Actor Gary Oldman and his love of fashion

TM · Apr 9, 2012

The Telegraph in the UK has a nice article about actor Gary Oldman and his life-time love of fashion, both personally and as a performer. Rather nice!

Here's the article:

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/article/TMG9188999/Gary-Oldman-Dressing-the-part.html

Tony

Chasseur · Apr 9, 2012

Thank you for sharing that, it was a nice read. I've always like him, and now I like him more now I know he has a thing for 1930s suits!

Captain Lex · Apr 9, 2012

As if I needed another reason to love Gary Oldman!

Two Types · Apr 9, 2012

It was interesting to read that he used to shop at 'Blax', my favourite ever vintage shop and whose owner made some suits for me.

St. Valentine · Apr 9, 2012

Great actor and a congenial person too. Quite a fun read.

Frank

Feraud · Apr 9, 2012

Thanks for posting the article. I appreciate Oldman's lifelong love of clothing and in particular his evolving sense of style. He commented on points we frequently discuss around here like dressing for the occasion, the lack of sartorial effort in certain cities, and an appreciation and inspiration from the past when it comes to clothing choices.

From the article-

I know some people don't wear bow ties to these events, but I do. I feel a bit naked without a tie, to be honest. And I have considered bringing back the white dinner jacket. But, for now, I'm having a classic tuxedo made.

Oldman would love browsing some of our suit threads!!

I saw photos of the runway walk he did with Adrian Brody, Tim Roth, Willen Dafoe. They showed off some cool pieces.

herringbonekid · Apr 9, 2012

Two Types said:
It was interesting to read that he used to shop at 'Blax', my favourite ever vintage shop and whose owner made some suits for me.

when did Blax close ? i'm not sure if i ever went there. it might be just before my time.

Two Types · Apr 10, 2012

herringbonekid said:
when did Blax close ? i'm not sure if i ever went there. it might be just before my time.

Rosamund closed the shop in early 1992, just after I bought my first suit. Then she worked from home for a while, but gave up on vintage fashion around 1995. I recently tried to find her, but to no avail. I was hoping she might still have some stock left around (such as the case full of vintage 1930s ties) that she would want to sell. The last time I saw Rosamund she still had rolls of vintage cloth stored in her garage.
In my opinion 'Blax' was the best of all the vintage shops, simply because everything appeared to be deadstock. My wife has a 1930s coat that Rosamund got from a clothing factory. When she found it in the 1980s it was unfinished: she resized it and put in the lining for my wife. It is truly beautiful.

Flat Foot Floey · Apr 10, 2012

Really interesting interview. Thanks for sharing. I just wonder about Paul Smith. Of course I bowsed their website but couldn't find anything that would catch my eye.

herringbonekid · Apr 10, 2012

my pedantic side has spotted an error in Gary's knowledge: "The trousers hung beautifully as they had a turn-up that was weighted with a little piece of leather"

the strip of leather sometimes found in vintage trousers isn't a weight (the bottoms are heavy enough already with all that turn up)... it's to stop the rear bottom edge wearing away against your shoe.

billyspew · Apr 10, 2012

Flat Foot Floey said:
Really interesting interview. Thanks for sharing. I just wonder about Paul Smith. Of course I bowsed their website but couldn't find anything that would catch my eye.

It's generally a thoroughly modern style, very slim fitting, there's always one or two things in his collections I'd like but having experienced his stuff before, the quality vs price differential is enormous. Nothing I've bought him there has lasted more than a year of normal wear (except cuff-links, even then two pairs fell apart fairly quickly).

herringbonekid · Apr 10, 2012

Two Types said:
Rosamund closed the shop in early 1992, just after I bought my first suit. Then she worked from home for a while, but gave up on vintage fashion around 1995.

thanks TT, and yes, that's a bit too early for me although i think i've heard the shop mentioned before. (do you know the old address of it ?) i moved to London when i was 19 (in 1990) and although i used to go to Camden market and Flip i wasn't into the 30s and 40s then, although i did have a bit of a 'Room with a View' inspired Edwardian phase when i was about 21.

Two Types · Apr 10, 2012

'Blax' was on Sicilian Avenue. The menswear was in a shop on the western side of the street. The womens was on the eastern side (The site of the womens shop is now occupied by a mens clothing shop which offers a shirt making service that I have used on a number of occasions).

My most vivid memory of my first visit was the sight of a row of perfect condition 1930s, wide legged trousers. There must have been 15 pairs, every single one in immaculate condition. She had found them unfinished in a factory and finished them ready for sale. If only I had actually had some money in those days. In fact, I spoke with Roy who runs the 'Vintage Showroom' on Earlham Street. He said that back in the 1980s he used to go in there simply to marvel at the clothing on offer.

In typical fashion, Rosamund had to close the shops after the landlords doubled her rent. The shops then sat empty for a number of years until they were finally let - to someone who was paying the same rent that she had paid all those years before. So that was a good business ruined for no reason other than a landlord's misguided greed.

herringbonekid · Apr 10, 2012

Two Types said:
My most vivid memory of my first visit was the sight of a row of perfect condition 1930s, wide legged trousers.

alright, alright, don't rub it in.

i worked briefly at 'Cenci' on Monmouth street (in 2001). they also closed (or moved rather... but have never been the same since) due to a ridiculous rent increase.

Two Types · Apr 10, 2012

herringbonekid said:
alright, alright, don't rub it in.

The thing is, much as thought the trousers were fantastic, there was no way that I (as an impoverished student) could have afforded them.

Cenci was anothr shop that I was always impressed by but never really saw anything that i really wanted and could afford (although I did get the tie for my wedding from there). What always impressed me the most were the lage amounts of deadstock shirts in their original packaging. If I remember rightly, they had good connections in Switzerland (or Austria?), which provided their stock of shirts.
Any idea what the shop in West Norwood is like these days? Is it worth my dropping in (especially since it's fairly close to where I live)?

herringbonekid · Apr 10, 2012

Two Types said:
...If I remember rightly, they had good connections in Switzerland (or Austria?), which provided their stock of shirts.
Any idea what the shop in West Norwood is like these days? Is it worth my dropping in (especially since it's fairly close to where I live)?

i haven't been back to their warehouse/shop in about three years, but most of my european vintage shirts have come from them, but before they relocated to the warehouse.
apparently the clothing came from a recycling plant in Italy. a contact of the owner would keep all of the vintage stuff aside before it went into the masher and off for respinning as recycled cotton / wool etc.

AntonAAK · Apr 11, 2012

Two Types said:
Cenci was anothr shop that I was always impressed by but never really saw anything that i really wanted and could afford (although I did get the tie for my wedding from there). What always impressed me the most were the lage amounts of deadstock shirts in their original packaging. If I remember rightly, they had good connections in Switzerland (or Austria?), which provided their stock of shirts.
Any idea what the shop in West Norwood is like these days? Is it worth my dropping in (especially since it's fairly close to where I live)?

I pop into the West Norwood shop from time to time as I am just down the road in Streatham Hill. They have a largish selection but it's quite difficult to browse. The suits are so tightly packed on the rails that it's practically impossible to get them in and out. I've not bought anything from there but I still give it a try every few months. I tend to have more luck at Hornet's and have scored quite a few good suits there.

billyspew · Apr 11, 2012

Two Types said:
The thing is, much as thought the trousers were fantastic, there was no way that I (as an impoverished student) could have afforded them.

Cenci was anothr shop that I was always impressed by but never really saw anything that i really wanted and could afford (although I did get the tie for my wedding from there). What always impressed me the most were the lage amounts of deadstock shirts in their original packaging. If I remember rightly, they had good connections in Switzerland (or Austria?), which provided their stock of shirts.
Any idea what the shop in West Norwood is like these days? Is it worth my dropping in (especially since it's fairly close to where I live)?

Vintage store in West Norwood?? I didn't know about this place - I live a couple of miles from there! Must give it a try.

HoundstoothLuke · Apr 11, 2012

billyspew said:
It's generally a thoroughly modern style, very slim fitting, there's always one or two things in his collections I'd like but having experienced his stuff before, the quality vs price differential is enormous. Nothing I've bought him there has lasted more than a year of normal wear (except cuff-links, even then two pairs fell apart fairly quickly).

Sounds fairly normal for most "designer" clothes. I remember buying a Ted Baker suit once, which fell apart after 4 months of normal wear. Overpriced, flimsy, badly made rubbish that it was.

Evan · Apr 12, 2012

I always liked him, good to know he has some pretty good taste.

Actor Gary Oldman and his love of fashion

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