COVER STORY
ribbons and dangling champagne bottles that clinked deliciously every time the door was wrenched opened. It had warmth. Tommy liked “the idea of an ‘old look’,” he once claimed, the traditional Savile Row muted understatement. But he also defended his unorthodox windows as something that would “show what we do, so that people will not be frightened to come in”. Compared to his intimidating neighbours, Nutters was intended to be “a lot more relaxed.” It was the kind of place where a stranger should feel emboldened to walk in uninvited and ask for “something different.”
RAUCOUS CELEBRATION In this respect, it turned out to be successful before
the official launch date had even arrived. One evening, Tommy and Cilla were sprawled across the carpet laughing and drinking wine, yet another raucous celebration in the two weeks since her surprise wedding. It had recently come to their attention that Tommy was about to be the first new tailor to open on Savile Row in more than a century – and, perhaps, the youngest ever. Suddenly, a group of Americans knocked on the door.
Attracted by the warm glow, they’d peered through the window and spied the party, and now they wanted to join. The door was thrown open. Space was made on the floor. Another bottle of bubbles was uncorked. Everyone was welcome at Nutters. n
SO WHAT REALLY MAKES YOU HAPPY,
TOMMY? If you want an honest answer, it’s really nothing to do with work. What makes me happiest is watching Coronation Street. The poet John Betjeman once said, “It’s like a half hour of sheer bliss”, and I couldn’t agree more. You’re in a totally different world, and I just find myself absolutely glued to the television set those three times a week … I must say, material things have never really been that important to me. I have a nice handful of friends that I have accumulated over the years, and they keep me happy. Really, my happiest moments, I suppose, are trying to relax after business. Oh, and Sondheim musicals – that’s my other favourite thing in life, I look forward to any new musical he might be making. I must finally say, though, my work and the business
in general brings me enormous satisfaction. I have been incredibly lucky, and I do love it. Just think, I could have ended up being a plumber’s mate for my entire life. As to what makes me unhappy,
that’s difficult to say. I don’t dwell on things, you see, so I try not to get myself into a position where I would feel sad or unhappy. I am obviously acutely aware of all the terrible things in life, but I always try to not let things get me down. Everybody worries, but you must keep on going. That’s the whole point, I guess. There really isn’t anything too devastating in my life. Sure, everybody has been through a lot, but you’ve just got to get on with your own humdrum life. As told to journalist Thom O’Dwyer about a year before Tommy Nutter died in 1992
SAVILE ROW STYLE MAGAZINE 27
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