If you stroll through London’s West End, you’re likely to happen upon one of the capital’s most historic and fashionable streets †Jermyn Street. Sat parallel to Piccadilly, and in the heart of theatre land, Jermyn Street has a rich and fascinating history that is palpable even today. It seems the little stretch has been spared by the brashness of modernization, which has to be said is a bit of a rarity nowadays. Its past dates back to 1664, when the Earl of St Albans, Henry Jermyn, was ordered by none other than Charles II to develop a fashionable area close to his abode, St James’s Palace. It was to be somewhere for the elite to brush shoulders with the elite; a place where the sophistication of royalty could be brought to the high street. Aristocratic beginnings made way for an aristocratic future, and Jermyn Street developed a world renowned reputation as the place to be for elegant and refined gentlemen’s fashion, in particular bespoke, tailor-made men’s shirts. Using the finest cotton in the world, Jermyn Street’s shirtmakers most likely measured, cuffed, and collared some of history’s most prominent figures, including Sir Isaac Newton and the Duke of Marlborough, who famously lived in the area. Even Louis Napoleon took up residence there, staying at the Brunswick Hotel after his escape from captivity in the fortress of Ham. Using the alias Count D'Arenberg (he couldn’t of thought of anything less conspicuous?), he may have had time to nip out for a spot of shopping. After all, it’s important to look your best even if you’re on the run! And let’s not forget the famous Highwayman, William Plunkett, who also lived on the street. Given his notoriety as the â€gentleman highwayman’, he could well have donned a bespoke shirt while he went about his business as an outlaw! Fast forward a few hundred years, and Jermyn Street continues to house the cream of the crop. But one anecdote is rather tragic - big band singer Al Bowlly was killed by the explosion of a parachute mine outside his Jermyn Street flat during the Blitz of 1941. Through this rich tapestry emerges a street that has remained firmly on the discerning man’s fashion radar. But nowadays Jermyn Street not only upholds its reputation as the world’s most renowned place for men’s tailor-made shirts, it also brings quality and elegance to ladies clothing, fine dining, theatre goers, and bars. If you want sophistication and class, it’s certainly the place to be. So next time you walk down Jermyn Street, have a think about its rich history, and the fascinating historical figures who walked the same pavements over three hundred years ago. It just shows that quality is timeless, and whether you’re a 19th Century Lord, or a 21st Century lad, nothing beats a tailor made shirt from the one of the world’s most prestigious and fashionable streets.
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