A recent trip to Vienna for a Central & Eastern Europe Finance Forum (don’t ask) was enlivened by the discovery of Wilhelm Jungmann und Neffe. A men’s outfitter of the first order, it has been supplying accessories, cloth and tailoring services to central European gentlemen for over 125 years.

I didn’t hold out much hope when I strode out from the Hilton Vienna into the clear, crisp sunshine. A break from lawyers, some nice architecture and perhaps a quick coffee in a square-side café. Any retail interest would likely be restricted to small shops stocking Zegna suits, Falke socks and re-branded Drake’s ties.

The problem with living in London is that there’s precious little you can’t buy there. Paris is good, there’s always discoveries to be made in Milan, Naples or Rome; but that’s about it in Europe. Vienna, at first, seemed to be living up to my expectations – one shop with nothing of any quality, another with some Pantherella socks on sale.

Then, in the grand setting of Albertina platz, I saw the windows of Wilhelm Jungmann und Neffe. Good window displays are always a welcome sign. Someone inside clearly has a sense of colour, as well as taste. Among my favourites are Bergdorf Goodman, Turnbull & Asser and – surprisingly the most consistent for colour – Hackett. Now I’ll add WJN to the list.

Yellow umbrellas with tan wooden handles. Camel-coloured jackets and cashmere ties in subtle brown checks. Suitings in pale grey with delicately placed gold paisley handkerchiefs. A themed and inspiring window – and there were three more.

WJN is best known locally for its fabrics, which are imported from England, Italy and locally in Austria. Several bespoke tailors operating in Prague, Bratislava and Budapest visit the shop in order to cater to clients, rather than there being a dedicated tailor on site.

But I was most taken with the accessories. The cashmere scarves and shawls came in 15-20 colours and a similar number of patterns, from the basic to the funky. The staff were particularly proud of two recent acquisitions – one Italian double-sided scarf picked up in Pitti and another design commissioned from some locally in Austria.

Most of all, this is a personally edited and locally sourced collection, which is what makes it worth visiting for someone from London, Milan or Paris. The madder ties, for example, are made by a company just outside Vienna. The store manager said it was the only one still making madder outside England.

I didn’t buy one of those ties and I regret it now. Perhaps I’ll find another CEE Finance Forum.

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Anonymous

It is a wonderful store!!! This is the store that turned me bespoke!!! After the 1st visit I was sunk!!
Thanks PS

Anonymous

I have a scarf from this beautiful store, and wish I could browse and purchase more. The window setting was for autumn with copper, gold, and purple. It was a stunning display and I found my scarf from that window! It’s still my favorite!

Thoma Egan

Greetings from Worcester,Ma USA.
I was in your beautiiful store and was wiaited on the first day by a lovey women and on the secondday another lovely women. I was in he market for a scarf-Blue Silk with black popper dots with a blue background. I think, casheme on the back. The price of the scarfs 240 euro. M y question is this do you have another one similar t what I hae described? If so, is the price the same and could you send it o me?

Thank you

Tom Egan

Kirill

I actually would like to know why you went to the CEE forum – im going there every year

Lindsay Eric McKee

Hope to visit Vienna again one day. A number of bespoke shoemakers there.
Rudolf Scheer, Petkov and others.
Would be nice to see a bit more of sartorial Vienna.

Markus

Simon, should you ever happen to come to Vienna on a satorial voyage, this article might interest you. Cheers.
https://www.parisiangentleman.com/blog/an-epic-sartorial-walk-through-the-city-of-vienna