Bugatti - from cars of style to menswear

Bugatti is a name that is for ever synonymous with the skilled synthesis of engineering excellence, design and beauty - and the glorious blue, derived from the bleu de France livery of the cars raced by the French motor-racing team. This blue has varied considerably over the years, from a pale almost baby blue, to a darker, richer hue. 

Vintage Bugattis at Goodwood Revival - image Grey Fox

Bugatti now aims to preserve this heritage of quality, design and colour, in a menswear/lifestyle brand. Themed around the concept of “The Blue of London”, Bugatti has opened its first boutique on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge. Following the successful launch of its lifestyle collection in Milan last year, this is the next major step in the French super-sportscar manufacturer’s brand extension strategy. Up to 30 additional exclusive Bugatti boutiques are due to be opened in key international financial and fashion hubs over the next five years.

The new Bugatti store showing design keys from the famous motor car

As you'd expect from a brand with such an enviable pedigree, the products are made in Italy to the highest standards of tailoring, manufacture and materials. I was encouraged to try on a few pieces and was struck by how well they fitted and how good they felt and looked. 

I've noticed before that high quality fabrics and tailoring make clothes look, feel and fit supremely well and Bugatti is no exception. In its menswear, as so often in life, you get what you pay for. Maybe I was just the right shape for these designs, but some garments looked as if they had been made to fit me. 

The Blue of London - Bugatti style and colour

As you'd expect, the staff are generous with their time and knowledge. The service is second to none and Bugatti offer a custom service for all their goods; they can be altered, made or added to to suit the client's particular requirements, so offering everything from high quality off-the-peg to an efficient bespoke service.

Being entrenched in the British tweedy look, I arrived feeling I wasn't tempted by much on offer. But these are clothes to try on. Once you're in them, your attitude changes, influenced by their feel, fit and sheer quality. Even a dark blue leather jacket, backed by a hi-tech metal fabric which makes it waterproof (see image below), fitted beautifully and would have severely tempted me had I been buying. 

Bugatti's clothes are investment pieces, many will improve with wear. The jackets flow around your shoulders in a very seductive way, the leathers are beautifully soft and pliable, the shoes artistic in shape and colour. These are clothes that flatter. Prices are not outrageous and I now understand why men seek out clothes of such quality.

Typical prices

Suits, £1,250 to £1,450
Velvet suit £2000
Leather jacket shown above £1850
Bespoke shoes from £1,100 Goodyear Welt, Ostrich £2,300 various prices with crocodile at £6,300
Sweater, cashmere round or v neck £430
Small leather goods from £90 for business card holder