402:, Simpson Piccadilly was one of the largest stores to stock wartime uniform for soldiers, providing for both men and women officers and civilians. Simpson was commissioned by the Government to make a wide selection of clothing and in total, it was worked out that seven million items of clothing were produced. Dr Simpson (the company successor and elder brother of Alexander Simpson) opened the members club on the top floor of the store for soldiers where they were able to find a place to sleep, bathe and telephone loved ones. After the war, when it was announced that DAKS clothes would start selling again, queues of people would line up down Piccadilly, tailors would measure them in line, and suitable pairs of trousers were then presented to them in the store.
353:
47:
345:
438:
31:
54:
291:
marble staircase spiralled up the centre of the building, and the distinctive non-reflecting concave windows along the street level at front and back – the first in the country at the time. The design is distinctly modern in comparison to the regular architectural style of the time. Simpson wanted
379:
in the basement; the vast open floors which were uncommon at the time, fitted with hidden sliding fire doors; a vacuum cleaning system with vertical tubes installed through the building and in the ceiling ducts; the use of new coloured neon-lighting for the front of the shop that he'd used at the
300:
first had the steel framing removed before agreeing to allow its use. It cost such a price that
Alexander Simpson warned that the company was not expecting to earn a profit for several years after due to his determination to create something of such high quality (for which it later won awards).
331:
suits, and a sports shop. Shop fittings and lighting were designed by
Emberton which are still in place such as the stairwell's 90-foot chromium light fitting suspended from the ceiling, and the steel and glass handrails. On the fifth floor was a balcony that allowed views across London at
315:
to be exhibited on the fifth floor at the store opening merely to draw in curious customers, attract headlines and increase footfall (the door framing had to be removed to allow the aeroplanes into the building and suspected to have been winched up the centre of the staircase).
266:
Simpson aimed to build a large, modern menswear store to serve as a flagship for the S Simpson brand, with a steel structure, faced in
Portland stone and to be built as high as permitted, and to compete with the store built for the rival
292:
the building elements to visually show their function rather than be disguised by unnecessary decoration. It is considered innovative in its use of materials with large windows, chromium-plated fittings and a steel structure devised by
324:'s shop, and a restaurant (the wine vault can still be found in the basement), along with the departments for Simpson clothing – bespoke tailoring (Simpson wanted customers to be able to see the tailors in action),
282:
alternating with strips of windows spanning the whole building width, a glass wall that stretched the height of the building at 90 feet (27.43 m) that lit each open-plan floor with natural light (from a side
394:
The shop's performance was successful, renowned for the window displays and was considered a sight for London, and as planned by
Simpson, the fourth floor was designated for womenswear a year after opening.
364:'s masterpiece – the front glass and stone strips are not quite horizontal as perceived on first glance, but at a slight angle to help appear more horizontal, keep clean for longer and reflect the coloured
320:, influenced by cubism, futurism and Bauhaus typography, designed the store's logos, advertising, and some rugs and carpeting. The store housed many other services such as a gift shop, a dog shop, a
449:
Simpson continued to trade in the
Piccadilly store until the 1990s after DAKS Simpson Group plc was acquired by the Japanese group Sankyo Seiko Co. Limited in 1991, and the building sold to the
961:
453:
chain of bookshops in 1999 and now serves as their flagship store. On the 5th floor is a bar, 5th View Bar & Food, with a southerly view over the rooftops towards the
946:
981:
976:
931:
663:
409:
was employed as a junior assistant at
Simpson; he drew on his experiences to come up with the idea for the highly popular 1970s/80s television sitcom
203:
due to its innovative construction. Its original purpose was to house the entire range of clothing provided by the tailoring company S. Simpsons and
926:
108:
986:
936:
46:
921:
243:
was to be sold on a 99-year building lease, which
Simpson won at auction for £11,000. The site had a 71-foot (21.64 m) frontage on both
311:
school, designed much of the visual merchandising and displays for the shop, including the in-store signage, the window displays, and three
227:
trousers in 1934, Alexander
Simpson wanted a store in which to stock the entire S Simpson range in central London. Wanting a location near
613:
991:
916:
275:
as the architect for this project, known for his modernity in architecture and for designing the interior of the Austin Reed store.
941:
765:
417:
Throughout the last few decades of the 20th century, the store branched out on the variety of stock and sold other brands such as
911:
460:
Although
Simpson is no longer trading as it was, the DAKS Simpson brand of menswear and womenswear continues rebranded under the
785:
956:
527:
896:
231:
so that the foreign visitors to that street could go to examine
Simpson clothes nearby for its high quality ready-to-wear
966:
871:
826:
856:
749:
724:
699:
647:
597:
550:
511:
473:
372:
are hidden around the walls so that the lights in them reflect better off the ceiling, the water supply was by an
951:
671:
101:
352:
468:. DAKS holds royal warrants granted by three members of the Royal Family. The royal warrant by Queen
971:
304:
200:
621:
411:
337:
268:
454:
297:
199:. When it opened in April 1936, it was the largest menswear store in Britain, and is now a
8:
769:
344:
802:
464:
name and is sold in DAKS stores, amongst other outlets with the flagship store now on
387:
A year after the shop's opening in 1936, Alexander Simpson died at the age of 34 from
867:
852:
782:
745:
720:
695:
643:
593:
546:
507:
333:
236:
399:
373:
789:
465:
361:
317:
272:
196:
164:
426:
279:
94:
437:
380:
Blackpool Pleasure Beach before; and having the first curved-glass windows in
905:
381:
365:
325:
293:
248:
123:
110:
469:
406:
256:
184:
830:
477:
450:
442:
369:
252:
208:
566:
422:
376:
288:
260:
244:
240:
228:
188:
86:
667:
388:
284:
807:
312:
212:
30:
308:
195:, England. It was created by Alexander Simpson and the architect
897:
Joseph Emberton Archive, University of Brighton Design Archives
768:. International Herald Tribune. 30 January 1999. Archived from
418:
321:
232:
192:
90:
287:
due to the densely built-up area), against which the enormous
461:
328:
224:
204:
812:
251:(rear entrance) with a footprint of about 11,000
962:
Grade II* listed buildings in the City of Westminster
891:
685:
683:
681:
766:"End of Line for London Shop a Cut Above the Rest"
849:The British Tradition: Simpson – a World of Style
742:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
717:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
692:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
640:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
633:
631:
590:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
543:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
504:The British Tradition: Simpson – A World of Style
441:The building in 2005, now the flagship store for
278:The building's main elements were large bands of
903:
678:
497:
495:
493:
947:Defunct department stores of the United Kingdom
982:Tourist attractions in the City of Westminster
628:
53:
642:. London: Quiller Press Ltd. pp. 27–30.
490:
620:. Germany. 28 November 2012. Archived from
977:Companies based in the City of Westminster
739:
714:
689:
637:
587:
540:
501:
932:Real estate companies established in 1936
744:. London: Quiller Press Ltd. p. 58.
719:. London: Quiller Press Ltd. p. 37.
592:. London: Quiller Press Ltd. p. 10.
545:. London: Quiller Press Ltd. p. 8.
506:. London: Quiller Press Ltd. p. 7.
436:
351:
343:
927:Retail companies disestablished in 1999
987:Buildings and structures on Piccadilly
904:
879:Modern. The Modern Movement in Britain
472:was given in 1962, that from the then
937:British companies established in 1936
259:) and an easy walking distance from
922:Retail companies established in 1936
567:"F J Samuely and Partners – History"
356:Simpsons of Piccadilly light fitting
348:Simpsons of Piccadilly light fitting
271:ten years prior. Simpson contracted
664:"Ashley Havinden (b. 1903; d.1973)"
223:After the launch of the successful
35:Simpsons of Piccadilly in the 1970s
13:
670:. 28 November 2012. Archived from
368:that was in place at the opening;
14:
1003:
992:Grade II* listed retail buildings
917:1999 disestablishments in England
885:
405:In the early 1950s, scriptwriter
803:"Real 'Grace Bros' Store Closes"
207:. It was later purchased by the
52:
45:
29:
942:Art Deco architecture in London
841:
819:
795:
776:
758:
733:
708:
18:Retail Space in London, England
912:1936 establishments in England
656:
606:
581:
559:
534:
520:
432:
360:The building is recognised as
235:, in 1935 the site of the old
1:
957:British royal warrant holders
694:. London: Quiller Press Ltd.
483:
866:, Metro Publications, 2004.
7:
851:, Quiller Press Ltd, 1996.
10:
1008:
967:Retail buildings in London
792:(Retrieved 16 March 2012).
740:Wainwright, David (1996).
715:Wainwright, David (1996).
690:Wainwright, David (1996).
638:Wainwright, David (1996).
588:Wainwright, David (1996).
541:Wainwright, David (1996).
502:Wainwright, David (1996).
218:
170:
160:
155:
147:
139:
100:
82:
74:
69:
40:
28:
23:
478:the then Prince of Wales
201:Grade I listed building
156:Design and construction
61:Location within England
783:DAKS website – history
446:
357:
349:
181:Simpsons of Piccadilly
24:Simpsons of Piccadilly
440:
412:Are You Being Served?
355:
347:
298:London County Council
892:DAKS company website
614:"Laszlo Moholy-Nagy"
455:Houses of Parliament
307:, a director of the
187:situated at 203–206
140:Construction started
952:Bookshops in London
864:London Architecture
847:Wainwright, David;
772:on 27 October 2005.
338:St Paul's Cathedral
120: /
70:General information
862:Butler, Marianne;
815:. 1 February 1999.
788:1 May 2012 at the
447:
358:
350:
305:László Moholy-Nagy
124:51.5092°N 0.1361°W
674:on 10 March 2014.
624:on 20 April 2016.
476:in 1956 and from
474:Duke of Edinburgh
334:Westminster Abbey
237:Geological Museum
178:
177:
174:Alexander Simpson
999:
881:, Merrell, 2005.
835:
834:
829:. Archived from
823:
817:
816:
799:
793:
780:
774:
773:
762:
756:
755:
737:
731:
730:
712:
706:
705:
687:
676:
675:
660:
654:
653:
635:
626:
625:
610:
604:
603:
585:
579:
578:
576:
574:
563:
557:
556:
538:
532:
531:
528:"Vintage Vision"
524:
518:
517:
499:
400:Second World War
135:
134:
132:
131:
130:
129:51.5092; -0.1361
125:
121:
118:
117:
116:
113:
56:
55:
49:
33:
21:
20:
1007:
1006:
1002:
1001:
1000:
998:
997:
996:
972:Shops in London
902:
901:
888:
844:
839:
838:
833:on 18 May 2013.
825:
824:
820:
801:
800:
796:
790:Wayback Machine
781:
777:
764:
763:
759:
752:
738:
734:
727:
713:
709:
702:
688:
679:
662:
661:
657:
650:
636:
629:
612:
611:
607:
600:
586:
582:
572:
570:
569:. Samuely.co.uk
565:
564:
560:
553:
539:
535:
526:
525:
521:
514:
500:
491:
486:
466:Old Bond Street
435:
362:Joseph Emberton
341:
318:Ashley Havinden
273:Joseph Emberton
221:
197:Joseph Emberton
171:Main contractor
165:Joseph Emberton
128:
126:
122:
119:
114:
111:
109:
107:
106:
89:
65:
64:
63:
62:
59:
58:
57:
36:
19:
12:
11:
5:
1005:
995:
994:
989:
984:
979:
974:
969:
964:
959:
954:
949:
944:
939:
934:
929:
924:
919:
914:
900:
899:
894:
887:
886:External links
884:
883:
882:
877:Powers, Alan;
875:
860:
843:
840:
837:
836:
818:
794:
775:
757:
750:
732:
725:
707:
700:
677:
655:
648:
627:
618:Bauhaus-Online
605:
598:
580:
558:
551:
533:
519:
512:
488:
487:
485:
482:
434:
431:
427:Christian Dior
280:Portland stone
220:
217:
176:
175:
172:
168:
167:
162:
158:
157:
153:
152:
149:
145:
144:
141:
137:
136:
104:
98:
97:
95:United Kingdom
84:
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
67:
66:
60:
51:
50:
44:
43:
42:
41:
38:
37:
34:
26:
25:
17:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1004:
993:
990:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
968:
965:
963:
960:
958:
955:
953:
950:
948:
945:
943:
940:
938:
935:
933:
930:
928:
925:
923:
920:
918:
915:
913:
910:
909:
907:
898:
895:
893:
890:
889:
880:
876:
873:
872:1-902910-18-4
869:
865:
861:
858:
854:
850:
846:
845:
832:
828:
822:
814:
810:
809:
804:
798:
791:
787:
784:
779:
771:
767:
761:
753:
747:
743:
736:
728:
722:
718:
711:
703:
697:
693:
686:
684:
682:
673:
669:
665:
659:
651:
645:
641:
634:
632:
623:
619:
615:
609:
601:
595:
591:
584:
568:
562:
554:
548:
544:
537:
529:
523:
515:
509:
505:
498:
496:
494:
489:
481:
479:
475:
471:
467:
463:
458:
456:
452:
444:
439:
430:
428:
424:
420:
415:
414:
413:
408:
403:
401:
396:
392:
391:in May 1937.
390:
385:
383:
378:
375:
371:
367:
366:neon lighting
363:
354:
346:
342:
339:
335:
330:
327:
326:ready-to-wear
323:
319:
314:
310:
306:
302:
299:
295:
294:Felix Samuely
290:
286:
281:
276:
274:
270:
264:
262:
258:
254:
250:
249:Jermyn Street
246:
242:
238:
234:
230:
226:
216:
214:
210:
206:
202:
198:
194:
190:
186:
182:
173:
169:
166:
163:
159:
154:
150:
146:
142:
138:
133:
105:
103:
99:
96:
92:
88:
85:
81:
77:
73:
68:
48:
39:
32:
27:
22:
16:
878:
863:
857:1-899163-158
848:
842:Bibliography
831:the original
821:
806:
797:
778:
770:the original
760:
751:1-899163-158
741:
735:
726:1-899163-158
716:
710:
701:1-899163-158
691:
672:the original
658:
649:1-899163-158
639:
622:the original
617:
608:
599:1-899163-158
589:
583:
571:. Retrieved
561:
552:1-899163-158
542:
536:
530:. June 2012.
522:
513:1-899163-158
503:
470:Elizabeth II
459:
448:
416:
410:
407:Jeremy Lloyd
404:
397:
393:
386:
359:
303:
277:
265:
255:(1,022
222:
185:retail store
183:was a large
180:
179:
161:Architect(s)
78:Retail Space
15:
451:Waterstones
445:booksellers
443:Waterstones
433:Present day
398:During the
269:Austin Reed
209:Waterstones
191:in central
127: /
102:Coordinates
906:Categories
484:References
423:Mary Quant
289:Travertine
261:Savile Row
253:sq ft
245:Piccadilly
241:Piccadilly
229:Savile Row
189:Piccadilly
151:April 1936
143:April 1935
112:51°30′33″N
87:Piccadilly
668:WordPress
480:in 1982.
389:leukaemia
285:lightwell
233:tailoring
213:bookshops
211:chain of
148:Completed
115:0°08′10″W
808:BBC News
786:Archived
573:17 March
374:artesian
313:aircraft
83:Location
382:Britain
309:Bauhaus
247:and on
219:History
870:
855:
827:"Home"
811:. UK:
748:
723:
698:
646:
596:
549:
510:
425:, and
419:Armani
322:barber
296:. The
193:London
91:London
370:ducts
868:ISBN
853:ISBN
746:ISBN
721:ISBN
696:ISBN
644:ISBN
594:ISBN
575:2016
547:ISBN
508:ISBN
462:DAKS
377:well
336:and
329:DAKS
225:DAKS
205:DAKS
75:Type
813:BBC
239:in
908::
805:.
680:^
666:.
630:^
616:.
492:^
457:.
429:.
421:,
384:.
340:.
263:.
215:.
93:,
874:.
859:.
754:.
729:.
704:.
652:.
602:.
577:.
555:.
516:.
257:m
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
