J. Press survives the current menswear mayhem as an island of good taste. Let’s play make believe allowing my old role as prelapsarian (look it up) advisor on the sales floor when customers asked my advice what to wear and how to wear it.
Certain public events require sartorial dignity. Imagine Justice Roberts with a hoodie and Grandpa jeans peeking out beneath his judicial robe. It will be interesting to see if victory elevates Pennsylvania candidate John Fetterman out of cargo shorts and into a suit and tie on the senate floor. Dare we forget Congressman Gym Jordan habitually disemboweling his suit jacket. If Jack and Jackie were still around, I doubt if their Newport wedding attire would be Bermudas.
A couple of years ago I spoke before Prof. Jay Gitlin’s history course Yale and America. My ticket was J. Press’ contribution to Yale and Ivy League culture. One of the students queried me, “Mr. Press, when I graduate in a couple of months and go for a job interview, I expect to wear a suit. I’ve never owned one and have no idea how to dress it up. What do I do?”
Needless to say, I directed him to J. Squeeze and offer the following git-go to negligent Millennials, Gen Zs or Boomers.
Get thee a dark grey mid-weight worsted suit. My personal preference is a muted pin or chalk stripe. Button the three-button natural shoulder jacket over a white Oxford button-down shirt paired with an Irish Poplin dark blue regimental stripe tie, lace-up cordovan shoes and a matching plain leather belt. Ought to work for most occasions whereas a blue suit requires black shoes and belt are outré for daytime wear.
Never, I repeat never ever, wear a suit without a necktie. You can never be too rich, too thin, or too well dressed. No tie, you ain’t turned out According to Hoyle.
Following the Yale class lecture that evening the erudite and well-attired Professor Gitlin introduced me to a booze-filled spiel at the elegant Elizabethan Club before a very tweedy J. Press crowd.
A good time was had by all with no torn jeans in the room.
RICHARD PRESS
39 comments
Excellent article, as always! Reference was made to current Lt. Governor and U.S. Senate wannabe, John Fetterman. As a resident of Pennsylvania, I can state that his attire is scandalous to the residents of our state and casts serious doubt on his governing abilities. If you dress too casually for your position, your work will most likely be sloppy. Not everyone should be wearing a suit to work - in many jobs it would be entirely inappropriate - but when one wants to conduct business, attend church, or attend a wedding or funeral, a suit conveys a sense of decorum and dignity. And the right tie paired with that suit makes the outfit.
So pleased to see there are still some civilized gentlemen around. It’s becoming increasingly rare.
When I finished graduate school at Penn in 1965 my parents bought me for a graduation job-hunting gift 3 suits from BB. Here’s the fun part—-they all had, as standard issue, vests!!! Yipes. At least there have been some changes for the good.
JP – hold the fort.
Excellent article, as always Mr. Press.
I don’t think students appreciate what a privilege it is to attend a university and get a good education nowadays. I was a working man, driving a forklift and unloading trucks before I was fortunate to go back to school and eventually earn my BA and MA. But even when I was a warehouse worker, I read classic novels, and I invested in my first 3 button sack suit from Brooks. I was so proud of that suit!
Good clothes are important in life. A suit or blazer, properly taken care of, will give many wonderful years of service. If you have the good fortune to attain an education, have the dignity to dress well, not flashy, but tasteful. Perhaps, the reason classic American style has endured is not just because it always looks good, but because there is a lovely erudite humility about it. As such, clothiers like JPress will continue to live on.
Excellent article, Mr. Press !!!