THE JOURNAL
In association with IWC Schaffhausen, we shadow international stylist Mr William Gilchrist as he indulges in one of his favourite pastimes .
In a fast-paced world where most of our time is taken up by work, sleep and the humdrum of daily life, any stolen moments we get to spend doing the things we love should be savoured. So goes the thinking behind our new video series with IWC Schaffhausen, in which we explore how some of the world’s most stylish men indulge their passions during particular moments in their day. For our first instalment, we could think of few better subjects than MR PORTER Style Council Member Mr William Gilchrist – who earns his living as a creative consultant for the designer Mr Oliver Spencer and as a stylist for, among other famous names, The Rolling Stones.
Not that this London-based man-about-town cares much for titles. He may have been concerned with them in the past when he worked as a fashion editor – in Milan at L’Uomo Vogue and Arena, and for Details in New York. Nowadays, however, his working life is less conformist. Freelancing as “a frock boy” (Mr Gilchrist is a natural wit whose default conversation is full of self-deprecation and jokes) brings a pleasing unpredictability to his life. “A typical day for me is very untypical,” he tells us. “I might have a meeting or a shoot. I could find myself in Soho seeing designers and looking into fabrics. I work very closely with Oliver Spencer, so I could be in his studio looking at designs or new retail outlets.”
When he gets a moment to himself, perhaps before work, Mr Gilchrist likes nothing more than to visit his tailor and enjoy the process of getting a suit made. This is perhaps influenced by the fact that his work is all about making other people look good. “A lot of my job is getting things made for other people,” he says. “So there is a little bit of selfish indulgence when you’re getting measured up and fitted for your own suit.” His go-to tailor is Richard Anderson, which was established in 2001, and recently won Mayfair magazine’s award for best tailor. When we visit the shop on Savile Row, Mr Gilchrist talks at length about the care and craftsmanship that goes into tailoring. “Richard once made a houndstooth-check suit for me,” he says. “He pointed out that the fabric was slightly unstable… And by that he meant that in 15 years’ time, the white would slightly discolour. I mean, if I’m alive in 15 years’ time, I’ll be surprised,” says Mr Gilchrist. “You’re buying that level of craftsmanship. It’s an honour to wear something like that.”
Not only is a visit to his tailor a chance for Mr Gilchrist to get a new “piece of armour”, as he refers to it, it is also an opportunity to hang out with an old friend. Mr Anderson is, “a gentleman I’ve known for some time,” says Mr Gilchrist. He feels similar warmth for Mr Brian Lishak (the man marking up his jacket in our video, above.) “Brian has been working with Richard since day one. They were both at Huntsman together. He’s a legend on Savile Row. The combined knowledge they have must be around 80 years. When you meet them both you’re dealing some of the loveliest folks in town,” says Mr Gilchrist. “Going to a tailor can be an intimidating process. But these chaps always make you feel at home.”
Mr William Gilchrist wears an IWC Schaffhausen Portofino Hand-Wound Moon Phase 45mm Stainless Steel And Alligator Watch