When I awoke to the news of Prince Philip’s passing, I immediately thought of the image above, my favorite style shot of his. I’d thought, however, that he was wearing a double-breasted blazer in the photo. In fact it looks as though he may be breaking one of the most cardinal style rules of those punctilious types who are drawn to rules: wearing a suit coat as an odd jacket.
Prince Philip made other soigné style gestures throughout his long life, including wearing light socks and loafers with his signature DB blazer. I’m wearing mine in tribute, and if you don’t have one, perhaps you’ll find that now is the time. As I’ve stated before, the present social situation is fertile for idiosyncrasy and iconoclasm. — CC
R.I.P. Ranger of Windsor Great Park. Always a dapper gent-a man of true style.
A stiff upper lip, a spine to match, and tradition.
I’ll venture an educated guess he’s wearing Crockett & Jones Boston’s:
https://us.crockettandjones.com/
https://us.crockettandjones.com/collections/mens-main-collection/products/boston-burgundy-cavalry-calf
Requiescat in pace, Prince Phillip. We have lost a link with a now almost unimaginable past. He was always a dapper and interesting dresser, like his son Charles, and clearly very comfortable wearing clothes of impeccable pedigree, but great age. And one of the great Panama hat wearers. I would love to know what the striped, emblematic navy tie is in the top picture. I guarantee it signifies some association that I am most definitely NOT able to claim.
Two things stand out to me:
1. Savile Row English drape cut: https://therake.com/stories/style/british-drape/
2. Pocket flaps tucked in (jetted) for a more formal look.
Memory eternal to prince Philip.
Hardly anything odd about the light colored socks and loafers… In the first image though, he does appear to be wearing a suit coat (probably flannel) with cotton khakis, which doesn’t make any sense. The color combination doesn’t look right either, as dark grey and khaki colors usually do not coordinate well.
Another interesting photograph is that in which he is wearing a double breasted blazer with jodhpurs and riding boots. How does one ride a horse in a double breasted blazer?
Mitchell did not mention a third key feature of Prince Philip’a jackets – no vents! His tailor was John Kent, now of Kent & Haste at 7 Sackville Street.
Gieves & Hawkes made his uniforms. Kinlock Anderson made his kilts and Highland wear. Ede & Ravenscroft made his ceremonial robes.
John Lobb (not Crockett & Jones, SE please note) made his shoes. Penhaligon supplied toiletries. His barber was the lady manager of Truefitt & Hill in St James’s Street. The Duke also wore Musto shooting jackets, Barbour jackets and hats from James Lock.
All those firms held his Royal Warrant. There were several other firms who held his warrants for supplying non-clothing products and services.
The New York Times has an article on Prince Philip’s style and names his tailor on Savile Row and his shirt maker (Stephen brothers):
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/09/fashion/prince-philip-style.html?surface=most-popular&fellback=false&req_id=34798105&algo=bandit-all-surfaces-uh-lastthismonth-alpha-03&variant=8_bandit-all-surfaces-uh-lastthismonth-alpha-03&pool=pool/91fcf81c-4fb0-49ff-bd57-a24647c85ea1&imp_id=114031791&action=click&module=Popular%20in%20The%20Times&pgtype=Homepage
IIRC Stephen Brothers was bought by Austin Reed and then sold onto to Moss Bros. It no longer exists as a brand and the quality had dropped considerably over the years.
As usual, there is some ignorant and self-loathing nonsense in that NYT article, e.g. “it took the Japanese to explain denim to Americans and the Neapolitans to demonstrate for the English how to perfect English style”.
I don’t mean to cast aspersions with my scurrilous remarks, but Kenny is right, The New York Times’ reporting is often ignorant and erroneous.
The Wall Street Journal is The Bible of men’s fashion.
A news headline that seems indicative of the man he was: “Prince Philip not to receive a state funeral as he requested ‘no fuss’ send-off.” The Duke of Edinburgh Duke served his country, the Commonwealth, the Queen, and the world with distinction and grace and was a devoted husband to the Queen. Indeed the end of an era. My perception from abroad, anyway.
IIRC Prince Philip’s did not tuck the flaps into his jackets’ pockets. He instructed his tailor, John Kent, to make jackets with jetted pockets without flaps. No vents, no flaps, no fuss!
A further point in reply to Countalma, Prince Philip did not ride horses in his blazer. Note that he is also wearing a tie in that photograph. The Duke would have changed into his shirt, tie and blazer after playing polo. He would never have accompanied the Queen looking like a louche Argentinian playboy.
It’s a shame that jacket fit him so poorly towards the end of his life. His shoulders are no longer able to fill out the point to point measurement. He looks like a college kid wearing a hand me. The photo where he’s carrying the bible? looks like the jacket is at least 2 sizes to big.
His jacket sleeves are certainly on the long side. Any thoughts about that?
God rest his soul, and God bless, save, and comfort Her Majesty in her time of grief.
A splendid chap, truly.
@PocketSquare and @Arthur McLean,
Get a life. Prince Philip made the most of his.
Please to stand corrected and Lobb makes sense, but note the C&J Royal Warrant– I forget which one. So, I’m wondering how many deign to wear C&J’s on occasion. Maybe Charles.
Crockett & Jones and Tricker’s received their Royal Warrants from the Prince of Wales. Prince Charles is also a bespoke customer of John Lobb but IIRC he has also used Tricker’s for MTO country footwear. However, the Prince may also bought footwear from those brands for his sons or personal staff.
Screw the pocket flap forensics right now. Very bad form – Britain is in mourning.
Rest in Peace an admirable man who meant so much to so many – especially Her Majesty.
As we get older, it’s important to have our clothing retailored so it still looks great on us as our bodies change.
In most of these photos Prince Philip is wearing what is called a Boating Jacket. A dark blue 8 buttoned, ventless and jetted pocket blazer with Grenadier Guards buttons, as he was the Colonel-in -Chief of that esteemed British Regiment. Guards officers wear boating jackets as blazer and sometimes wear them at informal military dinners with military dress trousers (overalls), george boots, white shirt and black bowtie. It is called Pirbright order and is very dashing.
The reason the jacket doesn’t fit properly is because it was not made for Philip. It was made for someone else…
“This one is special because it was left to Prince Philip by his long-time friend Lieutenant Colonel Sir Eric Penn.
“Sir Eric had been to auctions to gather a button from every reign back to King William IV. The regiment’s button changes with every reign, as it includes the monarch’s cypher.
“When Sir Eric explained the buttons to Prince Philip, who was Colonel of the Grenadiers, His Royal Highness jokingly asked to be given it when he died.
“When Sir Eric did die, his widow took the garment and a diagram showing where every button should go.
“It was a few days before the Queen’s birthday parade, much like today, and Lady Penn was received by Prince Philip who was wearing his bearskin cap and a vest.
“The Prince tried it on and, apart from the sleeve length it was a perfect fit. He has worn it as a favourite ever since.”