Henry Poole & Co.: The First Tailor of Savile Row

There are few brick and mortar establishments that can boast a history of more than two centuries, yet Henry Poole & Co. continues to thrive on Savile Row even in this age of the internet and dressed-down work wear.

The business is genetic, inherited, and generational as it is still in the ownership of the Poole family as it has been since its beginning. What is most intriguing is that no matter the client, Henry Poole remains the tailor of choice from generation to generation of clients no matter if you are royalty, a descendant of great wealth, or just a gentleman or woman who understands and appreciates the meaning of Savile Row bespoke tailoring.

James Sherwood provides us with 60 chapters of Henry Poole & Co.’s prestigious and notable clientele. These sorts of profiles offer the insight into the loyalty and the gravitational pull that a brand such as Henry Poole still retains to this day. Within each of the 60 you get a sort of some historical background of each individual, their family, as well as a mindset of the era in which they lived.

Out of the 60, this reader believes most names will be unfamiliar to the prospective reader, while the ones that are recognizable would be familiar to anyone with some knowledge of history..

One of the great appeals of the monograph is that it is an easy read in terms of holding one’s interest and it allows you to put it down and pick it back up at your leisure without feeling that you have lost momentum.

Although it might be fair to assume that based on the information proffered by Sherwood that even if you have a little interest in fashion but have a natural curiosity about what a certain lifestyle was all about then this book might provide some insight as well as appease your curiosity.

Keep in mind that the book is not lavishly illustrated, but each client is depicted at least once, some in their Poole finery, and there are some images from the shop and its descendants. It is definitely not a photo album, but a book that needs to be read in order to absorb its substance.