We would like to take a moment to pay homage and respect to one of our favorite designers of this decade., Alexander McQueen.

Alexander McQueen spent the early part of his career working on Savile Row before stints working under Koji Tatsuno and Romeo Gigli. He soon returned to attend London’s most prestigious fashion school, Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design, eventually leading him to Givenchy then to his eponymous line he’s most commonly known for.

His lavish, unconventional runway shows were truly the work of a genius and will never be recreated.

Academy Awards - Ambassador Hotel - 1943

Academy Awards - Pantages Theater - 1959

Ginger Rogers & James Stewart | 1941

William Holden | 1954

Humphrey Bogart | 1954

Marlon Brando & Grace Kelly | 1954

Frank Sinatra | 1955

With the 82nd installment of the Academy Awards just around the corner, we wanted to reflect on the golden era of Hollywood and the leading men who defined what it meant to truly own a red carpet.

During the 1940s and 1950s, Hollywood was an industry defined by class and tradition. Though men’s attire did not have as much versatility as it does today, the influence of the classic tuxedo and suit can still be seen today.

Take a stroll with us back to this golden era and visit the the men who defined this era and remember what it was like to be a leading gentleman of the big screen.

At GENTRY, we try as much as possible to keep all of our production domestic. Not only is this decision steeped in the respect for the quality craftsmanship that the American garment industry was known for in the mid twentieth century, the era that informs much of the classic aesthetic of GENTRY. But it is also in response to a growing demand for authenticity.

Our friends Ali Paul and Michael Williams of PR firm Paul + Williams (also the prolific author of A Continuous Lean, summed up the reasoning for such patriotic sartorial pride on Valet Mag:

“In Japan, consumers want English things to be from England, French things to be from France and American things to be made in America. It’s a quality that I believe is derived from a devotion to authenticity. Portland, Oregan-based Danner is a perfect example of the type of company the Japanese love to support. Danner, which is often over-looked by the newly minted throngs of Red Wing admirers, has been making quality boots in America since the early 1930s. It’s about time we as Americans hold companies that shun domestic manufacturing to as high of standards as our Japanese friends.” – Michael Williams