Tailoring Tinker, Tailor

I was thrilled to be asked to create some suits for the new big-screen adaptation of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy for all kinds of reasons: it's one of my favourite books; it's already garnering Oscar buzz; it's got my name (or at least my profession) on it. But more than that, it's enabled me to play a small part in two long overdue comebacks; that of leading man Gary Oldman, who plays George Smiley, and that of the 70s silhouette – three-pieces, double-breasteds (for double agents?), peak lapels, pleats, turn-ups – to match the era in which it's set. For Gary, we made a sports jacket in charcoal grey with a royal blue and wine-red overcheck, to give it an almost tweed-y feel, plus a three-piece in a dark grey Holland & Sherry birdseye; meanwhile, we made sure that man-of-the-moment Benedict Cumberbatch was above sartorial reproach as gentleman conspirator Peter Guillam, in a three-piece Holland & Sherry grey herringbone and a three-piece brown, coffee-coloured flannel. Benedict was so enamoured of his wardrobe that he's actually been wearing it to a slew of premieres, and if he wants a bespoke duster coat for the new series of Sherlock, our door is always open...