This Street is New York’s Best-Kept Men’s Wear Secret

All I can say is, "Let's have more stories from Jon Caramanica". I will never personally buy what he's describing but his writing took me away from the lunatic world of politics and doom to someplace completely different and wonderful.

There’s are stores like this sprinkled around Manhattan which cause me to wonder whenever I pass “who buys this stuff?” Now I know. Another example is Zoreh on E54, between Third and Second. John C, please have a look and give us your opinion.

Jon, Seventy years ago I bought my suits from Lou Levy's which operated from a loft on Orchard Sreet. Did you find any trace of them in your prep for this article?

Sorry, but some of these places need to clean their awnings. Gross!

Now, this is exciting. This is NYC. This is what retail needs in order to survive in the digital world.

Interesting. I always thought that there are/were more serious men's-fashion emporia midtown. Although I never patronized Brooks Brothers for clothes, the names of Paul Steward and Barnie's come to mind.

I was a WASP-y, buttoned-down North Shore (suburban Chicago) lad working as a runner at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in the early '80s when I learned the joys of shops like Gianni Dio in Chicago's South Loop from my tough-guy west suburban Italian co-workers. Clothes like those described and my incomparable Italian linen suits completely changed my public image and self-perception overnight. What fun it was to shop at such places, and what fun wearing those clothes out to the clubs led to with the girls back then! Glad to see that such places still exist for those brave enough to shop them in this day and age.

I'm out of touch with men's fashion, but I've been researching my great-grandfather who lived at 25 Orchard (his father remained there for the rest of his life); starting out in "rags" (literally), he ended up making his living in men's cloaks & suits, like many in the area. At one time he had a store on Canal St., before moving further & further uptown. I have a picture of him in one of his beautiful overcoats. It was charming to read the article and know the tradition continues to this day!

There are also some great hat stores on Orchard St., including World Hats and A&N. High quality at great prices.

I tend to call some of the multitude of styles that can be created from these shops "Old School Player". My retired downstairs neighbor would love these shops. He is the most consistently well dressed man that I have encountered in years. Everything he wears is tailored, pressed and impeccable, though worn independent of trends. He always speaks, refers to everyone as Mr. and Ms., and is unfailingly polite and elegant.