In August 1987 aged eighteen I took the overnight London bus with the sole purpose of visiting John Simmons, American Classics, and the Paul Smith’s flagship store on Floral Street (all in Covent Garden), and returning to the burgh the following evening. I learned of Simon’s via an article in Arena magazine, American Classics via a friend who worked at the time in Flip on Clark Street, and Paul Smith via The Face and ‘terrace’ friends who’d been.
From Simon’s I bought a pair of Paraboot Michael Lis Gold shoes for £65. You could get them in maroon from Rici at the Tron in Edinburgh, but that was obviously not an option. I also bought a grey/light olive Harrington jacket £45 which I still own and wear. From American Classics I got my very first pair of seven eyelet Red Wing classic Moc boots, £50.
Finally from Smith’s I got a pair of jeans (pre-Paul Smith jeans) £80, and with funds now running low around £80 worth of jumpers and button down collar shirts from the sale. I seldom wear Smith now as I’m not as streamlined and I don’t consider it to suit me, however I still keep an eye on where his imagination and magpie like addiction to collecting pushes his creativity.
The shot below was taken in his London office and provides a small insight into his collecting habits.
Image Copyright: (the excellent) Jooney Woodward
“The Brits have always been so brilliant at self-expression through non-violence. The punks, the New Romantics, the goths, the Mods, hippies. In France, they were burning cars. In England it was more like, “How would these curtains look on me?”
Smith, P. Esquire Magazine, Nov 2017.
David N McIntyre - Photographer 