Skip to content

Off The Cuff

Classic. Modern. Style. Thoughts.

Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • We Work With
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest
Menu

Jay Kos: Clothier & Serious Foodie

Posted on December 3, 2010December 3, 2010 by OTC

Jay Kos is one of the reasons I started OTC.  I first read about him in GQ, it was a one page profile titled “Would you buy a homburg form this guy?” or something to that effect.

Back in 1996, with no formal retail background or fashion/design training, Jay opened the eponymous ‘Jay Kos’ store on Lexington Avenue on the upper East Side in Manhattan.  His quirky monkey-suit logo was a hint of the creative expansiveness behind the decidedly Anglophile tweeds and flannel.

Jay wasn’t even 30 at the time and in many ways his audacity to craft a highly curated and opinionated menswear boutique presaged the popular trend we now see today.  He’s often said that he would rather turn away a short-term sale in favor of the long-term customer who appreciates style and has some sartorial guts (I’m paraphrasing on that bit, but you get the point).

Jay Kos offered its visitors a bit of English polish, Italian swagger and American energy all rolled into an unmistakably New York aesthetic.  The small but packed store was part living room, part dressing room and a treasure trove of high quality garments, including Jay’s private labeled suits (Italian of course).

Later, he opened a shop on Park Avenue, conveniently close to Pierre Marcolini’s New york outlet.  Now fully relocated to Midtown, Jay is prepping for a new downtown location with, apparently, a new feel.  The great video below showcases Jay’s other passion: food.  It also shows a new side of his personality and style philosophy.

I’ve met him a few times and we chatted once about the then-brand new J. Crew Liqueur Store concept for men.  We each wondered if it would do well…  The Jay Kos of back then was slightly more buttoned-up and Cary Grant-ish in style.  Today we see a nearly bohemian Jay Kos who would be at home in the streets of Rome, haunting the farmers markets on two wheels and looking great nonetheless.

Can’t wait to see the new shop.  Calling on Scott Schuman – time to update your Jay Kos pics.

Untitled from I AM PICTURES on Vimeo.

4 thoughts on “Jay Kos: Clothier & Serious Foodie”

  1. Pingback: Tweets that mention Jay Kos: Clothier & Serious Foodie | Off the Cuff -- Topsy.com
  2. stronie internetowej says:
    September 12, 2012 at 11:14 am

    Do you mind if I quote a couple of your posts as long as
    I provide credit and sources back to your webpage? My website is in the exact same area of interest as
    yours and my visitors would genuinely benefit from
    some of the information you present here. Please let
    me know if this ok with you. Thank you!

  3. stop hair loss in men says:
    September 23, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    Whyy people still make use of to read news papers when in this technological worod
    the whole thing is existing on net?

  4. depression quotes says:
    September 23, 2014 at 8:03 pm

    Thank you for every other informative site. Where else
    could I get that type of info written iin such a perfect manner?
    I’ve a undertaking that I’m just now working on, and I
    have been att thhe look out for such info.

Comments are closed.

Inspiration Gallery

OTC Archives

Categories

Learn More About

  • Accessories (74)
  • Alan Flusser (11)
  • Bags (36)
  • BeSpeak (6)
  • Books & Publications (16)
  • Business Dress (2)
  • Casual Wear (24)
  • Contests (10)
  • Culture (23)
  • Custom Tailoring (22)
  • Dressing Well (26)
  • Events (31)
  • Food & Drink (3)
  • Footwear (24)
  • Furninshings (28)
  • Great Brands (125)
  • Great Places (6)
  • Grooming (24)
  • Holiday (27)
  • Home & Office (8)
  • Ivy League Style (50)
  • Made in America (63)
  • Marketing & Brands (6)
  • Master Craftsmen (39)
  • OTC in the News (20)
  • OTC On The Road (21)
  • Outerwear (10)
  • Personal Style (107)
  • Preppy (62)
  • Product Review (130)
  • Retail (7)
  • Shirting (16)
  • Sporting Life (26)
  • Suits (8)
  • Travel (13)
  • Uncategorized (8)
  • Videos (14)
  • Wardrobe Guides (12)
  • Watches (18)
© 2025 Off The Cuff | Powered by Minimalist Blog WordPress Theme
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • We Work With
  • instagram
  • facebook
  • pinterest