The English Gentleman at Lord's Cricket Ground - The Road to Lord's - June 2013

The June 2013 presentation was a celebration of great British style and sportsmanship. English sporting pursuits have always created specialist attire, either to facilitate the playing of a game, or to denote membership of a particular sporting club. Preeminent among the traditional sporting wardrobe are the blazer, the sports jumper and the striped club tie, and it was these items that underpinned the outfits assembled for The English Gentleman project at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Using archival imagery for reference, creative director Jo Hambro uncovered many instances where British men had combined pieces from the sporting wardrobe with elements of more conventional summer daywear. This habit has been taken up and popularised by the Americans whose preppy style – made famous by the likes of Tommy Hilfiger (who, incidentally, attended this presentation) and Ralph Lauren – is essentially based on the habit of US college students adopting elements of the uniforms of British sporting activities. Based on the Ivy League style of dress from the first half of the century, preppy style is now considered the preserve of the Americans. It has its origins, however, closer to home.