J. Press customer Frank Sinatra famously warbled, “Regrets I’ve had a few.” One of my regrets to this day is that I wasn’t around to fondle a tape measure around the neck of drop-dead gorgeous movie star of the day Kim Novak when she visited J. Press in 1957.
![Kim Novak Taped for Size at J. Press](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2116/8679/files/KimNovak_LifeMaga_480x480.png?v=1616353733)
Fresh off her role as the object of Sinatra’s lust and affection in the light-hearted musical Pal Joey, the beautiful Novak strolled in asking to see “those wonderful shirts you’re famous for.” Boy, would I have enjoyed being the guy who’s turn it was to take that sale! Unfortunately, the deed was done by a salesperson far more handsome than yours truly, Ray Solomon. Ray was a roustabout J. Squeeze star in our upstairs slot on the northeast corner of 44th St. and Madison Avenue. Measuring her up and down Ray never got beyond selling her half a dozen Oxford Cloth Button Down shirts along with a picture In Life Magazine.
The venture occurred in when I was at Dartmouth perambulating around the Seven Sisters (Smith, Wellesley, Vassar, etc.) attempting to bribe dates with Shaggy Dog sweaters. If I got past first base perhaps, I might favor them with an OCBD like Kim Novak’s. Sometime the ruse worked, sometimes not.
The wages of sin.
RICHARD PRESS
8 comments
Vertigo was the second grownup movie I saw. I watched it with my mother when I was 11; it knocked me out. I’ve loved Alfred’s movies, Miss Novak, and Jimmy ever since. I didn’t know that he was a Princeton man.
The fullness of the J. Press OCBD traditional cut shirt can comfortably double as a pajama top—particularly when soft and well-worn and hand laundered.
Edith Head also dressed Kim Novak very well. Courtesy of her nephew, I have her signed portrait (in a soigne décolleté gown) inscribed “Your Honor, this is my honor, Kim Novak”.
I loved your Madison Ave. store. I can still remember it when I was fresh out of PSU in 1973. I used to have your OCBD shirts sent to me at my St. College, Pa. address whilst an undergrad. I still have the pink one with the button flap pocket.
Richie:
Too bad she wasn’t in the market for undershorts.
Bob