A for Anthology, B for Bill, C for Calam

Among the names in our books are some wonderfully interesting people, each with their own talents, stories and characters. One such introduction came through a friend of the house, Mr. Bill Nighy.

A summer ago, Irish-British actor, Calam Lynch, known for Bridgerton and Sweetpea, walked through our door. We had Uncle Bill (Nighy), to thank for that. Bill is not only something of a cultural zeitgeist in men’s tailoring, but also a very dear patron and friend of ours. We have always considered it a great accolade when Bill brings someone into the fold. From the Oscars to a simple introduction, we seem to find ourselves indebted to him at every turn.

A tale as old as time, a song as old as rhyme. Calam and his partner, Ruby, were recently married, and we had the pleasure of visiting their home in London to celebrate with them. Today’s story is about how we came to approach his wedding suit. Yes, a suit rather than a tuxedo.

The conversation began with Calam describing how he imagined the wedding. He wanted something unconventional, but the first thing to be ruled out was the rather dissipated version of wedding dressing: glitz and glamour, drowning in Dom (Pérignon) and caviar, opera pumps, and bow ties scrunched into submission. Quite the opposite, in fact. The wedding was to be quiet, surrounded by family and close friends. Private, intimate, convivial, in their hometown by the lake. That was the picture he painted for us. Then we learnt that Ruby had her own idea: a non-white Vivienne Westwood. At that point, we knew they were after something a little quirkier, certainly more personal, and very far from the usual choreography of a wedding.

There is an old understanding that the wedding is the occasion for the bride to take the stage, while the groom plays a supporting role. Frankly, we rather like that arrangement, which is perhaps why most of our dinner suits are, more often than not, black. At least, that is our reading of the room. Calam agreed with this venerable idea. He wanted a suit without the silk sateen, the shine, or any unnecessary fluff. Something matte, muted and understated. What followed was a particularly enjoyable exercise in elimination and simplification, stripping away everything that did not need to be there until what remained felt exactly right.

The result was a black mid-weight wool gabardine suit, paired with our simple Oyster shirt in a cotton-silk-merino blend. The shirt offered a gentle, low contrast rather than the severity of stark white. Nothing shouting for attention, nothing competing with the occasion. Just a quiet, considered combination that felt true to the couple and the setting.

Special thanks to Calam and Ruby for allowing us to share this story, particularly as Ruby is not a public figure by nature. We are grateful for the generosity and trust. More importantly, we wish them a lifetime of happiness together as husband and wife.

And, in a pleasing continuation of the “family business”, Calam and Bill recently appeared together in one of the latest television series, Ride or Die, with Bill playing the “mastermind” and Calam his employee. It is rather nice to see the introduction come full circle. Won’t spoil it for you—enjoy the series on Amazon Prime, and have a good laugh.

Oyster Cotton/Silk/Merino Shirt

US$230.00

68% Cotton, 20% Silk, 12% Merino wool

A soothing palette with a luxuriously soft hand combined with a slight vintage feel and visuals, the shadow stripes give subtle depth and definition to the piece. A shirting piece that weighs heavily on casualness, but at times can also dress up if needs be.

The design features a special chest pocket design with jetted seam finish. The construction is where it differentiates from our other creations. We opted for the softest interlining for collars and cuffs, giving a more pared down, unfussy aesthetic to make the narrative whole. The wear experience is incomparable. It is an absolute delight to wear against the skin. Very smooth with minimal friction points. Fabrication is still machine-washable.

Pair this with: Civilman Trousers in Deep Olive, Khaki, or Taupe. Goodman Jacket, Sport Jacket, or Lazyman Jacket in Camelhair and Navy Bouclé.