Last edited by Alex Roest (2008-06-11 02:40:55)

An update from Big John Gall:

http://j.simons.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/page1.html

J Simons is in close proximity to a rather splendid theatre, dear boy.

I was told about it by someone at work. I wanted a top for golf. The discussion moved to cheap Harringtons, versus expensive goretex wet weather gear by names like Sunderland and Proquip. Of course JS have Barracuta rather than cheap Harringtons.

I was talking about this elsewhere yesterday. Mr. S. must be around 68 now and he started in the business when he was 15 I believe. What you are seeing in the shop are all those years of experience and the contacts that he's built up over that time.
I've often posted on names which were well known in JS that remain unknown or forgotten on the American Internet clothing sites - The most obvious are' Par-Ex of New Haven' shirts & 'Buffalo Creek Traders' Virginia handsewn loafers. Only very recently have I found an American 'Eastland' loafers fan and 'Geoffrey Scott' Button-downs still remain unknown on the US MBs. And the list of names goes on.
For all this style of dress is American America has nowhere like John Simons' shop (O'Connell's probably comes closest) and America as represented on the Internet has no enthusiasts to compare to JS's customers.
We keep the 'Ivy style' torch burning in London and we always have. There's no Trad or Preppy over here. If you are into this style in London then it's Ivy you are into. Transplanted from the US and rallied around like nowhere else.

It's the greatest story never told.

J.

^ I've thought that about 'Geoffrey Scott' in the past - They were certainly USA made & imported into JS & the Ivy Shop, but I never saw them elsewhere. Did JS have them made? No idea. They were an entry level Ivy shirt in both shops before BD Baggies came along. Ian at the Ivy didn't rate them as their placket was too stiff. Equally he didn't rate BD Baggies for their styling details.

JS & The Ivy are/were import shops primarily. Some of the shoes had funny stories though as they were made in Northampton to US specs specifically for the US market & exported to America where JS found them & bought them & imported them back in.

Other than that they are/were both 'real deal' shops - That was the whole point of them like 'Austins' before them. English look-a-likes you could buy elsewhere.

John Simons has never stocked or sold a Ben Sherman.

J.

The whole point about Ben Sherman is that, by 1968, they were slimfit.

For those that do not know that meant not only darts but sewn-up box pleat and short sleeves as tight as a polo shirt.

JS American shirts had the full body - a completely different silhouette. Ben Sherman was for provincials. Londoners had the genuine stuff available. Polycotton was not an issue for either type though. 'Permanent press' was seen as a positive then.