Thanks for the memory serving well-dressed gentlemen on the floor of J. Press in antediluvian times, but my genes also recall the flawless wardrobe of my dad, Paul Press, often cited by local New Haven cognoscenti, “The Cary Grant of York Street.”
His distinct personal appearance complemented his flawlessly tailored custom suits over blue oxford or end-on-end combed cotton crisp point collar shirts with abiding single crease tight knotted cravat, carefully folded foulard kerchief for jacket breast pocket, and Scottish argyle hosiery gartered over bespoke Lobb footwear. Yale Bowl Portal 16 provided a public stance for Dad chatting up the football crowd draped in his 32 oz. Sandstone Scottish Melton British Warm Coat, English reversible silk/cashmere muffler, topped by Fritz Hückel signature Tyrolean hat accessorized with Gemsbart German Octoberfest feather hat pin. Paul Press may have graduated from University of Pittsburgh but his embellishment was Fence Club Eli Prime.
Utilizing the J. Press Made to Measure program, Dad’s past tailoring idiosyncrasies might today be translated for a customer’s personal style to include choices of jacket linings, differing lapel seams, side vent/center hook, two/three button style or single/double breasted. Suit, sport jacket and blazer pickings are backed to the hilt offering an encyclopedic selection of imported woolens and worsteds fabrics.
Attributing the demise of menswear to spiraling cost is phony baloney. Wall Street hedge fund billionaires interviewed by Fox Business in mailroom gear disproves the axiom. Add to the mix network newscasters costumed in costly dull black and grey as if lying on a bier at the Frank Campbell Funeral Chapel. Big time sports MCs show up between innings looking like Leave It To Beaver castaways.
H. L. Mencken’s jazz age metaphor,“ Sahara of the beaux arts,” pinpoints today’s fashion coverage featured in GQ or New York Times Fast Fashion.
Time for J. Press, an island unto itself, taking tasteful gentlemen back to the home of classic American Style:
Dressing Well Is The Best Revenge
RICHARD PRESS
20件のコメント
I must say that I feel extremely fortunate to have known Mr. Paul Press—who often visited the New York J. Press Store back in the day when I worked there part-time, alongside my father, Hall of Fame Salesman Jerry Haber.One anecdote about Paul Press will always stick with me.One day, when I was working part-time at the New York store on a Saturday,a J. Press customer boldly exclaimed that Paul Press was such an amazing dresser that he was literally “A Walking Advertisement for the J. Press Store”.Hands down, Paul Press is easily one of the best-dressed men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.
Just emailed this article to a nephew. I cannot tell you how important this article is especially for someone attempting g to enter either college or business. Its terrible to see how poorly some people dress for most occasions requiring appearance. I hope it has the influence intended.
Collars past and present
My own preference as an undergraduate began with the OCBD version, preferably when on sale at Strawbridge or John Wanamaker in Philadelphia. With the dawn of pinpoint and utter disregard for novelties in chambray, seersucker or linen (whisper broadcloth) I became a total, if temporary adherent of pinpoint. Totally in good taste, I returned permanently to oxford cloth in versions by Gitman, Gant, Mercer, Brooks (past) and the singular J. Press with or wthout pocket. As to who produced the coveted collar with the most enticing roll I hesitate to choose.
Stanley Pilshaw
Well, in honor of this thread I wore a brand new Press blue w/white stripe OCBD with my 20+ year old tan Press cotton suit and it worked spectacularly well. Thanks again Richard!