AT 19 PICCADILLY, on a corner formed by the junction of Air Street, stands a landmark that is to my mind every bit as synonymous with London as the Houses of Parliament, the doubledecker bus or Nelson's Column. It is Cordings, a temple of tweed, corduroy and moleskin that has been outfitting gentlemen - and ladies, too - since 1839. This shop has been here since 1877, having relocated from The Strand, and it remains today what it has been for a century or more: a place where a countryman feels at home in the heart of the seething metropolis.
And as this veritable Sirius in Britain's sartorial firmament is celebrating 185 years since one John Charles Cording founded his business as an 'outfitter and waterproofer, what better time to pay a visit? I am greeted in reception where a gleaming cabinet contains some 600 different pairs of socks - by Cordings' co-proprietor and managing director Noll Uloth, a quietly spoken entrepreneur who acquired Cordings in 2003 with his business partner, the musician Eric Clapton. Uloth, a former Royal Hussar, leads us down the creaking staircases to menswear to begin a journey through time, space and twine.
"The product that we're famous for is the covert coat," he announces. "The Victoria & Albert Museum has a Cordings covert coat in its archives. We are credited with being its originator." It will require little introduction to readers of The Field, and remains a staple of every gentleman's wardrobe as well as any gangster film directed by Guy Ritchie, who is a Cordings devotee. The particular greenish-brown shade means horsehair doesn't show on it. Uloth explains: "It's light and tough, and it's still made out of the same cloth by Fox Brothers & Co in Somerset."
Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av The Field.
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Denne historien er fra October 2024-utgaven av The Field.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Going over old ground
Forget modern tractors and minimum tillage - there is something glorious about the sight of farmer, horse and vintage plough in perfect harmony
Return of the natives
There is nothing as satisfying as creating a magical miniature woodland or conservation hedgerow using our native trees - and now is the best time to start.
Tagging the Cornish tunny
Enormous Atlantic bluefin tuna are once again making waves in UK waters almost a century after their showstopping appearance in the North Sea
In it for the long haul
It may have fallen out of favour at the elite level but long-format three-day eventing is still proving popular with grassroots riders
Unpicking the story of hunt buttons
These treasured tokens are bestowed only upon those who go above and beyond in service of their hunt but the rules around them can be complex
A place of tradition in the heart of town
Cordings has helped shape the sartorial landscape of Britain for 185 years, with its classic country tailoring a firm staple of many sporting wardrobes
Don't play it by ear
Hearing loss can have a devastating impact on day-to-day life, making ear protection a non-negotiable piece of field kit
Back to base-ics
Britain's famously unpredictable climate can make staying comfortable in the field a challenge but the right under layers can be a game changer
Stand and deliver
A good stance provides the platform for shotgun marksmanship and is fundamental to consistent success in the field or breaking clays
Heaven is a High Four
A team of guns enjoy a day of the finest sport Devon has to offer, courtesy of the GWCT and a quartet of generous shoot owners