The Jermyn St Gentleman A Lifetime in Menswear

When I go into a vintage store, I don't choose a piece, the piece chooses me. Take me home, I'm yours. There actually is no other street like German Street on the world, practically entirely dedicated to menswear and traditional menswear. My name is Michael, Michael Quinn, sometimes known as the German Street Gentleman. How did I become the German Street Gentleman? Well, I've spent a lot of my life on this street. I've lived on this street, my office was right literally there for many, many years. I work for Crockett & Jones, I have two stores on the street. So my whole life was German Street and St. James. I worked here, my work colleagues were here, the clients were here, my club was on St. James. So you meet people from all over the world, but this is the epicenter of the German Street world. I guess I was probably in my 30s. My early career was all with women's fashion, women's shoes. I really wanted to become involved with traditional menswear, traditional shops. I heard about German Street, so I used to make little forays here. And I love places like Turnbull & Assa, Harvey Hudson, Tricker's, Rowley's, the restaurant here. There was such an old world charm. So it was a similar selection of stores, but it was all that charm that clearly came from another world, another age. At that point in my life, I really wanted to become involved with this location. The businesses are ancient, they've all got history, they've all got heritage. So I would encourage anybody, if you love German Street, get to know about these businesses, learn about their history. I think the most important thing for us was the service levels. That the customer was everything. The customer was at the center of the retail experience. So courtesy, good manners, engagement, warmth, those things are a given. So you had to strike up conversations with customers and had to get to know the customer. Sometimes it's not easy, but simple questions about how a customer is going to wear a particular shoe, where he lives, so what the terrain is like, what the weather is like. So you get to know that person's life and you can recommend the shoe for that particular lifestyle. And also, you know, knowing the etiquette of what shoe you would wear with what outfit, what is appropriate, what is the correct shoe for black tie, what is the correct shoe if you're going on a grouse shoot in the highlands. You have to know those things. Well, the world has changed and the sartorial world has changed. The challenge of these businesses is that they keep one foot very firmly in the past. So their history, their heritage is sacrosanct. But they have to look at the world and the way men dress today and evolve with it. I've felt very drawn to fashion and clothing since I was a very young child. It's something that was very much in me, it's innate. I couldn't really explain where that comes from. I was looking at a picture of my grandfather yesterday, who was a very dapper man. Perhaps it's in the genes, but I would always, as a child, I'd always choose my own clothing. My mother, I'd never allow her to choose it. I'd tell her from a catalogue exactly what I wanted. I suppose on a day-to-day basis, I'm fortunate that I have a very extensive wardrobe. So I wear my clothing in rotation seasonally. But I'll take into account where I'm going, who I'm meeting. Somebody said, well, what's the favourite piece in your wardrobe? I'd say the next piece. The next piece is out there waiting for me. The oldest piece and my favourite piece in my wardrobe. And certainly the most sentimental and nostalgic piece is this beautiful polka dot scarf. Navy and blue, it's rayon. Which I bought in 1969. I have a lot of scarves hanging off various hooks, various hangers. But this one has just a little stand, like a very mini mannequin, really, in my bedroom. And that sits alone, separated from the rest. One essential in every gentleman's wardrobe I would recommend is a pair of monogrammed slippers. These are known as Albert slippers, as sported by Prince Albert himself. These are my monogrammed slippers, which I had made by my very good friends Beutel and Elliott. This is one of my favourite pieces from my Ralph Lauren days. It's a Navajo cardigan. It's instilled with that whole Native American spirit. It's raggedy, it's patched, it's absolutely beautiful. It's everything I love, everything that Ralph loves. Very much a part of his range every season. This is a particular piece that I cherish and I love. It is very, very rare to the point of extinction. This leather is Russian deerskin. That leather left St. Petersburg in 1786. It is no more. Thank you so much for being with me today. I spent the most glorious time with the Arterton crew here. And particularly what a wonderful place German Street is. Any gentleman who loves traditional clothing, this really is the street for you. And it's been a wonderful experience. I can only thank you so much for being with me. Manners are most important. And kindness. Good manners is actually kindness in action. That's what being a gentleman means to me. And I'm still trying.