Paul Stuart
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion, Retail |
| Founded | March 7, 1938 in New York City, United States |
| Founder | Ralph Ostrove |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | United States, Japan |
Key people | Trevor Shimpfky (President and CEO), Paulette Garafalo (Executive Chairman), Ralph Auriemma (Creative Director) |
| Products | Men's clothing, footwear, made-to-measure tailoring |
| Owner | Mitsui |
| Parent | Mitsui |
| Website | www |
Paul Stuart is a distinguished men's clothing label specializing in Ivy League-inspired fashion, founded in 1938 in New York City. Since 2012, the brand has been under the ownership of Mitsui. It operates four exclusive boutiques across the United States and one location in Japan. Since 1991, Sanyo Shokai has served as the exclusive distributor of Paul Stuart merchandise within the Japanese market.
The aesthetic of Paul Stuart has been characterized as an elegant fusion of traditional Savile Row tailoring, refined Connecticut lifestyle influences, and the urban sophistication of New York City's architecture. The company's emblem features an illustration of the fictional character Dink Stover perched atop the fence at Yale.
History
Harry Ostrove inaugurated Broadstreet’s men’s apparel stores in New York City in 1915, where his son Ralph Ostrove gained experience working alongside him. In 1938, Ralph Ostrove established Paul Stuart, naming it after his son, Paul Stuart Ostrove. The flagship store launched on March 7, 1938, and remains at its original site located at the corner of 45th Street and Madison Avenue.
From 1958 until his passing in 2010, the company was led by the renowned merchant and CEO Clifford Grodd. Paul Stuart Ostrove, whose name the brand carries and who served as executive vice president, passed away on November 21, 2004.
In autumn 2007, Paul Stuart introduced its Phineas Cole collection — a luxury line featuring slimmer cuts aimed at attracting a younger and more fashion-forward audience.
Remaining a privately-owned family enterprise until December 2012, Paul Stuart was then acquired by its long-standing Japanese partner, Mitsui.
On June 14, 2016, Paulette Garafalo was appointed CEO of Paul Stuart, marking the first leadership transition outside of the Ostrove family lineage. Mitsui initially began importing Paul Stuart products into Japan in 1975 and formalized an exclusive licensing agreement in 1991 for production and sales within Japan. Under this arrangement, Sanyo Shokai Ltd acts as the principal sub-licensee. By 2012, Paul Stuart’s Japanese operations generated approximately $133 million in revenue through over one hundred department store outlets, outlet shops, and e-commerce platforms managed by Sanyo Shokai.
While bespoke tailoring services were once offered through Oxxford Clothes, this option has since been discontinued. In 2019, the company launched a made-to-measure program named customLAB that includes premium MTM denim options. That same year saw the unveiling of an updated omnichannel e-commerce platform accompanied by home delivery utilizing vintage Packard automobiles.
Effective July 1, 2022, Paulette Garafalo transitioned from daily management duties to assume the role of Executive Chairman. Trevor Shimpfky succeeded her as president and CEO; he has overseen initiatives such as expanding retail locations, discontinuing womenswear lines, and targeting a younger demographic. Prior to joining Paul Stuart, Shimpfky held the position of vice president for wholesale North America at Ermenegildo Zegna Group for sixteen years.
The creative direction is led by Ralph Auriemma, who was recruited from Ralph Lauren Purple Label in 2007 specifically to develop the youthful Phineas Cole sub-brand.
In both 2024 and 2025, jazz vocalist Peter Cincotti wore Paul Stuart attire during his residency at Café Carlyle, coinciding with the release of a limited-edition live-recorded vinyl album.
Retail locations
Paul Stuart operates exclusive boutiques in several key cities, including New York City, Chicago, Washington DC, Southampton, New York, and Tokyo.
The original flagship store, established in 1938, remains situated at the intersection of Madison Avenue and 45th Street in New York City.
In autumn 2008, the Chicago location moved from the John Hancock Center on Michigan Avenue to a new address on Oak Street.[1] Later, in spring 2011, a second Chicago boutique debuted within the historic Continental and Commercial National Bank building at the corner of LaSalle Street and Adams Street in The Loop. This landmark, designed by Daniel Burnham, is now anchored by the JW Marriott Hotels. Both Chicago stores suffered break-ins and looting amid the George Floyd protests in Chicago, leading to the permanent closure of The Loop location inside the JW Marriott.
By 2024, the Oak Street store transitioned to a larger 5,250 sq ft two-level space at 822 North Michigan Avenue, positioned directly across from the iconic Chicago Water Tower and near its former Hancock Tower site.[2][3][4][5]
The Washington, D.C. boutique commenced operations in spring 2015 within CityCenterDC.[6]
Paul Stuart footwear, including shoes and boots, is retailed through major department stores such as Bloomingdales and Saks Fifth Avenue.[7][8]
On September 1, 2020, Paul Stuart launched an 846 ft2 popup boutique located at 505 Broome Street in New York City. This temporary store concentrated on the brand’s CustomLab line of entry-level made-to-measure tailored garments.[9]
Additionally, on July 1, 2020, Paul Stuart established a permanent shop in Southampton, New York.[10]
The Tokyo flagship is situated in Kita-Aoyama, close to Gaiemmae Station on the Tokyo Metro Ginza Line.[11] Previously, this flagship was based in Jingūmae along Omotesandō.
Throughout Japan, Paul Stuart merchandise is available at numerous department stores nationwide including Daimaru, Keiō, Keisei, Isetan, Matsuya, Matsuzakaya, Mitsukoshi, Seibu, Sōgo, Takashimaya, Tōbu, and Tōkyū, among others.
Clientele
Notable figures such as Ralph Lauren, Fred Astaire, Mel Brooks, Cary Grant, Paul Newman, Frank Sinatra, Michael Bloomberg, Miles Davis, Art Blakey, Ron Carter, and Billy Taylor have all been patrons of the brand.[12][13]
The aesthetic of Paul Stuart has been characterized as a fusion of “Savile Row tailoring, Connecticut lifestyle, and the urban sophistication of New York City.”[13] Initially regarded as "the affordable alternative to Brooks Brothers," Paul Stuart's pricing eventually surpassed that of Brooks Brothers over time.[14]
In popular culture
Paul Stuart provided wardrobe for Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s film North by Northwest.[12] Additionally, the label has appeared in the television series Succession.[15]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Paul Stuart to Relocate Chicago Store to Michigan Avenue Women's Wear Daily, JEAN E. PALMIERI, 23 October 2023
- ↑ Paul Stuart Returns to Michigan Avenue Business Wire, 21 February 2024
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Bloomingdales
- ↑ Saks Fifth Avenue
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2123: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ↑ (in Japanese) ショップ詳細
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Cite error: Invalid
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- ↑ Let’s Talk About the Yacht Clothes on “Succession” The New Yorker, Rachel Syme, October 14, 2019
External links
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- Pages with reference errors
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- Clothing brands of the United States
- Clothing retailers of the United States
- Shops in New York City
- Suit makers
- Clothing companies established in 1938
- Retail companies established in 1938
- 1938 establishments in New York City
- Luxury brands
- Mitsui