NEWS Darkest Hour takes top prize in Hollywood B


RITISH FILM FANS no doubt cheered loudly when Gary Oldman won


the Oscar for Best Actor at the 90th Academy Awards but there would have been an extra cheer coming from behind the doors at 15 Savile Row. That’s because the expert team at Henry Poole were called in by the makers of Darkest Hour to ensure all the suits worn by Oldman as Sir Winston Churchill and Ben Mendelsohn as King George VI were accurate. Simon Cundey, MD at Henry


Poole, was delighted to have been part of such a successful production. “We were so happy to create costumes for both Gary


8 SAVILE ROW STYLE MAGAZINE


Oldman and Ben Mendelsohn,” he said. “Working with costume designer Jaqueline Durran and her assistant Andrea Cripps, our director Keith Levett, an expert himself in costume history, vice chairman Philip Parker and I were given broad guidance as to what (director) Joe Wright wanted in terms of colour. Keith scoured the internet for images of both Churchill and King George VI so as to determine how well-worn each character’s clothes might be. There were certain subtle details to take into account like the front and back creases in Churchill’s sleeves which might have otherwise been missed.


“Based on this research, Philip cut the patterns with Keith on hand to make sure everything was period correct. The cut cloth was given to three of our finest tailors who did a terrific job. There was much discussion over the details; the buttons etc, as well as whether the King’s ranking lace ought to be tarnished down and to what extent Gary Oldman’s clothes ought to be aged/broken down. The Reefer jacket’s sleeves were laced correctly for an Admiral of the Fleet, Keith advising that they ought to be left in immaculate condition and untarnished, just as the King would’ve worn them. Authenticity was everything.” n


Henry Poole in Savile Row highlights its work with the film. “We were so happy to create costumes for both Gary Oldman and Ben Mendelsohn,” said MD Simon Cundey


Stories from


the Row


Henry Poole enjoys reflected glory from Gary Oldman’s Oscar triumph


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