- I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet
"I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet" was a clothing
boutique which achieved a period of fame in 1960sSwinging London by promoting antique military uniforms as fashion items.It was founded by Jimmy Connors, owned by Ian Fisk and run by Robert Orbach. The original store opened in 1964 at 293 Portobello Road in London's
Notting Hill . Due to its great popularity throughout 1966 and 1967 new stores opened onThe Kings Road and Carnaby Court offCarnaby Street .It was a favourite store of
Jimi Hendrix who purchased his iconic braided military coat there. Other celebrities that frequented the shops wereEric Clapton ,The Beatles andThe Who . Peter Blake who designed The Beatles Sergeant Peppers album cover said that he got the idea while walking past the shop.A popular song of 1966, taken from the name of the shop, was "I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet" by
The New Vaudeville Band .References
* [http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/25392-popup.html Mod era shirt and the original shop sign ] from "I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet" at the
Victoria and Albert Museum . Accessed June 2008
* [http://www.jamd.com/search?assettype=g&assetid=3330072 I Was Lord Kitchener's ValetPortobello Boutique] 14th December 1966: Alan Fitch, manager of the 'I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet' boutique in Portobello Road, west London, wearing a 1946 de-mob suit, cape and trilby hat outside his second-hand military clothing shop.
* [http://nicolasvintageboutique.blogspot.com/2007/03/i-was-lord-kitcheners-valet-in-mid.html I Was Lord Kitchener's Valet] at Nicola's vintage Boutique . March 6, 2007. Accessed June 2008
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