Of course you get some of the stuff online at cheaper prices, but you don't get the history, the knowledge, the experience and the good advice from John Simons and his  employees.

You can't try on this stuff online, guys! You don't see how it works for you! At J.Simons you can, and you can see and feel the clobber and the shoes...

I may be conservative, but I like to try something before I buy it and I think that's worth the price.  J.Simons is just a retailer, not a chain store... It is just commonplace to mention that you can get this stuff cheaper online.

Of course, I buy online as well, I am not a hypocrite, but IMO it's a bit like downloading an MP3... which I do as well, but I prefer to try the stuff on- just like I prefer buying vinyl.... and it took me a long time to really use eBay for my purchases. I still hate these vague expressions such as near mint, excellent, vg++ etc...

At J.Simons you get good quality RTW togs from a charming retailer with a lot of style and history. You still might have to get some alterations done, but you can choose "live" and see how things work. The 3D visual experience, the tactile qualities, combinations, you know what I mean.

Virtual shopping that's a whole different league... It's fine with me and I am quite happy about the endless possibilities, but why compare these things? Everybody over here is d'accord that you can't compare MTM and bespoke, but no one seems to see the difference between RTW online and buying stuff off the actual rack...



I wonder if there were only half as much people talking about Trad and Ivy now, if  there had never been a John Simons. The vision, the passion and the taste of a sussed connaisseur and a smart entrepreneur and his little shops is what helped to establish a certain style in a certain place. It was influential back then, and it's still cutting edge, now. You simply have to acknowledge this, and I just don't see the point, why someone always has to mention the internet bargains in THIS particular context...

I haven't been there very often and I don't have a reason for advertising, but I just don't understand the motivation behind all this malice. The same goes for almost everything!


BTW, WOW...youporn is cheaper than videostores, which are cheaper than street whores...

Last edited by Hard Bop Hank (2008-08-27 17:31:10)

Hard Bop Hank

Some people will always be price-sensitive on purchases. Provided a retailer has a margin that gives him a living and a big enough customer base it is not an issue.

That said, today's marketplace is very different to the Ivy Shop in the late 60's.

Nobody went abroad much in those days. US would be a big hop and not a weekend shopping break. American shops would be a complete mystery to Londoners. Now those that are interested know the major chains and also places like Ben Silver, O'Connells etc. Shirts do not need to be tried on so the net will work fine for them. Other items are more of a risk.

J Simons earlier shops were expensive in the old days but Londoners had nowhere else to go.

Many hold the place in great affection but a contrarian view is worth considering.

Looks decided that they will close then, great shame I shop there occassionly.
I was once filmed in the shop with some friends. for a tv clip.
must dig out the video copy.

I also do not seem to be able to connect to the site.

Last edited by dempsey (2008-08-27 16:35:27)

HBH,  I'll state once again. I'm not comparing his prices to interweb shopping or chain store gear, but to real life normal shops. I too am a stickler for heritage and tradition, but by the same token, i'm not foolish.

Hi Toffeeman!


Speaking very personally i only learnt of such a thing as Ivy style clothing through J.Simons.It seems to me that he was one of the very first proponents of the Look in the U.K. J. Simons is patently not an internet `Johnny- cum -lately` to this style (like myself! lol).I think alot of people would have only come to this style or would have wanted to discover more about this style through reading books which cited J.Simons influence, or via online forums that mentioned J.Simons and/or his shop.I don`t suspect there is any other single person in England has done more to propogate this particular niche style than J.Simons.


Other of us may love this style but J.Simons has really put his money where his mouth his and furthermore he has done this consistently for forty odd years.Forty odd years, imagine that...! That`s a LIFELONG passion. I`ve shopped at all types of shops in my time but shopping at J.Simons is a special experience.I think you discern quite quickly that everyone who works at the shop has a genuine and deep love of this style and of all those various respective in-store J.Simons clothing items .The staff are very personable and there is no hard-sell here.(Importantly,i suspect that J.Simons staff realise that you either `get` these items or you don`t).

All the staff are really cool (never in your face) and they will very happily and knowledgeably talk to you about the clothes.They will also be quite refreshingly candid if you`re curious to solicit opinions on anything you may like to try on.They genuinely look after their customers and that makes the whole experience very personal, memorable and special.


I really think that anyone who has come to appreciate and/or love Ivy style clothes in England , owes at least something of a personal debt to J.Simons, directly or indeed indirectly .To me it seems crass at worst and short-sighted at best to seemingly and casually dismiss out of hand what J.Simons has already done for Ivy style, and indeed what he continues to do for propogating Ivy style and Ivy style clothing in the U.K.

Yes, we can buy some of these items cheaper at alternative outlets but the value of J.Simons store is nothing to do with picking up these items on the cheap.On the matter of J.Simons website i would have to say that i really like it.I love that it has a very personal voice.What i like about it is WHAT IT IS NOT. J.Simons website is warm, personal, honest, quirky, and motivated by a genuine passion for this style of clothing.I love that it is NOT slick and is patently not the by-product or conception of a team of `fashion-forward` design or style consultants.THAT i can live with...

I really do think the J.S. website has a unique and novel charm.I loved the last update of the J.S. website and so i will look forward to the next one.


I love those latest pics of the 60`s Modernists.The open shirted guy`s wearing the hats seem to personify a particular edgy and London Suss.Ken looks really cool and edgy.The guy third from the left in the other pic looks quite extraordinarily sharp and Sussed.THAT`s STYLE for you! ( You`ll know it when you see it...).

You can see they could`ve almost been a template for a later Clash style London take on early Ivy style.It`s tacit but those images speak volumes.Very interesting...


It`s a privilege to have someone as insightful as yourself posting on here Toffeeman.



Thank -You.

As it 'appens I was chatting to Mr. Toffeeman this PM.

He's no computer person & does the JS website as a bit of a labour of love. Without him it wouldn't even exist. Mr Simons wasn't even bothered about an answerphone for the shop - Something else that Mr. Toffeeman helped out with.

Like the clothes in JS, the shop, the people and the attitude to life there are things that you either get or you don't.

If you don't like it or them then the place just probably isn't for you.

So I'm guessing that all this maybe isn't for our new chum Mr. Style Councillor?

Chris_H and I are putting together a few things for the J. Simons Community page & I'd like to encourage anybody else like Dempsey, Brideshead, Jeeves, Alex, Jason, Jesmond, Hank, etc., who know the shop to join in too.

Any photos, stories, memories - As random as you like. Send them to me or straight to John Gall. I'm happy to help anybody with editing anything they might want to put forward. The idea is just to hear from different people not to produce perfectly written prose.

Hope to hear from you -

Best,

Jim

Taken from Modculture forum :

Due to a rare visit to the smoke I was in there on Saturday for the first time in ages and ages and reminded me that you just dont find gents clothes shops like this anymore! The fact that there was a sale was taken full advantage of by serveral of the party.

Nice to catch up with John again, while i gather,  there is still some doubt over the lease for the Covent Grdn property, he has "shaken hands" on a partnership deal that will he thinks keep the name and tradition of J.Simons alive. A possible setup wherby you'll be able to purchase via the internet was mentioned and a longer term plan to actually expand -possiby into other shops. He seemed quite hopefull about the prospects and said that anything would be better than simply just shutting the door on 45 yrs of his life.

Better still, he told me that with this probable set up, it'll give him better clout back in the U.S for securing new stock.

Like you, and many, i'd hate to see the shop just fold..........a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel perhaps.

All the best,
Neil Henderson.