John Simons and The Ivy Style in London

[drpeter]

I found this piece in Permanent Style quite fascinating, especially with the discussion we have been having here on the Evolution of Trad and related matters. I had no idea a shop like John Simon's existed, or that the American look was so popular in England. But then, I thought of the early photographs of those four Liverpool lads with the mop haircuts and the American-influenced style of music. Their suits and shirts do show the Ivy influence, at least to some extent. Here's the article:

https://www.permanentstyle.com/2021/01/john-simons-the-shop-the-history-the-influence.html

Among other things, John Simons created the name Harrington jacket for the Baracuta G-9, simply by displaying the jacket in his shop window and adding a felt-tip pen note saying this is the Rodney Harrington style, named after an American soap-opera star! The name has now become widely known and used. One lives and learns,

Here is the website for Simon's shop:

https://www.johnsimons.co.uk/

 

[August West]

I purchased a John Simons labled, made in England "Ivy Jacket" last month. It's a perfect casual, completely unconstructed patch pocket sport coat that I can see myself wearing often. The sleeves are very long (unproportionately so for my size IMO) but that's an easy enough fix obviously.

I plan on keeping an eye out for further offerings of this type. These coats are casual enough to get away with wearing just about anywhere without having to endure the "why are you so dressed up?" query from the unwashed masses.

 

[drpeter]

I suppose it's my turn to request a picture of this Simons jacket, LOL. I have been looking through some of the items on his website.

 

[David J. Cooper]

They do a sweater with Paul Weller?

 

[August West]

I suppose it's my turn to request a picture of this Simons jacket, LOL. I have been looking through some of the items on his website.

Will do, once it's been tailored. It's a cotton jacket, so I don't see myself wearing it until the spring time.
It's a triple patch, 3 roll 2, undarted and completely unstructured with 2 button sleeves. I would say it is modeled after now defunct J Keydge "slack jacket". http://menswearnerd.com/index.php/2...k-jacket-the-most-versatile-jacket-ever-made/

 

[August West]

They do a sweater with Paul Weller?

Makes perfect sense. He is the "Modfather" after all.

 

[fred johnson]

Will do, once it's been tailored. It's a cotton jacket, so I don't see myself wearing it until the spring time.
It's a triple patch, 3 roll 2, undarted and completely unstructured with 2 button sleeves. I would say it is modeled after now defunct J Keydge "slack jacket". http://menswearnerd.com/index.php/2...k-jacket-the-most-versatile-jacket-ever-made/

I have a very similar one from Uncle Ralph except it has 4 buttons on the sleeve purchased years ago. If my memory serves me, Brooks made a similar jacket about the same time.

 

[peterc]

They do a sweater with Paul Weller?

Weller is very into clothes. Nice to see another Vancouverite here. As an aside, I saw The Jam at the Commodore in April 1979. Mind boggling.

 

[David J. Cooper]

I was unable to make it that night but saw many great shows at the Commodore in that era. Talking Heads, B52 (with Ricky Wilson), the Gang of Four, the Undertones, Echo and the Bunnymen, the Ramones, Joe Jackson, XTC and lots of others including a very lacklustre half sold U2. They had such a small playlist they played I Will Follow twice.

The Style Council documentary Long Hot Summer is worth seeing if you have not already.