Following a particularly gluttonous holiday season I reigned in my appetite and lost a spot of weight. Feeling healthy and trim, yesterday I set out in the blizzard’s aftermath to visit the newly opened J. Press York Street store and see if I could squeeze into anything.
I had fairly low expectations based on the images of the collection, and the neon signs in the store’s windows didn’t seem particularly promising. But I have to admit, I didn’t hate it. York Street is pleasant enough, with lots of ephemera and “mantiques” (a word that recently lodged itself in my vocabulary), comfortable leather couches, and a separate tailoring section in the rear.
One of the things that immediately jumped out was the number of jackets without darts, although the tailoring was obviously very slim fit. The sportcoats were on the short side, but the men I saw wearing them looked much better than the models in the promotional material. It seems that the models for the fashion show and website were given jackets a size too small for some reason, because the proportions didn’t seem as off in person.
Taken piecemeal, the sportsweat isn’t nearly as offensive, though some of the patterns and color schemes are puzzling. The ties could easily be fit into the normal J. Press collection, but are not surprisingly on the narrow side.
I appreciated the fact that, for the most part, items that could be made in America were. This contrasts with the fact that some of the tailored clothing just down the street at Black Fleece is now made in Thailand.
My overall impression was that if this project can avoid the pitfalls of Rugby (garish sportswear, over-styling) and perhaps come down in cost (which despite being inflated is still comparable to mainline J. Press, without sacrificing too much quality), it’s a positive development. It will offer something to young professionals who may in the future become regular J. Press customers.
That said, for my taste I would only purchase sweaters and ties from York Street, so I suppose I’m pleasantly surprised but not particularly interested. — DAN GREENWOOD
Daniel Calvert Greenwood is a New York-based classical singer specializing in Gilbert & Sullivan, Rossini, and drinking songs of the University of Pennsylvania (which he did not attend). He is a descendant of the Quaker preacher Thomas Brown, Maryland’s first governor Leonard Calvert, and the inventor Thomas Shaw, and is a neighbor of Christian Chensvold.
Daniel Calvert Greenwood’s vita is most impressive, especially the part concerning drinking songs.
Nice article. And, I think I met you, Daniel, at the Ivy Style meetup at the Ivy Style exhibit last Fall.
….that, or I met some other Gilbert and Sullivan singer who’s into menswear. 🙂
I believe we did meet, you were wearing p3s of your own design if I remember correctly. Glad my ramblings were readable! I think anyone that went to the exhibit can easily recall the horror that was the Thom Browne spike-crotch suit, and after that… York Street seems pretty mainstream.
I’m curious to see how it all fits. I saw some pics of fall and J. Press seems like it’s filling some Rugby shoes.
Hi,
I know this is sort of like cursing in church but I actually like slim fit clothes as I feel it suits my build better (I have a 42 inch chest and a 29 inch waist).
I’m thinking about ordering some items from the York street collection and I’m wondering how slim they actually are, compared to let’s say different Italian brands (like Boglioli, Lubiam etc) and compared to the regular J. Press. My experience with “American slim fit” is that it’s still rather non-slim to me.
Since I live on the other side of the pond I don’t have the possibility to try the items and returning them would be quite expensive. So anyone who tried the clothes, please help.
Anyone
A heads-up. The J. Press spring collection is out. There is a new look: three button “sack suits” with darts. The pictures also show a suppressed waist. They could just be pinned.
I’ve contacted Press for comment.