Man's suit ensemble

Physical description

A dark grey ground with blue, wool-blend pinstripe suit comprising jacket and trousers, complete with cotton shirt. The jacket has artificial finished pockets at hip level that extend just past the side seam to the rear of the jacket. The collared jacket has revers; on the LH rever there is a buttonhole. The revers extend down the CF to two black button fastenings. There is a welted pocket on the LH breast. The shoulder seam is padded, giving fullness to this area and there are four black plastic buttons on the cuffs. The back of the jacket is constructed from two vertical panels with a vertical seam running down the CB. The lower part opens out into a flap. The jacket is lined with a navy blue blend of viscose and acetate. It has a white piping with a blue and black diagonal stripe. There are two inner pockets on the LH side and one inner pocket on the RH side.

The trousers have a waistband with seven belt loops. Fly zipper, with hook and eye fastening and inner button. The trousers have a pleat at the CF and two pockets at the side seams. The back of the trousers has two darts extending to an artificial welted pocket. Viscose lining.

The white cotton twill shirt has blue and red vertical stripes. Collar extends to six mother of pearl buttons at the CF. Cuffs have an opening for a cufflink fastening. The back of the shirt has a small yoke.

Place of Origin

London, England (sold)

Date

early 2006 (made)
18 August 2006 (worn)

Artist/maker

Everest, Timothy, born 1961 (designer)
Marks & Spencers (designed for)
T.M Levin (shirt, makers)

Materials and Techniques

Tailored wool blend lined in viscose and acetate blend; cotton

Marks and inscriptions

Marks and Spencer Autograph by Timothy Everest
Woolmark blend
T.M Lewin, Est.1898 Shirtmakers, 100% cotton. 16. 41-90cms. 35. Luxury

Object history note

Worn by James Brook for his civil partnership ceremony with Christopher Breward, 18 August 2006.

Descriptive line

Man's suit ensemble, two-piece suit, Timothy Everest for Marks & Spence, TM Lewin shirt, 2006

Exhibition History

Unveiled: 200 years of wedding glamour from the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. (Museum of New Zealand, Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington 17/12/2011-22/04/2012)
The White Wedding Dress: 200 Years of Wedding Fashions (Bendigo Art Gallery 01/08/2011-06/11/2011)

Labels and date

Civil partnership suit
Timothy Everest (b.1961) for Marks & Spencer
London, 2006
Shirt: T.M. Lewin

Graphic designer James Brook wore this outfit for his civil partnership ceremony with historian Christopher Breward on 18 August 2006. Both wore lounge suits and open-necked shirts, but each chose a different designer to emphasise their individuality.

Suit: wool blend, lined with man-made fabrics
Shirt; cotton
Given by Christopher Breward and James Brook
V&A: T. 372:1 to 3-2009 [2011]

Materials

Cotton; Viscose; Acetate (textile); Wool and synthetic blend

Techniques

Tailoring

Categories

Clothing; Fashion; Marriage; Homosexuality

Production Type

Ready to wear

Collection code

T&F