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The Nick Hilton Studio at 221 Witherspoon Street is fast becoming a mainstay for men in Princeton. Opened in October 2001, the custom design studio store has recently doubled its space.
"We needed more room," says owner and designer Nick Hilton. "This added space was available, and it gives us a wonderful showroom."
Mr. Hilton says he has been surprised at the consistent growth of the business. "When I opened, I was planning to focus on wholesale. My design work and manufacturing the clothes in Italy were the main emphasis. I had a lot more customers than I expected, however. Between October and December of that first year, I did more business than I had anticipated for the whole year. It grew beyond my expectations."
Clearly, he was filling a niche for men in Princeton. Where, in days past, there had been several men's clothing stores, now there were none exclusively offering menswear.
"In the beginning, I had mainly sportscoats, trousers, and shirts of my own design, but we got a wide variety of customers," reports Mr. Hilton, "and the guys wanted top coats, overcoats, and more sportswear."
They appreciated the expert design and quality offered in the store, and the customer base expanded to include many regulars in Princeton and beyond.
Destination Store
"This is a destination store," observes Mr. Hilton. "The clothes are upper moderate, quality-oriented. The people who come here are citizens of the world. They know about brands sold in Rome, Naples, Paris, and London. They know what constitutes quality. People who come in basically want what they can get anywhere, but a better version of it.
"There are three elements of quality in clothing," he continues. "(1) durability, (2) beauty, and (3) comfort. Quality fabric, that's what I'm interested in. Fabric -- the color, the drape, the subtlety, and durability."
An award-winning designer, Mr. Hilton is a master of comfortable elegance. He represents the fourth generation of his family to dress American men. The client list includes U.S. presidents, captains of industry, statesmen, entertainers, and sports figures. His classic updated American-styled designs have been featured in "GQ" Magazine, among others.
"My great-grandfather, Joseph Hilton and his brothers came from Russia in the 1880s, and started a custom-tailoring shop," recalls Mr. Hilton. "They opened a series of shops, called Joseph Hilton & Sons, and eventually there were 10 stores in New York and New Jersey.
"My grandfather, Alex Hilton, and my father, Norman Hilton, continued in the business. After my father graduated from Princeton in 1941, he went into the Navy, and then later created the Norman Hilton Country line."
Fashion Footsteps
In time, Nick Hilton followed in the fashion footsteps of his forebears, and became a salesman for the family business in New York, eventually becoming president of the company. His real interest was in design, however, with an emphasis on softer tailoring and subtle patterns. His designs, which emphasized an international updated style, were influenced by several years spent in Italy.
"Italy is known for quality workmanship and is a culture that supports apparel manufacturing," he explains. "There is more versatility, and you can move from factory to factory. They have an innate understanding of comfort and flexibility."
And what customers find in the Nick Hilton Studio represents that tradition: custom tailoring to emphasize the individual look of each client's life-style, taste, and physique. Tailoring and alterations are always available.
A selection of soft-tailored suits and jackets, fine cotton shirts, subtly colored cashmere, cashmere/wool, and cotton sweaters, top coats, rain coats (including Burberry), and informal outerwear will please the most discriminating shopper. Handsome suede, leather, and corduroy jackets are on display, and accessories include silk ties of Mr. Hilton's designs, as well as those of Robert Talbot, scarves, and belts.
An expanded selection of suits (many designed by Mr. Hilton) is also now available and includes Hickey Freeman lines as well.
A sleeker look in men's clothing is a trend today, points out Mr. Hilton. "There is a huge trend away from pleated trousers. People want a more svelte look. Clothing is changing, coming closer to the body, with body expressive lines. Getting away from shoulder pads, for example. Also, clothing is much more lightweight now in suits, sportcoats, sweaters, etc.
Custom Clothing
"And the custom clothing business is a huge part of what we do," he continues. "A guy comes in and says 'I want a gray glen plaid suit with no pleats. Most suit pants still have pleats, so we made it for him. Another guy wants a suit completely custom-tailored to him in the best fabric."
Customer service is key, he adds: "What has really made this store successful is that we love people. We have wonderful customers and take great care of them."
The personal touch is indeed important. "The most fun is helping people" he says. "A while back, a guy came in and said, 'I've been fired. I'm 45 years old, and now I have to go out in the work force and get a job.' So we got him a suit and a shirt and a tie to go with it. Later, he came back and said he got the job, and he believed it was because of the suit which had given him confidence."
Customers enjoy the newly expanded Nick Hilton Studio, with its handsome antique display tables and cabinets and spacious area to browse. It has something of the look of a comfortable and well-appointed men's club.
They also know they can count on the gracious service Nick Hilton is noted for. A recent female visitor to the store commented on just this emphasis on service. "I never thought I would have such an enjoyable time watching my son-in-law try on shirts in a men's store. But this is a very special place. It's such a handsome store; all the clothes are of such fine quality, and the people are so nice."
Nick Hilton Studio is open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursday evening by appointment, Saturday 10 a.m. to 5. (609) 921-8160.
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