Growing up in post-World War II New Haven, being a Tweedy Guy meant membership in a coterie of self-designated social elites. As the trust fund student population dwindled enlisting a wider campus population base during the 1960s, the Ivy League became less engaged with the snobby wardrobe credentials of past generations. Even storied horn-rimmed Briar pipe smoking professors in three-piece tweed suits took a hit.
Suits are currently the domain of male TV anchors, bank tellers and morticians. Sport Jackets provide the answer for situations when suits are not required yet a modicum of dignity needs to be maintained. Dress Code for the august University Club of New York states, “Gentlemen members and guests are required to wear a jacket and dress shirt.”
Classic navy blazers remain the go-to jacket, but let me suggest their repetitive mode is quite simply becoming a bore. J. Press fills the void with an abundant inventory of Moorish tweeds. Two resources arrived on our racks years ago when Irving Press’ perambulations in the British Isles brought home the bacon.
Magee Irish Donegal Homespun Tweeds in exclusive J. Press patterns and designs, the peerless mixture of Irish Wool and imported Mohair and Cashmere offers a sophisticated blend of coloring and lush comfort together with a matchless bloom and luxurious touch.
Harris Tweeds earmarked especially for J. Press impart the hardy robust character and inimitable earthy colorings woven by hand in the Outer Hebrides Isles off the western coast of Scotland. Derived from special mid-weight yarns dyed with indigenous island vegetation, present a look and feel unlike any other. Also, the smell. A whiff of the fabric still emits a lingering peaty remnant of its crottle lichen dyes.
You don’t need to be tapped for Skull and Bones to be tweedy. C’mon down to J.Squeeze to field the scrum.
RICHARD PRESS
9 comments
Boy would I like to get my hands on the plaid in that photo at the bottom! Will be on the lookout for the Harris patterns this fall…
Appears Brooks Bros. is trying to catch up with J. Press….Brooks is bringing back the roll-collar button down, whereas Press never abandoned that good style.
Thank you for a fine piece and thanks to those who contributed.
I am fortunate to have three tweed jackets, JPress, purchased over the last 25 years. They are friends, in a way that no other clothing item I have could meet that description. Yes, one puts on the tweed jacket, and has arrived home.
My fraternity father introduced me to Harris Tweed in 1963, and I haven’t been the same since.
These columns are the best sales tool I can think of right now. Very good point on having a variety of tweed jackets vs just the blue blazer. Guess I need a couple more versus my Press grey one.