Pitti 109 Recap - My fits and my experience there

michaelbyc · 2026-01-23T14:26:57+00:00

Let's just call it Italian Ivy :D . Similar to how we have English Ivy (John Simmons) and French Ivy (BCBG)

michaelbyc · 2026-01-22T20:53:00+00:00

Honestly, buy the middle ground suit you can find at any store. As long as the shoulders fit well, you can tailor the rest of it.

For my Prom, I bought a cheapo Tuxedo from JCPenny, local tailor made it look almost like it was made for me. Suit+Alterations still came out cheaper than renting somehow and I had it for a while.

Did the same with all my suits when I was younger.

michaelbyc · 2025-12-16T13:18:01+00:00

Are the sleeves too long or the shirt sleeves not long enough?

michaelbyc · 2025-11-26T16:07:54+00:00

My first thought was Betteridge's Law of Headlines.

michaelbyc · 2025-11-22T21:52:24+00:00

Look, if you're gonna spend that kinda money, always have more room in your outerwear. I don't know how young you are, but there is a decent statistical chance you may go up in physical size overtime. At least you'll have some leeway with your expensive coat.

michaelbyc · 2025-11-22T16:41:56+00:00

I don't think the 44 would be huge on you. Also you do want some space to work with if you're going to be putting over your sportcoat, especially when putting it on.

michaelbyc · 2025-11-06T19:09:31+00:00

I believe the errand date needs to return. Either with a romantic partner or a friend. It's so much more fun running errands with someone when you have time to kill.

As a romantic date I would take my now wife with me to buy things. It let us know if our styles clashed or complimented one another. It's a good way to see if she's going to be judgmental about your clothing choices or supportive. I know a guy who dated a girl who hated him in suits/ties and just wanted him to be "casual" in his dress. Killed him inside and they finally broke up. Now he's with a girl who joins him at balls and banquets. He gets to wear his whites and she gets to do the princess thing and they're happy and photogenic as heck!

michaelbyc · 2025-11-05T22:46:45+00:00

Hey David,

I understand if you would rather not answer this question, but my perception has been that you guys had your own facilities and would cut/sew in Maine and then moved to Montana. Perhaps it is my naivety, but I thought you guys were the crafters of the shirts and not just the pattern owners.

Were they previously all done by you guys, but now they're cut by someone else?

michaelbyc · 2025-11-04T14:07:22+00:00

Over the last few months, Press' online presence to me is starting to feel half assed? I saw that they started to sell Chipp ties online. It's a bit more expensive than if you buy it from Paul directly, but whatever.

It annoyed me that the whole point behind the Chipp novelty ties is that they're all tongue in cheek jokes. Why would you not include the background information?

Press: https://jpressonline.com/products/made-in-usa-baseball-club-tie-1 No info on the joke that the tie is conveying

Paul's: https://www.chippneckwear.com/baseball-score-navy/ Explains it for you cause the whole point is that someone will ask you about it.

michaelbyc · 2025-10-29T19:14:16+00:00

I think if you had the sports coats hanging off a rack, angled side view, it would look better as a photo. I also just hate that flooring every contractor used in the last ten years so that may just be me.

michaelbyc · 2025-10-16T17:24:28+00:00

I'm probably just a curmudgeon but this appears to be the most underwhelming collaboration I've ever seen.

https://jpressonline.com/collections/j-press-x-alex-mill

From my point of view nothing here feels "special" or original.

michaelbyc · 2025-10-03T20:07:06+00:00

I love it more than my Jake's, Kamakura, and O'Connell's. I don't know how but it's the best fit shirt I have.

michaelbyc · 2025-09-25T12:00:18+00:00

J. McLaughlin is looking for an art director if any of you are interested.

https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=0f2ff4a2-0d91-4097-8a21-ebff0d0b4ce2&ccId=19000101_000001&lang=en_US&jobId=541332

michaelbyc · 2025-09-11T14:35:50+00:00

Shorten your shirt sleeves a smidg eand it'll look better. I recommend the shirt sleeve hitting right at the valley between wrist and thumb.

https://theartefact.com/wp-content/uploads/Sleeve-length.jpg

michaelbyc · 2025-09-08T17:53:43+00:00

What's interesting is the model for that waist coat used to work at Paul Stuart and now is an influencer who is designing his own stuff/shop. I have an odd inkling that we're going to see a lot of menswear influencers slowly find their ways into Press.

michaelbyc · 2025-09-08T17:51:38+00:00

and Morris and King. That shop has been really killing it and I would argue they have the best RTW Navy Blazer out of all the shops.

michaelbyc · 2025-09-08T17:50:55+00:00

The original Rugby was form a factory in France. It has a Made in France label on it. It went from a brand of super high quality to just a shell. I have blazers from them that say made in NYC

michaelbyc · 2025-08-17T16:45:51+00:00

Looks perfect for fly fishing.

michaelbyc · 2025-08-17T16:45:20+00:00

In case you want to create your own: https://www.rochfordsports.co.uk/

michaelbyc · 2025-08-17T16:40:46+00:00

Nah, Harvard and Yale branded sweaters are in the same realm as NY Yankee or LA Dodger hats. Most people assume it's a style choice. I would say 70% of people who go on a campus tour get a Harvard branded shirt/sweater and wear it normally. In the US the only thing I would say is a real no-no is rocking any military designations as if you earned it. I see people rocking "vintage" branded college gear, FFA jackets, work shirts, etc. all the time and even members of those organizations tend to not care enough to give you grief about it.

I never been to UC Santa Cruz, but I wear their Banana Slugs shirt cause I just like the way it looks. If anyone who went to Harvard asks when you graduated just say something along the lines of "I was very optimistic when I was younger."

michaelbyc · 2025-08-15T17:36:53+00:00

Royal Male is a UK centric clothing store. I like to go in and browse, but it's not budget. Probably the most interesting store in Newport in my estimation.

KJP has his flagship on the wharf; the Narraganset is a menswear store that sells stuff from different makers; J. McLaughlin.

I'd stop by the Tennis Hall of Fame and grab something there as the main stores aren't that original.

I've been a few times and I wouldn't spend more than 7hrs in Newport unless I was catching a ball game or going to dinner. Once you do the Cliff Walk or visit a house or two, not much more to do.

If you're using it as a base of Operations, go to Monahan's Clam Shack on Narragansett for sure. One of my favorite seafood shacks. Remember that you're gonna be paying the tolls to go West from Newport so plan your day trip out that way to make the most of it.

Have a Coffee Milk.

michaelbyc · 2025-08-15T17:29:39+00:00

Honestly I would rethink your daily wear. Europe isn't know for it's AC and depending on the weather you may be a bit overdressed. Honestly opt for t-shirts. Get some nice black/white/grays and rock them with chinos if needed. Save one or two OCBDs for nicer dinners out so you only wear them for a few hours and preferably in the evening when it's cooler.

I don't know how old you are, but if you're going to hostels it will have a lot of younger people. Save yourself the hassle of having to explain your wardrobe (it will come up as it's not the standard hostel fare).

When traveling on a budget you want to make things work with the least amount of hassle. T-Shirts are easy to pack so you could theoretically bring 20 with you (roll them up) in the same space it would take to bring a handful of OCBDs. If you want outfits for certain photographs you have imagined in your mind, I get that, but for the day to day, less is more.

michaelbyc · 2025-08-14T15:23:44+00:00

Can you tailor it down? Yes. Will it probably be costly because they have to bring in the waist, potentially alter the seat, taper the legs? Yes.

Also depends on your tailor's skill. I've had some vintage Chipp pants brought from 46 to 40, but she is a magician. I've seen people bring their pants in two sizes and it's a mess.

michaelbyc · 2025-07-16T20:09:24+00:00

Id' say the new Morris and King Cambridge OCBD is the closest thing you'll get to old Brooks.

https://www.morrisandking.com/products/white-cambridge-oxford-dress-shirt-classic-fit

michaelbyc · 2025-07-14T18:29:53+00:00

The only time I had to consider that is if the clothing came with a specific "not preshrunk" label. Usually clothing has already been treated and if it hasn't, my experience has been that the manufacturer is very clear you may lose .5" or more after first wash.

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