NYC used to be the fashion capital of the world now we cant even get men to wear pants to work
Joseph Abboud has been dressing men for decades — so how did he start?Joseph: “Born in Boston.Watching old films with Errol Flynn and Gary Cooper, I fell in love with Hollywood style.
So I went to work for Ralph Lauren.“Question is, what happened to style? Like men wearing shorts in an office? COVID slammed that door.Men worked home in their pajamas.
People don’t dress to go to the theater anymore, to go to the office.New York, America’s style capital, was glamour and elegance.
It disappeared.At the theater, they’re wearing T-shirts, schlepping brown paper bags.
In the old days, they’d study GQ, Esquire, couldn’t wait for the September issue with all the fall fashion.“You need a navy blazer and a gray suit because of a wedding, funeral or to meet your girlfriend’s parents once after dinner.Then, strolling afterward to see the windows at Saks, Bergdorfs or Barneys, and you’d see style and feel comfortable.
Not now.New York deteriorated because of what’s going on politically in the city.”Cindy: Females are now on city streets in shorts and with their things hanging out.
What is happening to us?Joseph: “COVID was disastrous for young men understanding what’s appropriate.Listen, we knew Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren — the greatest icons in American fashion.
Giants like Giorgio Armani, Karl Lagerfeld.I had the privilege of knowing these people.
A man needs a suit.For a wedding.
Job interview.We need to figure out what to do in New York City.
Half the shops are closed.People sleeping in the hallways.
You’re afraid for your safety.New York City, greatest city in the world, should be ashamed of itself.“I’m going back into archives and picking out pieces I loved 20 years ago.
I’ll style it differently.Maybe take that suit jacket and wear it with a cargo pant and cashmere turtleneck.
Not buy less, but buy better.Our European counterparts do that very well, especially the European women.
They know to tie a sca...