I have developed a bit of a fascination with Charles Creed, who was a major player in British fashion from the 1930s to the early 1960s.
The youngest son of Henry Creed born in 1909, and so born into fashion (the House of Creed having been started in 1760 by his great-great-great grandfather). His grandfather made clothes for Queen Victoria and his father dressed most of the European Royal families. He took over the House of Creed in the 1930s, but only after learning about wool and weaving in Scotland, tailoring in vienna, and then designing clothes in America, was he allowed to join the family firm.
He was one of the original members of the Incorporated Society of London Fashion designers (founded in 1942) along with Hardy Amies and Norman Hartnell. In his youth Charles Creed was something of a playboy, later marrying Patricia Cunningham- the then fashion editor of Vogue. I feel his genuine love of women is apparent in his clothes which flatter and offer comfort and style. They are clothes that fit women as opposed to being clothes that a woman has to fit.
His Autobiography is a hilarious read, more of which here, including a link to a great review. It includes gems such as the fact that Mata Hari was executed wearing a Creed suit- a strange claim to fame from a family of fashion legends.
I have several items of Charles Creed clothing to add to the site, I hope you will love them as much as I do.
The name Creed does still exist in contemporary fashion in the form of Creed Fragrances, which is run by cousins of the same family.
