Who is J. Press?
A look inside an iconic American brand
I have always been intrigued by J. Press and its enduring appeal as one of the most iconic and revolutionary menswear stores of the past century. As I delved deeper into its history, I uncovered more and more amazing stories. To have thrived for 122 years, J. Press must have done something right, and the more I learned about the brand, the more impressed I was.
When I considered what brands I wanted to profile for my video series, J. Press was one of the few at the top. Thankfully, the brand was receptive to this, and last month, I was on a train headed north to New Haven, where the company was founded in 1902 by Jacobi Press. You can read more about it below, or if you want to jump into the video now, you can view it here.
While in New Haven, I had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Squillaro, Chief Merchandising Officer, and Jim Fitzgerald, Vice President of Retail and Manager of their New Haven flagship store for an impressive 37 years. Their beautiful store, nestled in the heart of Yale's campus, exudes a sense of style, heritage, quality, and connection with the community. With multiple levels and a tasteful interior, it is a well-appointed store, and I felt right at home after walking in for the first time.
I was looking forward to both of my interviews. My interview with Robert was about products. Robert has spent his career in the clothing business and has an expansive knowledge of the business and the ins and outs of fabrics. He places a heavy emphasis on product creation, ensuring that J. Press creates high-quality, long-lasting products that are sustainably sourced, all for a very competitive price.
Jim, who has seen everything during his remarkable tenure, told me that on weekends at the Yale store back twenty or so years ago, when there was a football game, folks were coming in and buying multiple suits at a time, with a line out of the door. They were so busy they didn't have time to ring up all the customers. Apple Pay didn’t exist back then, I suppose. They had to write down their information and ring them up when the store closed. I loved this and can’t imagine the demand for suits was ever that high, but it was sure enough. Jim added that one of his favorite things about the store is that it’s been around long enough to span generations. He has many customers who bought their first suits at J. Press and returned years later with their sons to their first suits at J. Press. I love that.
I first heard of J. Press, as I’m sure many do, for its association with Ivy Style, a classic and timeless look rooted in the Ivy League. This style became mainstream in 1954, with J. Press leading the charge. The brand's prominence resulted from being an industry leader for half a century, coinciding with a well-timed article in Life Magazine that catapulted the brand to a new level. The Life Magazine article, a cover story in the biggest magazine in America at the time and pictured above, with a circulation of over ten million people, transformed J. Press from a regional to a nationwide brand. After this article came out, everyone was wearing J. Press—from late-night television hosts to politicians, and yes, even Ol’ Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra.
A few weeks later, after visiting New Haven, I had another interview and planned to stop by J. Press's Manhattan outpost in the Yale Club, steps from Grand Central. There, I met Richard Press, the grandson of Jacobi Press. It was a true thrill to interview him. He's got the exuberance, excitement, and pride that would come with having your name on the door, but to him, it’s more than that. He has a deep-rooted love for the brand, which came across from the second the interview started. He was the former President and CEO of the company, and now, at the age of eighty-six, he still writes a bi-weekly column for the J. Press website.
He regaled me with stories of his grandfather, how he sold Frank Sinatra all of his suits from 1969-1970, and when Cary Grant called him to ask him to try on some sweaters—just to name a few. I felt very honored to be able to hear him tell these stories, and it was an entertaining interview. I plan to release the full uncut interview in a few weeks, as I feel it is a must-listen for anyone interested in suits, Ivy Style, or even just Sinatra.
Spending time with three amazing guys was really inspiring, in two stores that really feel unique and are a part of history. They gave me an insight into the menswear landscape of the past century, which I tried to convey in this video. Today, the menswear landscape has changed. We no longer buy three new suits a season, as it's rare for guys to buy one suit in a year. It was interesting to hear how one of the oldest and most traditional menswear brands, J. Press, is coping with this reality.
Despite these changes, my friends at J. Press believe that the pendulum will swing back towards a world where men are more suited, and I'm inclined to agree with them. And when that pendulum does swing back, J. Press will be there, just as it always has been.
