richonmc1 8 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Who can remember Paul Smith's small boutique in Byard Lane off Bridlesmithgate ? About 1971 I think. I had a little shop in Goose Gate selling T shirts at the same time. How things change. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ChrisB 150 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Yes, I remember the one in Byard Lane. I went in once and I remember thinking it wasn't my cup of tea at all - nor were the prices! I'm guessing that would have been about twenty years ago. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
arkwright 1 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Didn't he own 'Just Paul' on Front Street, Arnold as well? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Didn't he own 'Just Paul' on Front Street, Arnold as well? No he didn't own that shop. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richonmc1 8 Posted October 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Not sure about the Arnold one... Have you seen the prices now ? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Outrageous, greed and avarice . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 He's got a factory shop at Bicester Village where prices are more reasonable! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
annswabey 599 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Still expensive, though, Lizzie! We've been going to Bicester village for years but it's gone much more upmarket! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Ah, I used to live not far from there and went regularly but not been for 3 or 4 years. I did hear it's lost all the nice little shops now. It used to be good for Christmas shopping! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Nice street market on Saturdays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LizzieM 9,497 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Whatever floats your boat BR! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Cliff Ton 10,435 Posted October 26, 2014 Report Share Posted October 26, 2014 Who can remember Paul Smith's small boutique in Byard Lane off Bridlesmithgate ? It's still there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 I put a new phone system in his place off Bridlesmith gate, in the early 80's, when I worked for BT, from memory he appeared a very arrogant man then. Cant say his style of clothing has ever appealed to me, but then I am far from being a poser. I dress for comfort especially here in Oz with the warmer climate, something I did notice from my recent trip back was that people there now, mainly the younger ones dress more for "pose" value than for practicality. Even my wife's older brother would not be seen dead without his Calvin Klein jeans ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
katyjay 5,085 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 He has a shop in Shanghai. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
banjo48 928 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Yes Katyjay I believe he's in Oz too now in Melbourne. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Trevor S 2,003 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 He is situated on Collins Street here in Melbourne.... http://www.paulsmith.co.uk/au-en/shop-location/paul-smith-melbourne but he has a lot of stores world wide...check out the above web site. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
firbeck 859 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Well, all I can say is that nearly 40 years ago Paul Smith did me a big personal favour. In 1976 I moved from Nottingham down to Witham in Essex to join my wife to be. We'd already bought a lovely little terraced house and I'd got a job to go to in Chelmsford as the head of the architectural/planning/surveying dept for a firm of estate agents. While preparing to leave my job with Royle and Whitehorn Architects at Castle Place, my colleague Richard, a 'fashion icon', suggested that, rather than the informal everyday wear we had up in Nottingham, things might be different 'Daan Saaf' something I had noticed, and was clearly expected to adhere to. So he dragged me off around town one lunchtime to get me fitted up with a decent jacket, first stop, The Birdcage, nooo, far to expensive. Next stop was this funny little shop on Byard Lane called Paul Smiths. In we went, I looked at the jackets with prices starting at £100 and suggested we knocked it on the head and went to C & A instead. The assistant asked me what I wanted a jacket for, I replied for work down in Chelmsford, he turned round and shouted 'Paul', the next minute a bloke that I learnt was Paul Smith, not that it meant much to me, appeared, looked me up and down and said, 'What do you want this jacket for'. I explained about my job move etc etc. 'Right, I'll sort you out'. He reappeared with this stunning brown herringbone jacket, 'Try this on', it fitted like a glove. 'Great' I said, 'But I doubt whether I can afford it'. At this point he showed me round the back where he was personally cutting out and designing all sorts of garments, he said that the jacket I'd tried on was one he'd made up and hand stitched himself to try and get into the London market, but they'd rejected it. He suggested that working in Chelmsford, I'd probably do work in London, 'You can tell those Southerners that this jacket is made in Nottingham, why should they get all the credit'. I asked how much, he charged me for the cost of materials, which were clearly tip top, and nothing else, £20. That bloody jacket lasted me years, my ex missus chucked it away in the end, how much would a personally hand made Paul Smith jacket be worth now. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Ex Mrs's can be pain can't they Firbeck, one of mine scissored 3 suits as a parting shot,......all from Burtons!! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
richonmc1 8 Posted October 27, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 All my ex's got were houses ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted October 27, 2014 Report Share Posted October 27, 2014 Thats all i had......lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stevo 25 Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 Well Paul Smith, yes i put an alarm system in his shop, while working for hornet alarms of daybrook Quote Link to post Share on other sites
radfordred 6,284 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Sad day for Nottingham Sir Paul Smith to close his Byard Lane shop after 47 years ..... be nowt left soon? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLY2 10,108 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 I've actually had stuff from PS several times, and I must admit that the quality is superb, but at 72, I'm happy with what's on offer at H of F. Plenty of choices to suit most pockets, a fantastic range, and invariably there's special offers on. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
benjamin1945 16,118 Posted August 23, 2017 Report Share Posted August 23, 2017 Actually did some work for the Vivviene Westwood set up.......and like Paul Smith......very expensive......good quality no doubt but the difference in price from shall we say ordinary outlets. is out of all proportion............when i did some work for them i was wearing a great 'Crombie' purchased in a sale at Primark £20.(a few years ago).............customers were asking me 'can i get one like that in here'............certainly upstairs sir,.........but the price was about £600,................ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jill Sparrow 10,267 Posted August 24, 2017 Report Share Posted August 24, 2017 It's said that some people can wear a shapeless Hessian sack and look a million dollars while others can wear a Savile Row suit and still look like a scarecrow! I've found it to be very true! 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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