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
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Indeed,a tweed sport coat is like an old friend. Always reliable,never trendy but never out of style. A sophisticated companion for business or casual wear
Bought my first J. Press Harris Tweed jacket in winter of 1963-4, a houndstooth offering in a melange of russet, moss and taupe, size 42 reg that lasted me a couple decades. Since replaced several times with various iterations, always iconic J. Press, where else? And yes, luckily I’m still a 42 reg after all these years. Nothing changes.
Bill Nichols’ comment that putting on a tweed jacket is like meeting up with an old friend says it all.
Another great column, thank you for making Mondays so thought provoking. There is something special about the way a tweed jacket feels as you put it on. No matter if it is brand new or years old eachtime it is like meeting up with an old friend…