The English Gentleman at The Cabinet War Rooms proved to be an undoubted highlight of last week’s London Collections: Men.

Following on from last season’s hugely successful presentation at Lord’s cricket ground, Savile Row and the finest shirt makers, boot makers and hatters of St James’s again joined forces to put on another stunningly original show.

Sir Winston Churchill’s subterranean WWII command centre was magically brought to life as numerous immaculately dressed models were joined by a number of actors and friends of Savile Row including  Sir Michael Gambon, Kenneth Cranham, Sir John Standing Bt., David Furnish and the author and journalist AA Gill in reenacting life as it was at the height of the last war.

The preeminent fashion journalist Suzy Menkes reported in the International New York Times:  “The result was a wistful, yet powerful visual creation of what ‘Britishness’ used to stand for in men’s fashion – and proof that the images of that era still look relevant seventy years later.”

The show was devised and organised by Anda Rowland of Savile Row Bespoke Association founding member Anderson & Sheppard and styled by Jo Levin, Creative Fashion Director of British GQ. As has been the case with each of The English Gentleman shows, the entire Anderson & Sheppard team worked tirelessly on the production of The Cabinet War Rooms presentation for in excess of three months, generously incurring major costs in doing so.

Commented Anda, “Training and safeguarding the future is a hugely important part of working life on Savile Row and one of the most satisfying aspects of The English Gentleman is that the younger members of tailoring houses and the apprentices can all get involved and make some of the garments.

“A big part of our job as the proprietors of Savile Row tailoring houses is to inspire a new generation of customers for our apprentices to look after in future years. We need to spark the interest of a younger audience who will aspire to dress in bespoke Savile Row suits. And the enthusiastic worldwide coverage that The English Gentleman receives goes a long way towards achieving that.”

The Savile Row Bespoke Association (SRBA) members that contributed to The English Gentleman at The Cabinet War Rooms were: Anderson & Sheppard, Chittleborough & Morgan, Gieves & Hawkes, Henry Poole & Co., H. Huntsman & Co. and Richard James Bespoke. They were joined  by SRBA associate member Lutwyche.

In addition to Anderson & Sheppard's remarkable contribution, the show also benefited from the generous support of SRBA partners Chivas and Woolmark.