Carnaby Street’s ‘iconic’ Lord John shop celebrated with blue plaque

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Nov 28, 2017

A plaque celebrating the ‘iconic’ Lord John shop, which became a menswear hub in London’s Swinging 60s, has been unveiled at 43 Carnaby Street.

Opened by retail entrepreneurs David and Warren Gold in 1964, the Lord John store on Carnaby Street dressed the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Small Faces and The Kinks, revolutionising the fashion scene with brightly coloured hipsters, loud shirts, corduroy and denim jackets.

The 60s youth, tired of wearing clothes like their dads or granddads wore, wanted something new, daring, colourful and different, and Lord John was the place to get the latest look.

The menswear store became ‘truly iconic’ when decorators Binder, Edwards & Vaughan were commissioned to paint its exterior with a psychedelic mural.

“The Gold Brothers played a massive part in creating the sartorial spirit of the 60s. The Lord John shop made Carnaby Street the outfitter of choice for the era, whether it was clothing the Rolling Stones or moulding the sharp look of bands like the Small Faces and the Kinks. The top acts of the day knew the Gold Brothers’ style was an essential part of their success. Lord John put music fashion on the map, and it is absolutely right that the store stays on the contemporary map of London with its own plaque,” commented Cllr Robert Davis, Deputy Leader of Westminster City Council as he unveiled the blue plaque.

In addition to celebrating the Lord John shop, the plaque commemorates the legacy of Carnaby Street, which underwent a massive revival in the 60s and 70s as young Brits travelled considerable distances to hang out in the area.

Retail landlord continue to tap into the street’s trendsetting background to attract new businesses, with directional brands including True Religion, Nasty Gal, G-Shock, Cords & Co. and MC Overalls opening on Carnaby Street in recent years.