New York stores

[Guest]

Feeel free to editorialize, but what would be the stores a good London Lounge-ite should hit in a day in NYC? This is a list I made with the information I have (incomplete).

Borrelli 212-752-0772
Cenci 801 Madison 212-628-5910 (btw 67th/68th, for St Andrews suits)
Herzfeld 507 Madison (btw 52nd/53rd) 212-753-6756
Stephen Kempson 212-688-2868 Park (for Cleverly RTW)
Worth and Worth 800-428-7467 101 W 55th (for Neopolitan MTM)

[manton]

Herzfeld has moved. It's now on 57th between Park and Lex. Amazingly, their own website still lists the old address. On your way over there, you will pass Turnbull & Asser and Oxxford (57th between Madison & Park).

Bergdorf is a must. Paul Stuart for socks. Barneys is worth a look, especially since it's right accross the street from Borrelli. If you have time, just walk up Madison from 59th to 72nd. Lots to see, including most of the best shoe stores in the city. Jay Kos has two locations, one on Lex at about 71st (I think) and one at 57th and Park. If you have a lot of time, check out Seigo, Madison and about 90th. Great ties designed by the owner and then woven and made in Japan. Some are limited editions, so you are unlikely to see anyone else wearing "your" tie. Not available anywhere else, so far as I know.

[tteplitzmd]

There is some overlap in Italian outerwear at Herzfeld's and D. Cenci. The only thing I buy at Herzfeld is ankle length Pantherella socks, but even that has diminished since Pantherella was sold and the quality diminished.

I would like to tell my Herzfeld joke, understand that the delivery is lacking in print, and that I am a physician, not a standup comic:

I go in to Herzfeld every year to buy my socks, and am invariably hit with a sales pitch to buy their other goods, to which I reply: "I am waiting for the sale." They reply: "Herzfeld never has a sale." To which I reply: "My point exactly."

Davide Cenci has predictable sales in the winter and summer, substantial discounts off the (inflated) list prices. Do ask for Daniel Moore, who is very capable and knowledgeable.

Terry A. Teplitz

[zjpj]

My itinerary would be to start at Bergdorfs and then work my way north. You can probably skip the stretch of 5th Ave., though I am partial to Asprey.

I would then go over to Madison, as suggested, and head North. You will hit all sorts of great shops - lots of shoe places. Lattanzi is in a tiny shop by Ralph Lauren up in the 70s. And, as said, if you're going to Borrelli already, head to Barneys across the street too.

[Mark Seitelman]

1. Brooks Bros district at Madison & 44th. At its service entrance is J. Press (on 44th) and Paul Stuard (on Madison & 45th). Brooks still has some select items of interest, such as shoes, and it is a beautiful and historic store. Paul Stuart is a fabulous store. J. Press has some of those tweedy sportscoat that you like.

2. Alan Flusser Custom Shop on E. 46th St. (?) bet. 5th & Madison. Call ahead. They have a website. Beautiful store located upstairs. Nice staff.

3. Saks Fifth Avenue. The only worthwhile things are Domenico Spano Custom Clothing and Edward Green shoes. Mimo's clothes are not to my taste, but he is very gracious and has a lovely shop which was formerly the Flusser shop. He would love to show you his offerings.

4. The various tailors. Most of the tailors written about on the fora (e.g., Raphael, Nicolosi, Logsdail, and others) are clustered in the area of Madison Ave. and 52nd Street. All are located in office buildings. You would have to call ahead.

5. The epicenter of mens fine mens retail--57th Street. I'll post some comments later.

Cheers.

[manton]

Flusser is at 3 East 48th Street, 4th floor.

Mark and I don't disagree often but I don't find Mimo to be so gracious. Be prepared to have your clothes insulted, and if you tell him who your tailor is, 60% chance he will turn up his nose and insult him too. Just one man's personal (but repeated) experience. (He never seems to remember who I am; or at least he pretends not too.)

[edhayes]

herzfeld has lovely ties and pocket squares and very good polo shirts. I have a lovely rainocoat from then and the staff is excellent
I am a fan of the polo store on 72st and madison, I think they often have very interesting things and the ready made suits are very good quality
they have excellent bright colored ties for the spring and some very unusual(and pricey)alligator belts
although the best place to buy alligator belts in my opinion, is the premierbelts web site

[Mark Seitelman]

To continue my comments:

1. Domenico Spano at Saks is inspired by the golden age of menswear. I would say that his interpretation is highly theatrical. In other words, he wants heads to turn when you enter a room. Although his clothes are not to my taste, I have always found him to be very pleasant and willing to talk about clothes. Even if you don't like his style, a visit is worthwhile to see some of his exclusive cloths.

2. 57th Street--The Epicenter of Elegance

a) Herzfeld on E. 57th bet Park & Lex. Excellent, old fashioned store. The last of its kind. The type of store where waiting on a customer is not an inconvenience and where the merchandise is in glass cases.

b) Jay Kos on Park bet. 57th & 58th. The newest store of the "young Turk" of trad. Has an excellent hat selection and Green shoes.

c) Stephen Kempson in Darabin on Park & 57th. He's a British bespoke clothier. I don't know much about him exept that Max and I poked our head inside one day. Looks like a class operation.

c) Turnbull & Asser on 57th bet Park & Madison. A legend.

d) Oxxford on 57th bet Park & Madison. My favorite store. I visit weekly.

e) Brioni on 57th bet Park & Madison. James Bond's tailor also has another store, believe it or not, about 5 blocks south.

f) The Fiorvanti Building on 57th St. bet 5th & 6th houses William Fiorvanti, Arthur Gluck (shirtmaker), and Tailoring by Allan (former owner of Harrison James). I cannot comment on any of these businesses.

g) Ascot Chang on 57th St. next to Bergdorf's.

h) Bergdorf Goodman Men. Probably the greatest mens specialty store in NYC. Not as much selection as Barneys, but what is there is choice.

i) Barneys. The Mecca of menswear.

j) Borrelli. Accross the street from Barneys on 60th.

k) Domenico Vacca. On 5th next to the Sherry Netherland Hotel. Luxe with luxe prices.

More later on the area above the Plaza district.

Cheerio

[J. Gross]

Always fun to help someone spend their money. Mark's list is excellent--I would add as you make your way north of Davide Cenci to stop in the Santoni store (west side of Mad btw. 70 and 71. After the Polo Mansion at 72nd, head over to Lex for the Jay Kos store. Across the street is Peter Elliot Blue, which is worth visiting as well. Lots of Belvest suits and jackets, Valstar, Isaia and other interesting stuff made for the store. Bespoke shoemaker Vincent and Edgar is just south on Lexington, as is clothier Bruce Cameron Clark (call ahead).

[Guest]

First of all, I want you all to know I replied extensively and my reply was lost through a web page hiccup, and I lacked the energy to re-write my narrative. But I appreciate your suggestions, none of them is wasted. You have exquisite taste (I am not just saying that). I did go to NYC and I will go back. The salesmen were insufferable, truly unbelievable, except for an Indian guy at Barney's in sportjackets, and an African-American fellow at Cenci, both of whom were very gracious. Worth and Worth was a disaster, they do not even have a store, it is a private apartment, and they had nothing to show, not swatches, not shirts, nothing. The guy there did not even know that they sold shirts (the owner was somewhere else).

I am curious about Peter Elliot Blue, I have never heard of this store (which means nothing).

Stores I will visit next include:

Herzfeld 118 E 57th (Park/Lex) 212-753-6756
Stephen Kempson @ Darabin (57th/Park) 212-688-2868 (Cleverly RTW)
Jay Kos 988 Lex (71st) 212-327-2382 475 Park (57th) 212-319-2770 (Castangia)
Bergorf Goodman Men's 745 5th (58th) 212-753-7300 (Castangia)
Domenico Vacca 781 5th Av (60th) 212-759-6333 367 W Broad (Broome) 212-925-0010 (Finamore shirts)
Kabay 339 W Broad (Grand/Broome) 212-925-9631 yatrick@kabay.net (Barba shirts and Campanile shoes)

[Mark Seitelman]

If you are in NYC on a Saturday feel free to call. Max and I often spend some time in the 57th Street area.

Peter Elliot Blue is a branch of Peter Elliot. It is updated traditional with lots of color and character. It's primarily a haberdashery carrying Borrelli and private label Italian shirts. It's across the street from Jay Kos's orginal store at Lexington and 72nd. Both Kos and Elliot Blue carry mens and boys.

The original Peter Elliot store at Madison and 82nd sells only mens (including a small but choice selection of Kiton, Hickey Freeman, Belvest, and Paul Smith), and its women's store is across the street. Also across the street will be Elliot's new mens shoe store.

If you go to Elliot Blue ask for Isabel or Patrick. At the main store ask for Elliot Rabin or John, and mention my name.

Mark
212-962-2626

[Guest]

Mark, who is Max?

[Mark Seitelman]

He's a member. Ask Max whether he wants to reveal his secret identity.

[Guest]

Wasn't that the name of the arms dealer in Mission Impossible?

[tteplitzmd]

Perhaps I am the only "value investor" in the Club, but it is worth looking at the Peter Elliot odds and ends across the street from the main shop, next to the Women's store. It used to be kids clothing, but that flopped (I wonder why with $400 cahsmere sweaters for my 6 year old son?) . I really can't see why anyone would buy at Peter Elliot or Davide Cenci other than during their predictable seasonal sales. I am a very good patron of Davide Cenci, and if you work with them, they can extend courtesies. Ask for Daniel Moore at Davide Cenci.