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#26 2022-01-30 12:24:55

RobbieB
Member
Posts: 2219

Re: Blackburn Ivy

John Lewis is a good shop for modern furniture , lighting, materials etc.
I usually pay a visit to Westfield Stratford shopping centre when I am in the region. I used JL products when I completely refurbished my last flat in the UK
AFS you need to get your Mojo back.


'I am a closet optimist' Leonard Cohen.

 

#27 2022-01-30 12:35:53

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

I'm afraid my mojo is simply not jump-started by the thought of going within a mile of a John Lewis store.  It's currently being stimulated by studying Barbara Rose and her wonderful remarks on the relationship between Pop Art and despised Low Culture in the USA.  It's also being stimulated - and you might approve of this, Robbie - by looking at Finnish art glass. 
I have peaks and troughs when it comes to clothing: always have had, according to my mood. 
Still, Alvey did raise my spirits considerably a couple of evenings ago when mentioning Jeff Garet's Duck Head chinos.  I seem to remember JFM being keen on the old Duck Head (another example of eventual outsourcing - to Pakistan, I think).

 

#28 2022-01-30 12:52:20

RobbieB
Member
Posts: 2219

Re: Blackburn Ivy

I do indeed appreciate Finnish glass. I just went to my bookshelf to find a copy of Tapio Wirkkala his complete works. The book is in Finnish but I think there was an English translation. A friend of mine who is related to Wirkkala gave me the book. The family joke is that I was using a glass bowl, that was a collector's item, for cleaning my paint brushes. When I got the book I recognised the bowl! Missus went berzerk because it was a present to her and she didn't know I had it in my shed.


'I am a closet optimist' Leonard Cohen.

 

#29 2022-01-30 13:00:14

RobbieB
Member
Posts: 2219

Re: Blackburn Ivy

We once bought my English cousin an Iittala glass bird. She must have thought it was some cheap thing because it didn't make her glassware cabinet. Years later she visited Helsinki on a boat cruise, went into an iittala shop and saw her bird retailing for about 300Euro. The present now has pride of place in her collection.


'I am a closet optimist' Leonard Cohen.

 

#30 2022-01-30 13:17:28

woofboxer
Devil's Ivy Advocate
From: The Lost County of Middlesex
Posts: 7959

Re: Blackburn Ivy

I wouldn’t look down my nose at John Lewis other than it is ubiquitous in the homes of the middle classes and we all like to think our tastes are more individual and refined than our neighbours. But it’s popularity isn’t reason to be snooty about John Lewis, as AUS has highlighted, there are many reasons to admire their business model, they seem to treat their staff (sorry partners) quite reasonably.

Remember that one of the hallmarks of the clothing we obsess over was that it was ubiquitous, accessible and affordable. I’m sure plenty looked down their noses at Brooks Brothers clothing  when it was at its peak. When John Lewis fall over one day people will eventually start collecting and paying large sums for their furniture .


'I'm not that keen on the Average Look .......ever'. 
John Simons

Achievements: banned from the Ivy Style FB Group

 

#31 2022-01-30 13:41:17

Kingston1an
Member
Posts: 4185

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Blackburn Ivy would be a great character for a sitcom.


"Florid, smug, middle-aged golf club bore in this country I'd say. Propping up the 19th hole in deepest Surrey bemoaning the perils of immigration."

 

#32 2022-01-30 13:45:52

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8568

Re: Blackburn Ivy

He could be the gay who works at Costa, or whatever it was AFS mentioned a while back. (Obviously they would have to fictionalise the name of the coffee shop chain.)


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#33 2022-01-30 13:48:23

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8568

Re: Blackburn Ivy

He could be an unfunny update of that unfunny character in Are You Being Served.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#34 2022-01-30 13:49:42

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8568

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Vintage sitcoms. The number that weren't complete crap can be counted on one hand.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#35 2022-01-30 13:52:14

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8568

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Reginald Perrin seasons 1 and 2 have some genius moments.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#36 2022-01-30 14:18:03

colin
Bright Light
Posts: 1367

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Pretty normal sizing I think, Yuca - can measure their chinos if useful?

Last edited by colin (2022-01-30 14:19:18)

 

#37 2022-01-30 14:25:38

Yuca
Member
Posts: 8568

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Thanks Colin! Measuring is not necessary if they're pretty similar to the norm.


some sort of banal legitimacy

 

#38 2022-01-30 14:29:09

woofboxer
Devil's Ivy Advocate
From: The Lost County of Middlesex
Posts: 7959

Re: Blackburn Ivy

I don’t think the genius of the characterisation and casting in Dad’s Army was ever surpassed. The timing was brilliant and many of the phrases (Don’t tell them your name Pike) have passed into everyday language. The mark of a great sitcom is when you rewatch it and know exactly what is coming next but you still laugh at it.


'I'm not that keen on the Average Look .......ever'. 
John Simons

Achievements: banned from the Ivy Style FB Group

 

#39 2022-01-30 14:55:24

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Lockdown - not that we needed any excuses - had us watching Dad's Army, Porridge, Yes Minister And Yes Prime Minister, Whatever Happened To The Likely Lads? and others.  Steptoe And Son also remains a great favourite of mine. 
We also watched a huge amount of TV drama, including the original Forsyte Saga.  Now, gentlemen, if you want beauty, look no further than Nyree Dawn Porter.

 

#40 2022-01-30 15:10:34

Kingston1an
Member
Posts: 4185

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Blackburn Ivy could feature in a Peter Tinniswood-style sitcom. Uncle Mort visits Lancashire.

Naturally he would not approve of Blackburn Ivy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37Apscp3hsM

Last edited by Kingston1an (2022-01-30 15:19:47)


"Florid, smug, middle-aged golf club bore in this country I'd say. Propping up the 19th hole in deepest Surrey bemoaning the perils of immigration."

 

#41 2022-01-31 00:52:32

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Wirkkala tends to be a little out of my price bracket.  Aladin is more within reach.  But I paid £50 ten years ago for a Nanny Still flask. 
There's nothing by way of investment in this and paying out several hundreds for something that would shatter with more ease than the average beer glass is not something I'm about to do.  £100 would be my top limit. 
The pipe/funnel designs are well favoured; the hooped vases possibly more so.
I should very much like to get my hands on that book and those by Ada Polak.

 

#42 2022-01-31 02:19:48

Tworussellstreet
Member
Posts: 599

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Hello. To return to the tedious details :

1. Sizing is reliably standard on what I've bought. It tallies for example with what Uniqlo's idea of 'Large' is.

2. I believe their tentative dabble with John Lewis as a physical retailer was as much about choosing a company with the kind of ethics that CC themselves operate under. They're not about being hip, in-the-know or cult, they want to make good clothes that last, sell them at a fair price and pay their workers a decent wage. I know - crazy! Like radical! That Corbyn was one crazy cat with mad ideas!

Last edited by Tworussellstreet (2022-01-31 02:20:12)

 

#43 2022-01-31 03:31:17

Staxfan
Member
Posts: 780

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Started something here mentioning John Lewis... !
Robbie - sent you a PM off subject,

 

#44 2022-01-31 04:34:23

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Unlike some places, John Lewis are not on my shit list.  I have other fish to fry in that department.  But you have to remember, I don't even own a mobile 'phone.  There'd be no point as, being a man of highly uncertain temperament, it would end up hurled against a hard surface if, say, some dickhead got me out of the shower to try and sell me double glazing.

 

#45 2022-01-31 04:35:37

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

I wish, in fact, that I was as sweet and mellow as TRS.  But it can't be done.

 

#46 2022-02-04 01:51:56

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Favourable reports on Community Clothing are coming in.  Very pleasing.

 

#47 2022-02-04 03:13:22

RobbieB
Member
Posts: 2219

Re: Blackburn Ivy

My Community Clothing order came within a week, delivered by Royal Mail. I ordered a size M chore jacket and I was worried it might be too small but it fits perfectly so sizing for that was ok. Used the tartan scarf and gloves that I also bought on a walk to the shops. I appreciated the long scarf, wrapped twice around my neck.


'I am a closet optimist' Leonard Cohen.

 

#48 2022-02-04 03:15:12

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Very Ivy touch that, Robbie.
Jimmy once asked on here, are you a draper or a tosser? 
It's a mood thang...

 

#49 2022-02-04 03:16:21

AFS
Member
Posts: 2740

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Did anyone ever get hold of one of those 'Doctor Who' scarves, once on sale at Russell Street?

 

#50 2022-02-05 08:13:45

Staxfan
Member
Posts: 780

Re: Blackburn Ivy

Had a trip into Reading today and visited the John Lewis store which has a fairly large menswear section, didn't see any Community Clothing in store so maybe just online and possibly in the London store, but I was quite impressed with the John Lewis menswear range, some very nice merino sweaters and cashmere sweaters if they're your thing, merino full price around 50 quid, so more than ( say) Uniqlo but I'd stay a step up in quality, polo shirts at 25 quid, no logo, ( plus point), might look out to see if they do some basic navy or white as they only had orange'ish & green in store, Chinos were ' iffy' around the pockets,(too much stitching), deal breaker for me,

 

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