Praise for J.Press

JPress Shirts

Way back when I used to tweet out links to my latest blog post. In-between those tweets I might tweet about something trad. It was mostly filler and my twitter account has long since been deleted. However, I remember back in 2012 I tweeted something to the effect of, “By the time I can afford to shop at Brooks Brothers & J.Press they won’t sell anything that I want to buy.”. It turns out that I was a lot more right than wrong.

I didn’t make this post to lament the current state of Brooks Brothers (more on them later). I made this post to celebrate J.Press. It’s one of the few places that I recommend to people when they ask where they can get the type of clothes that I wear. Of course I tell people to check out O’Connell’s as well, but what sets J-Squeeze apart is that they are one of the few places left that almost exclusively sell their own clothing.

Sure their have been changes. I remember back when there was only one fit offered in their shirts (review coming soon!). Yes, they have had years when the jacket shoulders were more natural than others. They also dabble in reaching the younger market with their more fashion forward and slimmer lines, York St. and now their Pennant line, but those lines have strong trad DNA and it was never to the detriment of their main line.

J.Press is a place where you can still go to get all the trad essentials. You don’t even have to use filters to navigate to all-cotton OCBDs and 3/2 roll sport coats when shopping online. If you have the privilege of shopping in-store you could do so blindfolded and still come out looking classically American. It’s what they did back in the day and what they do now. In a space where the sky is always falling and the present is never as good as the past it’s good to be grateful for what we do have, and that is J.Press. The home of the flap-pocket is still here in the USA.

JPress Shirts
JPress Madras
oxford cloth button down
Jerrod Swanton is a simple man interested in simple, classic, and traditional style.

10 Comments on "Praise for J.Press"

  1. Michael says:

    Hello Jerrod,
    Very true regarding J. Press. I’ve been to the new(er) store in New Haven, and it’s like stepping back in time. All the good stuff. If anyone has an inkling to visit that store, I recommend stopping by Louis Lunch ( purportedly the birthplace of the hamburger) for a no frills lunch and treat yourself to some Wooster St pizza ( Modern, Sally’s, Pepe’s) before the voyage back home.
    Cheers!

    • oxford cloth button down says:

      Michael, I would love to shop in-store at some point. I am a little envious. I would also like to eat one of those hamburgers!

  2. CCE says:

    Just purchased my first J. Press OCBD in about 20 years, and I’m pleasantly satisfied that the quality has remained the same. Perfect weight and perfect collar roll. Unfortunately, BB failed because they left their base flapping in the breeze (I’d argue same thing happens with J. Crew sometime in the early 2000s). J. Press hasn’t forgotten their past nor their client base, and we are thankful.

    • oxford cloth button down says:

      There aren’t too many places left that you can say that about! I picked up my first OCBD in in close to 10 years and feel the same.

  3. Old School says:

    Good Morning, Jerrod

    Always a pleasure to read your sensible observations.

    Re: “ the past is never as good as the present”:
    I have a feeling that you meant “the present is never as good as the past”.

    • oxford cloth button down says:

      Old School, thank you. I am glad to hear it and I appreciate you pointing out the error!

  4. Buzz Powell says:

    Just saw an OLD picture of you on ivystyle.com; thought I’d dial up the old website to see what happens. BANG! There you were. Congratulations! Welcome back! (I’ve got a lavender U-stripe shirt just like your baby)

  5. Fred Johnson says:

    Ox,
    I have been a loyal J Press New Haven customer since 2nd year high school (1964) when the Shaggy Dogs were about $17; same price as the loafers at Barrie Ltd next door.

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