The London Lounge

I have been in NYC last week for a Future of Television East conference, had a couple of days of to walk around and visit familiar places of interest)))
At Paul Stuart on Madison had a sense of deja vu - it looked like Pual Stuart has become a new Sulka - not in the store interior but rather in the style, quality of product (and unfortunately, pricing)). When I picked their catalogues it was only enhanced... I might be very wrong, or maybe there is nothing new in it. Just wanted to share

I have always liked Paul Stuart's accessories, especially their ties which show a sense of whimsy. You can always find a few ties to put a smile on your face.

I have always loved Paul Stuart as well. They carry a fair bit of product that is too "Palm Beach" for my taste, but many of their more sober offerings are quite classic, to my eye.

They do carry a peculiar mix of products. If you go RTW then I would recommend Paul Stuart before anywhere else. They also have some beautiful shirts, ties and pocket squares. But some of their products, especially in knitwear, are revolting - what the poster above referred to as Palm Beach (I think, as a non-US citizen, I get the reference).

With regard to the OP's comment, have the lines changed recently? Pual Stuart seem to have stocked very much the same kind of things (apart from the new Phineas Cole line) for years now. I'm not aware of any radical change.

I feel that they have changed - that was the point. My opinion earlier was that they were "trad with flair", but have gone towards more classic (and classic with flair in Phineas Cole))). Hence the comparison with Sulka.
And I haven't noticed anything Palm Beach-y, at least it did not strike the eye

And I haven't noticed anything Palm Beach-y, at least it did not strike the eye

I think this is the sort of thing I had in mind:

http://www.paulstuart.com/product_info. ... RODCATID=0

From the selection still remaining at sale price, the typical Paul Stuart client doesn't like it either!

I have found their "Stuart's Choice" line of MTO shoes to be a useful intermediary (in price, quality, and style) between Alden and Gaziano & Girling for some purposes. They are Northampton-made, but I don't know by whom. Some styles are more elegant than others, but I've been able to mix details/leathers from the demonstration models to get some excellent results, especially a punch-cap dark brown pebble-grain oxford with single Dainite soles--something a bit dressier than the plain country derby. As I have narrow feet, I have very limited choices in RTW shoes, so it's been good to add this source.

couch wrote:I have found their "Stuart's Choice" line of MTO shoes to be a useful intermediary (in price, quality, and style) between Alden and Gaziano & Girling for some purposes. They are Northampton-made, but I don't know by whom. Some styles are more elegant than others, but I've been able to mix details/leathers from the demonstration models to get some excellent results, especially a punch-cap dark brown pebble-grain oxford with single Dainite soles--something a bit dressier than the plain country derby. As I have narrow feet, I have very limited choices in RTW shoes, so it's been good to add this source.

I believe the shoes that are made for Paul Stuart are done by Grenson of England.

http://www.grenson.co.uk/

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

andrei67 wrote:I have been in NYC last week for a Future of Television East conference, had a couple of days of to walk around and visit familiar places of interest)))
At Paul Stuart on Madison had a sense of deja vu - it looked like Pual Stuart has become a new Sulka - not in the store interior but rather in the style, quality of product (and unfortunately, pricing)). When I picked their catalogues it was only enhanced... I might be very wrong, or maybe there is nothing new in it. Just wanted to share

Paul Stuart has always been up there in price. As for comparing it to Sulka, Id say in the robe and smoking jacket area you're right on. Sulka was known for their shirts and fine silk robes, and smoking jackets, whereas Paul Stuart to me has been known for ties and accessories.

I heard a long time ago that the men who brought their suits at Brooks Brothers would sneak over to Paul Stuart and buy the ties.

Although I do have to say one thing about the prices at Paul Stuart, their seven fold ties are $25 dollars less then a Robert Talbott seven fold tie.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

Cufflink79 wrote:
I believe the shoes that are made for Paul Stuart are done by Grenson of England.

Thanks, good to know.

I tend to go there only during sales. Essentially everything they sell is "private label" and that includes the shoes (which I too believe are made by Grenson). I find the sales staff to be very aggressive and not particularly knowledgable. What has always intrigued me the most is the pricing in odd figures, as if the prices are precisely tied to some FOREX rate. For accessories or sportwear you get better goods, (sale) prices, and ambience at Davide Cenci.

tteplitzmd wrote:I tend to go there only during sales. Essentially everything they sell is "private label" and that includes the shoes (which I too believe are made by Grenson). I find the sales staff to be very aggressive and not particularly knowledgable. What has always intrigued me the most is the pricing in odd figures, as if the prices are precisely tied to some FOREX rate. For accessories or sportwear you get better goods, (sale) prices, and ambience at Davide Cenci.

I believe that Paul Stuart's shoes are made by Crockett & Jones who supply other firms, Ralph Lauren, Shipton & Heneage and George Cleverly. If they are not C&J, Alfred Sargent or Cheaney are other possibilities. I have heard that AS has been saved and is moving upmarket.

Grenson has being going through a tough time. The latest range in my local department store was unimpressive - a low quality rip-off of Tricker's. Another local department store, John Lewis, is stocking its own "exclusive" Grenson fashion range. At £300, they are grossly over-priced as, again, they are below the standards of C&J and Tricker's.

Bishop of Briggs wrote:I believe that Paul Stuart's shoes are made by Crockett & Jones who supply other firms, Ralph Lauren, Shipton & Heneage and George Cleverly. If they are not C&J, Alfred Sargent or Cheaney are other possibilities. I have heard that AS has been saved and is moving upmarket.

It is extremely unlikely that C&J make PS shoes - the nail pattern, heel pattern and writing on the inside are completely different.

Also, in my last correspondence with Grenson customer service, they confirmed that they do make the PS shoes, so there you go.

Paul Stuart is one of New York's great stores.

It has held the line of good taste and formal service. The store is independently owned and has always been in the same family. The owner runs the store with an iron fist. For example, salesmen must always stand and have their coats buttoned. Salesmen always wear ties and coats.

Its top of the line English shoes, which I believe are called Stuart's Best, are made by Grenson. Special order is available. In other words, you can order a stock shoe in a different leather with perhaps some variation in the detailing.