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Kennedy's and Reagan's clothes

post #1 of 25
1/5/12 at 11:42pm
Thread Starter 
This is, admittedly, not a subject high on the agendas of those knowledgeable regarding res sartoria, but I am curious: Does anyone here know who made suits and dress shirts for former presidents Kennedy and Reagan? Any information from SFers is appreciated.

Also, a blessed New Year to all on SF! smile.gif
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post #2 of 25
1/6/12 at 6:32am
Kennedy was known to use an English firm H. Harris and later moved to using Chipp in New York. From a Boyer article he also used Angelo Litrico in Rome. If you can find this article from an archive somewhere it is very interesting as Kennedy and Khrushchev were Litrico clients during the same time period.

Reagan started with Albert Mariani in Beverly Hills while he was in college. Albert's son, Frank, took over the business and continued to make suits for Reagan.
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post #3 of 25
1/6/12 at 6:49am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post

Kennedy was known to use an English firm H. Harris and later moved to using Chipp in New York. From a Boyer article he also used Angelo Litrico in Rome. If you can find this article from an archive somewhere it is very interesting as Kennedy and Khrushchev were Litrico clients during the same time period.
* * *

But who looked better in the Litrico clothing? satisfied.gif
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post #4 of 25
1/6/12 at 7:30am
Here's an article on JFK and Chipp Clothiers:

http://www.ivy-style.com/golden-years-the-battle-to-dress-jfk.html
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post #5 of 25
1/6/12 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Many thanks to Despos and Mark Seitelman for their responses.
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post #6 of 25
1/6/12 at 5:17pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mark Seitelman View Post

But who looked better in the Litrico clothing? satisfied.gif

May I assume this question is rhetorical?
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post #7 of 25
1/6/12 at 7:04pm
mhrfvk.jpg
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post #8 of 25
1/6/12 at 7:27pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post

Kennedy was known to use an English firm H. Harris and later moved to using Chipp in New York. From a Boyer article he also used Angelo Litrico in Rome. If you can find this article from an archive somewhere it is very interesting as Kennedy and Khrushchev were Litrico clients during the same time period.
Reagan started with Albert Mariani in Beverly Hills while he was in college. Albert's son, Frank, took over the business and continued to make suits for Reagan.

But Reagan went to Eureka College in Illinois. Isn't a bit improbable that he would be using a Beverly Hills tailor at that time?
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post #9 of 25
1/6/12 at 8:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by JLibourel View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post

Kennedy was known to use an English firm H. Harris and later moved to using Chipp in New York. From a Boyer article he also used Angelo Litrico in Rome. If you can find this article from an archive somewhere it is very interesting as Kennedy and Khrushchev were Litrico clients during the same time period.
Reagan started with Albert Mariani in Beverly Hills while he was in college. Albert's son, Frank, took over the business and continued to make suits for Reagan.

But Reagan went to Eureka College in Illinois. Isn't a bit improbable that he would be using a Beverly Hills tailor at that time?

Probably a non issue where he went to college and where he had clothes made. I reference his college years merely as a point of time in his life. Frank Mariani was a friend and that's how he explained to me when Reagan first became a client. On another visit, Frank was remaking the cashmere suit that Reagan wore when he was shot.
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post #10 of 25
1/6/12 at 8:32pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post

From a Boyer article he also used Angelo Litrico in Rome.

Seriously? A few years ago in Paris, I was in a C&A (Like an H&M) and bought a leather jacket by Angelo Litrico for like 50 Euros. I always assumed that that line was some sort of generic European stuff. I need to read up a bit now.
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post #11 of 25
1/6/12 at 8:43pm
That's what has become of the name. The father or grandfather was a tailor in Rome and built a reputation for dressing politicians, diplomats, royalty etc. He started licensing the name and the next generation took the business in other directions. I worked 2 years with a designer from Litrico's.
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post #12 of 25
1/6/12 at 9:07pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post

If you can find this article from an archive somewhere it is very interesting as Kennedy and Khrushchev were Litrico clients during the same time period.

You probably know that Litrico made most of the clothes Krushchev wore on his US visit in 1960. Litrico also made his shoes for that visit...and these new shoes were so tight that Krushchev took them off at the UN. When Sumulong gave the speech that agitated Krushchev, Krushchev began banging the table with his fists in protest so hard that his watch fell off, landing by the shoes.

When Krushchev bent over to pick up his watch, he noticed his unworn Litrico shoes. He picked one up, and the rest is, as they say, history.

Those wacky Commies.
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post #13 of 25
1/6/12 at 9:09pm
What a pity, where they are now.
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post #14 of 25
1/6/12 at 9:51pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by F. Corbera View Post

Quote:
Originally Posted by Despos View Post

If you can find this article from an archive somewhere it is very interesting as Kennedy and Khrushchev were Litrico clients during the same time period.

You probably know that Litrico made most of the clothes Krushchev wore on his US visit in 1960. Litrico also made his shoes for that visit...and these new shoes were so tight that Krushchev took them off at the UN. When Sumulong gave the speech that agitated Krushchev, Krushchev began banging the table with his fists in protest so hard that his watch fell off, landing by the shoes.

When Krushchev bent over to pick up his watch, he noticed his unworn Litrico shoes. He picked one up, and the rest is, as they say, history.

Those wacky Commies.

Those were the days!
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post #15 of 25
1/6/12 at 10:23pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by F. Corbera View Post

You probably know that Litrico made most of the clothes Krushchev wore on his US visit in 1960. Litrico also made his shoes for that visit...and these new shoes were so tight that Krushchev took them off at the UN. When Sumulong gave the speech that agitated Krushchev, Krushchev began banging the table with his fists in protest so hard that his watch fell off, landing by the shoes.
When Krushchev bent over to pick up his watch, he noticed his unworn Litrico shoes. He picked one up, and the rest is, as they say, history.
Those wacky Commies.

This is a great story - do you have documentation for it? I am aware of a different interpretation that relies on cultural contexts that find great insult in the display of the soles of shoes and would love to be able to reliably offer this as a counter to what is the "standard" understanding in my circles.
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