. The art school nearby also gives it a creative, youthful edge.
FAVOURITE RESTAURANT?
That is a tricky one. I love Indian food. Gymkhana in Mayfair is fantastic. For a more authentic experience try the amazing Pakistani food at east London’s Tayyabs, or the Bangladeshi fare at Chaat in Shoreditch.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE LONDON BUILDING OR LANDMARK?
I love the Chelsea Barracks, just because it feels so peaceful and established. I’m also very taken with the Chiltern Firehouse (above) in Marylebone – there’s something so incongruously grand about it. Christopher Wren’s Custom House, positioned on the Thames, is also very beautiful.
IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY DECADE WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
This is a really boring answer, but it would have to be this decade. Men have never had more choice. I bought a navy blue alpaca fur coat from Paul Smith recently, and when I wear it no one bats an eyelid. I’m pretty sure you couldn’t have said the same in any other decade (apart from, perhaps, the 60s).
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON?
Sir Robert Peel. I love the Regency period of the mid-1800s. Those high, bandage collar shirts teamed with waistcoats and topcoats looked so insouciant and louche. They also had great hair at that time.
THE BEST THING ABOUT LONDON IS...
I love Mount Street (although I need to do a shed load of extra freelance work to even consider setting foot over there). Redchurch Street in Shoreditch is also great. I love Sunspel (above), A.P.C
and Club Monaco’s good too.
FAVOURITE WATERING HOLE?
The Sun in Camberwell looks grotty from the outside but serves great food and draws a really fun crowd. The Old Coffee House in Soho is an old favourite, primarily due to its proximity to my office. I also love The Eagle (above) in Clerkenwell and the Draper’s Arms in Islington.
OLIVER CHESHIRE
THE LONDON-BORN MODEL AND LC:M FRONT ROW REGULAR TALK STYLE ICONS, HIS FAVOURITE HOMETOWN HANGOUTS AND WHAT HE’S MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO AT LC:M THIS SEASON.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE LONDON NEIGHBOURHOOD AND WHY?
I love the hustle and bustle of Shoreditch – there’s something for everyone. I’m also a fan of a good vintage shop which you can find lots of around there.
FAVOURITE WATERING HOLE?
It was great when TOPMAN had a pop-up pub during LC:M next to the Old Sorting Office. The Ten Bells (below) in Spitalfields is also great for a quick one; it’s Jack the Ripper’s old haunt and is draped in history.
FAVOURITE RESTAURANT?
Sergios in W1 is full of great memories for me. I meet my friends there quite often and the food is outstanding.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE LONDON BUILDING OR LANDMARK?
Although I love old buildings, I'm going to have to go with The Shard. I’ve been up there and the view is pretty spectacular.
IF YOU COULD LIVE IN ANY DECADE, WHICH WOULD IT BE AND WHY?
Right now, I’d have to say the 1970s. A lot of recent collections have taken influence from that decade and I really like the fun and free vibe that generation had.
WHICH SHOWS ARE YOU MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING AT LC:M AND WHY?
There’s always a lot of hype around the TOPMAN show and you never know what to expect. The Richard James shows have so much swagger for a Savile Row tailor and their front row is always full
of the coolest people.
WHO IS YOUR STYLE ICON?
I’ve got so many but being a ’90s kid and seeing David Beckham (above) grow and change his look with the times, I’m going to have to say him. I love how he always took risks with fashion when he was younger and now he knows what works for him and sticks to it and always looks great whether he’s casual or smart.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SHOPPING STREET?
Easy – Regent Street has it all.
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES LONDON MENSWEAR SO UNIQUE?
What I love about London is its diversity in style, culture and people, all mixed together in one thriving city. We’ve always been known for our amazing tailoring, but now we’re expanding our reputation for style into sports, streetwear and beyond with amazing success. London has always been at the forefront of new subcultures, with the Mods and Rockers, Punks and Swinging Sixties all being born here. I’m proud to be a Londoner, it’s home and during LC:M it comes to life even more than normal.
Oliver Cheshire Photographer Credit: Lawrence James Thomas