Meet The Team - Paul
Meet Paul Vanoli, Manager of our flagship Chelsea store on Lower Sloane Street.
Paul brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his role that spans multiple facets of the fashion and tailoring world. From bricklaying to bespoke tailoring, and even store design, Paul’s diverse skill set has contributed significantly to the success of Oliver Brown.
Paul grew up in Streatham, South West London. Having studied building management at university, his career primarily began in bricklaying. This is where he developed his skills in craftsmanship and construction - skills that would later prove invaluable in his store design work.
Paul’s journey into menswear and tailoring began at Gieves & Hawkes on the Savile Row where he realised he loved the craftsmanship behind men’s clothing. From that point onwards, he worked at several prestigious tailoring houses, including Turnbull & Asser, Thomas Pink, Swaine Adeney and Kilgour - just to name a few. While Paul has primarily held managerial roles, his time at Turnbull & Asser allowed him to train in the art of pattern cutting and bespoke shirtmaking, further refining his expertise in the fine details of tailoring.
Paul has experienced multiple highlights throughout his career, but one of his most cherished memories is the time he spent travelling across America for bespoke trunk shows. During his time at Turnbull & Asser, he had the privilege of regularly visiting iconic cities such as New York, Dallas and Los Angeles, where he stayed in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including the famed Chateau Marmont. Beyond these trunk shows, he would train people the art of making bespoke shirts across the U.S.
Paul credits much of his success to his mentor and close friend, Stanley Marcus, the esteemed president of luxury retailer Neiman Marcus. It was through Stanley’s guidance that Paul gained a deeper understanding into the world of menswear and luxury retail. Stanley often wrote him thoughtful letters about the best fitting shirts and male garments.
Paul has been at Oliver Brown for over four years now, and though he serves day to day as Chelsea’s store manager, he has also helped with various design projects - including designing our new Chester store. Considering his background in building and construction, Paul has an advanced understanding of how to create spaces that are both functional and visually appealing. His unique ability to merge the worlds of retail and design makes him an invaluable asset to the brand.
Outside of tailoring, Paul is usually building things for his family and friends. Currently, he’s building a pub in his garden - a space complete with a pool table, full gym, bar, and workshop. He’s building it single handedly from the ground up, and it’s a true testament to his love for craftsmanship and creating meaningful spaces for people - particularly his 16 year old son, James, who stays incredibly active and can’t wait to have an in-home gym!
Looking ahead, beyond life at Oliver Brown, Paul has dreams of a peaceful retirement in Croatia or Portugal with his wife, where he hopes to build a wooden Viking longship, complete with a boathouse to accompany it.
We invite you to visit our flagship store in Chelsea and meet the man himself.
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