Chaps Magazine

HORNETS. Long-established in Kensington, this trio of shops is bursting with quality tweed, serge, worsted and cavalry twill. The stock includes jackets, suits, hats (new and second-hand), shoes, ties, cravats, in fact a gentleman could construct an entirely new wardrobe.

Observer Magazine - Fashion - My Favorite Outfit - Sam Bompas (11/11/07)

"There's a chap who virtually dresses me at a shop called Hornets. It's a second-hand Gent's clothing shop in Kensington Church Walk. Full of Saville Row suits and weird and wonderful military dress jackets. The shoes have been resoled so many times I've propbably paid five times as much in repairs as I did originally. They're from Hornets; they're Carvillle. The company strapline is "The shop for the amorous man", which is slightly creepy. Clothes are a mechanism of communication - people are adept at reading clothes, and you can manipulate that. Wear a bicorn hat or a hussars jacket to a party and everyone will pay attention.; My style icon 'Toad from Wind in the Willows'."

".....I wear a suit every day, I am passionate about them and love the cut of a good suit. It puts me into work mode and makes me feel grown-up and serious, i own a dozen or so, and most are bespoke, although hardly any were actually made for me. They're second-hand and I usually spend about £200 on them.

I favour Hornets, a wonderful second-hand gentleman's clothing outfitters tucked away in Kensington. The owner has been in the game for donkey's years and knows more about tailoring than anyone else I know.

Hornets has two shops: one for suits, smoking jackets, black tie and coats - I have a 1960's Aquascutum overcoat with ivy green velvet collar that cost £90 - and the other for sports jackets, shoes, jumpers and shirts. It's the great suit secret of London for those in the know.

The trick is to find a suit that is a pretty good fit, then take it to a tailor who for £30 or so, will tweak it to fit perfectly.

I have, among others, a Henry Poole, a Chester Barrie, a Timothy Everest and a Huntsman. The owner of the Poole suit has five made every year and discards the old ones annually - mine hadn't been worn once. They would have been about £2000 new."

Hornets says:"Silk velvet is ordinarily wildly expensive. Vintage is all about stepping away and developing an individual and distinctive style. Quality always speaks for itself. It's as simple as that".

The smart guide to budget London - "Hornets for the best Secondhand Tailoring".