Have you been to the bar at the top? I actually got a decent martini there a while back. Not been there for a couple of years though.

Like the bit about the unobtrusive service, always the sign of a good shop. I find what usually happens in mens clothes shops is the assistants are primed to pounce because most guys are indecisive about clothes. Gets on me wick, that.

By the way, that last phrase is an old one I am attempting to reintroduce. along with 'I'm right browned off'.

Sorry, clueless colonial here -- I remember Simpsons as a large department store chain, now defunct, as are Eaton's, and soon, surely, The Bay.

Any connection beyond the name?

In 1985 I had some Indian salesman try to sell me a Gloverall coat in three sizes too large: "Meant to be very loose fitting, sir!" well maybe not. But maybe he envisioned my figure twenty years on. Never did by a thing in that store.

that same
year I bought a summer weight Burberry trench coat at the Haymarket store... the old gent in charge shifted me off to some kid who was probably new but about my (then) age and that may have been the last time in my life when I got good service (that isn't true, the guys at my Press store are great), I demanded the kid find me a wool liner. He must have received his first decent commission. Dosen't surprise me that everything went down hill in the 90s when everyone began to make real money. They don't even wear morning coats at James Smith any more... O Tempora! O Mores!