Dunhill SS10 Collection

The radical Englishman abroad is personified by perhaps dunhill’s most famous customer

First he was the Prince of Wales then Edward VIII then the Duke of Windsor, but always loyal to the brand. Inspired by his aristocratic insouciance and rule breaking in terms of men’s dress codes, the modern Dunhill man goes from sharp to elegantly dishevelled then back to sharp again, in a mixing of the day to night moods. There are nods in the gradations of blue in the collection to the Duke’s introduction of ‘midnight blue’ as opposed to black as a colour in formal suiting. And the midnight blue dunhill tuxedo that is reproduced in this collection happens to have belonged to another rule-breaker and dunhill fan, Truman Capote. Another of the Duke’s innovations appears in the form of the backless dress waistcoat, here updated and made even more casual by being produced in everyday shirting fabric and heavier weight silk tie material. Art Deco prints are reproduced from the archive and are translated onto ties and shirting. Clashing prints nod to the make-do-and-mend attitude of the British aristocracy and a reminder that dunhill clothes are for life and are passed down to successive generations. Variously washed materials, ‘worn-in’ Brogues as well as such precious items as signature sterling silver buttons should reinforce this point. However there is never too much dwelling in the past as the fabric research and technical innovations always emphasise dunhill’s commitment to innovation.

Keeping true to the history and wit of the archive, there is Winston Churchill’s silver envelope cigarette case stamped with his address and strange female nom de plume, so after a heavy night out at his club the case could be posted back home if he left it behind. It will now be available to order and engraved accordingly. There are new additions to the famous dunhill pen collection, using such materials as a ‘space age’ lacquer made from meteorite and black diamonds as well as a limited edition Art Deco-inspired ‘Skeleton’ Revolette pen. Similarly constructed cuff links also feature. Aluminium flight cases, referencing those found in the archive from the 1920s, have been stripped back to their metal fabrication and updated to make them incredibly light and practical for use today. Scratch resistant carbon fibre print leather characterises the new Chassis bags. And that’s not to mention the signature ‘wood leather’ and shagreen accessories that lift the collection and the new sunglasses handcrafted in polished English flint.

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