I like the idea of J Press.
You know - that traditional menswear vibe of everything from PJ's to belts. The heritage, the made in the USA items, the Barbours, shetlands , tartan shirts.
I'm a sucker for the haberdashers of Olde New York schtick.
Sadly, the reality is far different from the hype.
Here's a few examples.
Certain shirts are marketed as having a third collar button. I think this is an important little detail so obviously when the shirt turns up and it's missing I'm not happy. The returns process is difficult so I let that one go.
I like the cotton sweaters heavily promoted on their website. According to their size chart they're classic fit and a small is 42". Laughable I couldn't get the small to fit even without a shirt underneath. I would suggest they're closer to a 38"
Finally, and I've saved the best to last, they used to show a tartan drizzler jacket with a collar. Good price so ordered one to arrive to coincide with recent trip to Florida. Jacket turns up and rather than being as it's shown on the website it's a varsity style jacket with no collar. I ring customer services and nobody gets back to me. Next stop, I ring the New Haven store. Sales man very sorry says he will address the issue pronto. I stress I still want the jacket shown on the website.
(Again, sizing on this item was problematic as it came from the new Pennant label. Their initial recommendation was to size up that made the jacket fit like a tent.)
Four days later the replacement jacket arrives. Guess what? It's another varsity jacket.
I give up. They have subsequently removed the offending image from their website.
The returns policy is slow and you need too spend time completing forms.
I'm sure their are many out there who will praise Press to the rafters. I can only go on personal experience.
Buyer beware.
Alvey,
You can't beat turning up to the store and examining the goods.
Online may be the only option sometimes, but the J Press experience will not be unique.
Fortunately, other online purchase issues may be less expensive.
Alvey - your dedication to authentic Ivy is admirable, I'd have given up on Press after that 3rd button missing !
Alvey - are there any hassles involved in returning stuff to J Press? Customs forms etc.
F6C
I was still in the States so there was no customs fees required
The issues are you can’t just return stuff you have to contact them
If the return is a sizing issue even if it’s their atrocious measurements you pay .
For incorrect items you wait on a free post label and then have complete an online exercise using the order code.
All tediously time consuming.
I will stick to shirts and shaggy dogs only from now on
Kingy
I have had a run of bad luck online recently that has included Brooks, Original Madras Trading, Press and Bills.
But I just gotta feed the habit
^Jdemy
Love the flap pocket. It feels different from the conventional ocbd.
It's something that isn't so visible in the UK.
I am looking around on eBay for a Press, white, OCBD - just to get a feel for their standard make.
Are their older shirts like Brooks’s— with no lining or interfacing in the collar and plackets?
^Jdemy
It's really difficult to answer that. I had an older shirt from 6 years ago bought from their Washington store and it feels very different in composition to my recent ocbd purchase.
I think they have had several versions of OCBD over recent years but it's difficult to say when the changes were made.
'Are their older shirts like Brooks’s— with no lining or interfacing in the collar and plackets?'
I've never seen 1 in the flesh, for sale or worn by a vintage collector, however if I recall correctly, Kevin Spacey wears a flap pocket BD with a proper roll in Glengarry Glenn Ross, and I strongly suspect it's a Press. The film's from 92 so the tail end of the soft collar era. Certainly in the 50s Press would have been deterring ivy wearers by putting lining in their collars.
Although for thinner cloths such as on sports shirts, even Brooks used a light lining. It was with Oxford cloth that no lining was necessary.
Thank you, both. I bought a very cheap Press shirt the other day from a thrift shop. It’s a nice tight cotton and I suspect it’s their pinpoint. Almost feels like a percale. It’s too big for me- but fine for around the house.