Fantastic - I can't help feeling that that suit belongs in the V&A now!
They already have a Village Gate overcoat after all...
Any more memories would be really welcome, S.
Very good to have you here.
jim
Last edited by Just Jim (2010-03-20 11:12:32)
I do recall slipping out of the Ivy Shop into Potters Music store (turn left, next door) and enquiring about the availability of the recordings being played by John Lally on the very primitive portable vinyl player next door. Mr Potter was very accommodating and commercially astute - and from that time onwards made a point of stocking copies of some very lush Blue Note albums especially for those of us spilling out of the Ivy Shop when business got brisk on a Saturday.
Talking of John Lally - I recall he was managing a store in Putney High Street some time later in the early to mid-70s. I can't recall the name of the store but I bought some chinos that he offered at 'mates rates' 'cos we were occasional drinking buddies at my local - the Cricketers on Richmond Green. Does anyone recall that Putney store?
D
I never knew that John had done that. Thanks!
He was there at The Ivy from '65 & still there at the close in '92 and then there again at JS in 2010. I never knew he'd had a side project...
A lovely man whom I can't help feeling I missed my chance to really talk to, unless & can get in touch again via Ian Strachan.
- Those who know will know that Ian has been very unwell lately, the good news is that he's now back at home and talking it easy.
- Another lovely guy. An enthusiast to his fingertips and so generous.
http://www.retrowow.co.uk/fashion/baracuta/Ivy_Shop_1966.jpg
^ The Ivy Shop Crew back in the day. John Lally sports a brave adventure in headwear. Later he played maracas onstage with Roland Kirk at Ronnie Scott's...
I think that the Cred of The Ivy Shop Crew still remains good. Real lovers of THE LOOK who made things happen.
It was another 'Ivy Shop' there was also one in Walworth Road. Edgware and Wembley High Street.
Lally worked in the Putney shop and Geoff worked in Edgware , Ian was overall manager for all the shops.
I never knew about the Putney one before I don't think - Thanks, HR.
Best,
Jim
It was opened around the mid 70's. It was at the time of French flares and shetland wool roll necks, not the best of looks, bit still had plenty of decent loafers, mainly Lotus and a Grenson model that was a great copy of Sebago and some still some really nice oxford and madras shirts.
Yes it was in the station ... tiny place almost like a kiosk ... suited Geoff down to the ground
I think most of the trousers and jackets were made up in Hackney by a mate of John's ... They did sell Baracuta Harringtons and trenchcoats and some American made baseball jackets. There were some Bass weejuns and Dexters but I would say the majority were English made copies or the standard Lotus which is not any different today, when you can find them, usually in Italy ... they even had them in 2-tone Tan and cream!!!! the memory is certainly not what it used to be.
Great stuff!
Imported Linet & Halrin must have kicked in later.
The original Ivy Shop 'Albany' line was made up in Walthamstow - BDS & Macs. Ring any bells, or would that be before your time?
I wouldn't be surprised if the 'Albany' guys carried on making for John as things went on.
There's an evolution here from English copies to the American originals which I find really interesting. First of all it was just THE LOOK that John was after, then he sourced out the real McCoy to add to that vision...
Cheers -
Don't forget that blokes were growing their hair a bit longer trying to get away from the skinhead image ... the whole look changed for a few years, even Ian Stachan wore french flared trousers ... albeit with a madras button down and weejuns.
I do remember the place in Walthamstow, I think the place in Hackney was all part of the same company and I think that was where the 'Sky Jump' harringtons were made which were the precusor to the Baracuta.
As you say ... firstly it was the look, then the original stuff came in.
Ian told me about a brand called Smoke or Storm jeans (we were just chatting on the phone & I didn't write it down) ring any bells? Flares from the early '70s.
They were new in & Ian was the model along with some 'bollock naked' girls from Penthouse and JS was the photographer. I guess the shoot was a bit like the old '60s 'New Man' Ads in Paris...
Then all of a sudden all the shop assistants suddenly came out with Jeff trying to "look up them".
Ian tells the story far better than I do.
Smoke jeans ... forgotten about those .... high waisted and no pockets ... very odd.
I can remember girls coming in and trying them on and having to give them a hand with their zips ...
Halcyon days....
As I recall, there were a few 'lookylikey' shops shops around selling a similar mix to JS around this period, 70-79ish. There were a couple in Hampstead High St whose names slip my mind. In Watford there was perLui selling the flares and similar stuff alongside the Weejuns and Dexters. They moved a couple of times, but still exist selling the modern designer gear now.
Previously mentioned on this thread: the Wren Shirt Co. of Princeton & New Haven. Quintessentially Ivy. After prompting the editor, an entry for Wren Shirts now appears on http://theivyleaguelook.blogspot.com/ Check it out.
Am I starting to suffer from pre-senile dementia or was there another related shop at the Elephant and Castle? I remember going there once (and only once!) in around 1971.
Anyone recall it?
Back to 1969 and I now remember exactly how we found the Squire Shop. A few of us had broken away from a little holiday group on the south coast (we left on the Thursday) and stopped off in London leaving our cases at a left luggage place. We met some guys in Oxford Street sporting the 'brogues to the back' and asked them where this emporium was. They directed us and, although it was not perhaps the best time for a first visit in July / August, we were hooked!