Classic dressage: Buying today’s livery
The impeccable livery worn by coach attendants is part of the romance of the horse-drawn carriage. The sight of professional horsemen clad in top hats, stock ties and natty coats and breeches—in somber black or vivid reds and blues enlivened by gold buttons and epaulets—recalls a bygone era of gentility.
Where do today’s grooms and coachmen go for their livery in this age of motorcycles and blue jeans?
One source is G.D. Golding, bespoke tailors known for their hand-cut military uniforms and livery. Established in 1963, the Hertferdshire-based outfitters count royalty among their clientele, as well as more than 50 regiments and corps of the British Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force.
Golding’s offers an array of livery options, from bespoke shirts to service dress jackets and trousers to gold shoulder cords. Clients of G.D. Golding may opt to be fitted at the clothiers Hertferdshire offices, at Golding’s shop in Saville Row, or have the tailors come to their home or office.
To learn more about G.D. Golding, visit http://www.goldings.co.uk
Bespoke Mears is another fine place to obtain livery. At the Mears factory in West Midlands, the clothiers make hand-cut equestrian and country wear, fashioned from fabrics from the top British Mills.
Mears Country Jackets has been around for some 100 years. Their bespoke venture is a relatively new one. Bespoke Mears offers an array of clothing suitable for today’s coachmen, from ladies and gentlemen’s frock coats to tailcoats in red or black. To learn more about the Wallsall-based Bespoke Mears, visit http://www.bespokemears.com.