PICTURED: MARK GORDON AND OLIVER CROSS.
Jermyn Street’s Open Door Series will be honouring the brands and businesses that make our street the home of gentleman’s style, and the pinnacle of British craftsmanship, by spotlighting your favourite brands, and the people behind them, as we get ready to invite you through our doors once more!
Benson & Clegg was founded in 1937, and are renowned for their bespoke tailoring, iconic blazer and welcoming ethos.
Harry Benson and Thomas Clegg were well-established West End cutters before striking out on their own and founding Benson & Clegg. Their first store was at 34 Bury Street but, in 1976, they moved to the famous Piccadilly Arcade. They wanted to make bespoke tailoring accessible to all, and their welcoming and personable approach soon earned them a loyal following. They earned their first Royal Warrant from George VI in 1944 and their reputation for exquisite tailoring continued to grow, with their innovative approach continually placing them at the forefront of design.
Harry Benson was responsible both for the design of Benson and Clegg’s first iconic blazer, which changed the landscape of bespoke tailoring, and also the backless evening dress waistcoat, which was popularised by the royalty and aristocracy of the time and remains a mainstay of gentleman’s formal dress to this day. Since their inception, Benson & Clegg have been known as a leading authority on the traditional blazer, which they believe is the backbone of a tailored wardrobe. Their house cut is the epitome of classic menswear and, though the style of their blazer has evolved over the decades, it retains much of Harry Benson’s original design. Roped shoulders and wide, sweeping lapels bring strength and breadth to the torso, a nipped-in waist and flared skirt extenuating the line of the body, creating a marriage of form and function, style and practicality.
Benson & Clegg take bespoke tailoring very seriously and have a unique tailoring lounge where you are invited to enjoy a multi-sensory experience, and the Piccadilly Arcade and Jermyn Street, home to some of the finest purveyors of luxury in the world, is the perfect setting for this. Their 9 Piccadilly Arcade retail space, complete with dark wood panelling and atmospheric lighting, is designed to showcase their menswear collection, whereas if you are in the market for a bespoke piece – the tailoring lounge is where you need to be. Simply ascend the stairs at the back of the store to enter a sanctum of calm where you’re made to feel like one of the Benson & Clegg family. Having partnered with some of their famous neighbours, Benson & Clegg invite you to enjoy a cocktail from their Berry Bros & Rudd bar or simply relax with a cup of tea from Fortnum & Mason as you work with one of their master cutters on your bespoke piece. Benson & Clegg don’t just supply you with an exquisite bespoke item, they offer you a truly memorable experience.
The company’s expertise does not end with tailoring and they have successfully developed a considerable range of menswear accessories, such as neckwear, buttons, badges and cufflinks, for which they earned their second Royal Warrant, this time from Prince Charles, in 1992. Benson & Clegg remains at the forefront of classic gentleman’s attire by continuing to evolve, as they strive to push the boundaries of modern menswear while still celebrating their rich heritage in all they do.