Spendthrift:
Loafers.
Sometimes longwings
Button down shirts (but mods like fitted)
PLAIN crew, mock and polo neck sweaters
Those new overcoats
Raincoats
Socks
Desert boots
Harringtons
I would respectfully argue that the items on that list are not exclusively Mod (especially socks ). Apart from mock neck sweaters there’s nothing on there that isn’t Ivy. There’s always been a big crossover between the two styles in the UK … no big news there. Ivy is often a route taken by Mods who want to start dressing in a more grown up way. The raincoats and overcoats are styled on a traditional English cut, they’re too short for my liking but then most of the coats being made these days are like that, all they are doing is producing something that will sell in today’s market.
Not everything on sale in JS is my cup of tea, but then it never has been.
When I start walking in there and the Small Faces are playing on the stereo, there are roundels up on the wall and they are selling sculpted jackets with cloth covered buttons then I think things will have changed sufficiently for me to be able to relate to some of the distorted comments I read on here.
Sorry Woof. I obviously misunderstood the question.
Thought you were asking what what specific items JS stock that mods would be interested in.
As you say, there’s nothing there that’s exclusively mod.
Spenders - I asked what items were specifically Mod, so we’re both right really. Anyway the point is that the shop is not a destination for Quadrophenia re-enactors.
No. Definitely not. And I think if any did find their way to it, they'd soon realise how out of their depth they were.
Maybe JS is doing a good service in re-educating or widening the horizons of the few that do show an interest.
Really, I think both JS and 'mods' have their own thing going and apart from the odd Paul Weller photo opportunity, don't really cross paths too often.
A lot of them don't particularly consider PW mod. I'm not sure he does himself. So maybe he's just a famous face worth an Instagram shot? He probably gets the same in the cake shop down the road. I'm sure the regulars don't panic over it becoming a mod bakery.
Last edited by Spendthrift (2022-03-01 05:26:14)
'So maybe he's just a famous face worth an Instagram shot? He probably gets the same in the cake shop down the road. I'm sure the regulars don't panic over it becoming a mod bakery.'
If the bakery were in Derbyshire I could imagine one of the regulars doing exactly that.
'Really, I think both JS and 'mods' have their own thing going and apart from the odd Paul Weller photo opportunity, don't really cross paths too often.'
I suspect a certain segment of the mod market has become and will remain important for JS. I don't think his shops have ever been like O'Connell's where the only changes are button stance, lapel width etc on sack jackets. The shops move with the times whilst retaining their ivy-based character. Hence he's stayed in business all these years.
Last edited by Yuca (2022-03-01 05:56:09)
Just have to say that Woof's, and others, notions of what mod is these days is completely out of touch. Apart from a handful of utter retards nobody is in fishtail parkas and pretending they're Jimmy in Quadrophenia any more. Mod has evolved into an international style, a weirdly distorted hybrid which sucks in and assimilates generations of versions of 'the look', informed by a mishmash of misinformation on the internet. Weller remains the reluctant head of it all, even when he tries to shake them off with ever more dreadful hairstyles. He shopped at John's Ivy Shops in the 70s, J.Simons in the 80s and 90s (He takes a 10.5 in American loafers as I sold him some bloody awful fringe and buckle Dexters back in the day) and the current shop. As much as his lumpenness upsets me these days he is genuine - an enthusiast, a supporter. I imagine he takes nothing from his work with JS other than one of each jumper in his size. JS meanwhile does very well from the alliance.
If The Prince of Belsize, at eighty-plus, does well, it has my blessing and no mistake.
Someone on here out of touch … surely not?
I like the jib of that upstart George Bernard Shaw.....
2RS - ‘ Just have to say that Woof's, and others, notions of what mod is these days is completely out of touch’
Do you? Did I not say this?
‘ There’s always been a big crossover between the two styles in the UK … no big news there. Ivy is often a route taken by Mods who want to start dressing in a more grown up way. ’
There is - and has been - crossover in the UK. That cannot be denied. But, being far away from London, I never see men looking like 'Mods' or anything remotely close to it, standard outfit being cheap baseball cap (put me off entirely), thermal jacket, Matalan jeans with puddle, plastic 'trainers'. I see photographs online from time to time and take note. But, like many others, I settled into a look some years ago - and there's nothing really 'Mod' about it, except for loafers. A button-down shirt is now ubiquitous, is it not? I was chatting to a chap (older than me by ten years, more or less) in Oxfam last week. He was wearing a button-down shirt but in no sense was he 'Ivy', 'Preppie' or anything of the kind. About a million and one shirts now have a pointless button-down collar.
I saw a photograph of Roy Lichtenstein yesterday, wearing a chambray shirt with a modest spread collar. It looked good on him. Even some of the older American shirts I have seem poorly designed around the collar area: too stiff by far. In fact, a modest B.D.Baggie is sometimes better than an overblown Sir Pendleton.
I say 'settled into'. But I'm always reviewing.
'But, being far away from London, I never see men looking like 'Mods' or anything remotely close to it'
I see quite a few mod types in Nottingham. I have seen one in Beeston in the last week: leather desert boots, no break/high rise jeans , green Harrington of some sort, Welleresque haircut. I was in the city centre on a Saturday night quite recently (which I detested tbh) and saw 2 mod/skin couples together. Probably ex-scooterists judging by the Warrior type clothing. Etc etc.
Yuca, if you had been out and about in Beeston last Saturday, late morning into lunchtime, you might have noticed a Paul Stuart flecked sweater with shawl collar, accompanied by dark 501s and Walk Over bucks.
That wouldn't have been a 'Mod' of course.
I have no idea what I was doing last Saturday but I would have definitely noticed such attire.
My Aquascutum raincoat was taking a rest in the restaurant. My Stetson cap was flung carelessly onto the back seat of our ancient VW.
Anyone seen the linen suits in the ' flesh' that have just shown up on the website ? Not my thing but they do look good, did a random check on trouser size 32" and only available in one colour, 'out-of-stock' in the other 2 colours ! Perhaps sold out before they were on the website or waiting for the stock to come in,
I haven't seen them Stax but it might be what I'm looking for. They seem to be offering a fourth colour Coco? I would need to visit the shop for such a purchase.
FOB trousers - I see new stock has arrived and I have seen them recommended.
Are they only sold in one leg length? There are no options to choose length on the website. I have wee legs.
Are they only sold in one leg length?
I think they are, I bought a pair last year, I was after a 31/32" leg length as I like to wear jeans slightly shorter, but these are around 33/34" which isn't really a problem as I'm 33" inside leg.
Kennedy,
like you I have wee legs -30" on a good day.
I have the FOB Bedford cords. They're a pretty easy fix if you have a local alterations tailor.
Also 30'' on a good day. Frighteningly, I managed to get a turn up on a pair of 30'' Levis the other day.
32'' or 34'' inside leg is a strange choice for a Japanese brand. No? Granted, it's an easy fix. But still, £20 odd extra you'd be factoring in.
Uniqlo did some really nice chinos a few months ago. Only £35, but only 34'' leg. They weren't worth £55 to me.
The new Vetra seersucker jacket at JS looks well dodgy to me. Reminds me of prison garb. I'll be giving that one a miss even though I like some workwear clothes
Last edited by RobbieB (2022-05-11 06:45:59)
And it's cheaper bought (trouva) elsewhere
RobbieB,
Yes, I know what you mean about prison wear. I would of thought something like that fabric would be better in blazer as opposed to a chore jacket.
I hate when I see something better than the version of the same item I actually own.
Excuse my garbled, Chablis infused sentence. I shall explain.
I threw away a perfectly good seersucker jacket as I fell out of love with it. Why, I can't remember.
I then splurged and bought a Drakes version. Rather smart but exceptionally heavy. No good really for the height of summer.
Finally I ended up with a J Keydge version. Lovely. Completely satisfied until I saw a version in John Simons window the other day. Lovely colour ways. I need this jacket badly.