Been a long stretch since October 2018 when I penned the first of 118 Threading the Needle columns. Frosting on the cake: IGTV videos allowing me to revive my primordial off-Broadway stagecraft. The real theatre always boasted a one-day intermission on the weekly performance schedule. My contributions will be beginning hence to appear bi-weekly allowing for comfortable audience digestion after each epicurean repast.
Unlike politico or entertainment blogs, my commentary is meant to be a succinct representation of historical, social and sartorial facets of American Style deriving from J. Press. The company bearing my grandfather’s name reflects a current safety net for those disembarking from the sinking ship of other former favorite enterprises that defined “dressing down.”
J. Press upholds the original sign over my grandfather’s store, “Gentleman’s Tailors, Clothiers and Furnishers.” Since 1902 the loyalty of regulars since those early years together with a growing swath of patrons unaware of the company’s historic roots continues its rebirth.
My favorite Hall of Fame menswear critic George Frazier (recently dissected in my column several weeks ago) held forth in his 1960 Esquire Magazine dissertation:
Today both men and women sell the clothes in our specialty shop surroundings although virtually all the tailors and emporiums Frazier referred to have either disappeared or discarded the attributes that gave them notoriety. J. Press holds firm to the clothing philosophy and good taste that has been it signature for 119 years.
Meanwhile, stay tuned for publication:
THREADING THE NEEDLE: J.PRESS, SHAGGY DOGS, AND THE ORIGINS OF IVY STYLE—MEMORIES & ANECDOTES BY RICHARD PRESS—WITH A FOREWORD BY G. BRUCE BOYER.
Priming fingered paws for book signings post-COVID vaccination. Come on Baby let the good times roll. See you round the bend.
RICHARD PRESS
15 comments
I’m a farm boy from Indiana and I never understood the idea of “dressing down”. We learned how to dress up when the occasion called for it—and that, plus my conservative politics—has served me well these past 75 years.
The fun of wearing a mixture of J.Press with a Socal style is the best.
I agree and look forward to the book!
Richard: Howard Edelstein from Cleveland here. Did your father have any Pittsburgh connection. I recall my father (who went to Pitt in the early 1930’s) mentioning he had a friend named Paul Press in those days. Enjoying your writings. Howard
As with SARTOR RESAURTUS by Thomas Carlyle— “The Tailor Retailored” — elegantly, classically, eminently.
Donald Robert WilsonRichard
I look forward to the book. Your histories have been a comfort through these difficult times. Gabe, Mr York and all the others would be proud.