Is Prince Charles's new wife Camilla responsible for his new taste in clothes? Whatever the case, the Prince of Wales has shocked the world of fine tailoring by turning his back on his distinctive £4,000 Savile Row suits for made-to-measure alternatives that cost less than half the price, reported the online edition of the Daily Telegraph.
Charles -- a loyal customer of bespoke tailors Anderson & Sheppard for the past two decades -- deserted them recently for the not-so-tony Turnbull & Asser, who have held a royal warrant from the Prince for their shirts since 1980.
While some blame Camilla for the switch. Others suspect his frugal private secretary, Sir Michael Peat, is behind the move. But officials close to the Prince put the change down to "personal taste", reported the Telegraph.
Thomas Mahon, one of Britain's most respected tailors, said he believed the move was a mistake. Mahon, who was a senior tailor at Anderson & Sheppard, said: "I think what has happened is very sad. He was photographed in November with Camilla and President and Mrs Bush outside the White House and, almost 20 years ago to the day, he was photographed in the same place with Diana and President and Mrs Reagan.
The change is so apparent. Twenty years ago -- when he was wearing Anderson & Sheppard -- he looked so elegant. But in the photograph two months ago he looked bloody awful in a made-to-measure suit. To fit the human body is not the hardest job in the world but character and style -- that's the challenge."
The change is so apparent. Twenty years ago -- when he was wearing Anderson & Sheppard -- he looked so elegant. But in the photograph two months ago he looked bloody awful in a made-to-measure suit. To fit the human body is not the hardest job in the world but character and style -- that's the challenge."