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Expert Design, Quality and Style Highlight the Nick Hilton Studio

Looking elegant and being comfortable are not mutually exclusive, believes Nick Hilton, owner of Nick Hilton Studio at 221 Witherspoon Street. He wants to help the gentlemen of today achieve a look that combines elegance and comfort, and is also unique.

"A guy that knows how to dress can look elegant and be comfortable at the same time," explains Mr. Hilton. "There's a resurgence of people dressing better today, and it's appropriate for this more serious economic time."

Custom-designed menswear is the specialty of this unique studio store. Mr. Hilton is a master of comfortable elegance, and his updated traditional American-styled clothes, made in Italy, are perfect for Princeton.

The award-winning stylist 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 yet individual 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. The name was later changed to Browning King & Co.

"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. He established a wholesale business we never had before."

Fashion Footsteps

After graduating from Bard College in 1970, Mr. Hilton wasn't sure whether to follow in the fashion footsteps of his forebears, but as he says, "All the baby boomers were graduating, and there weren't a lot of jobs. My father got me a job in Italy, working for a trouser manufacturer.

When he returned to the U.S., he became a salesman for the family business in New York, and found that he was to wear many hats.

"By 1975, I was head stylist, buyer, and salesman," he says, " and in 1980, I became president of the company."

His real interest was in design, however, with an emphasis on softer tailoring and subtle patterns. His designs emphasized an international updated traditional style. "It's not fashion in the sense of anything trendy or a novelty," he notes. "We reinvent and update tradition."

Having moved to the Princeton area in 1980, Mr. Hilton was familiar with the menswear business here, and in September of 2001, he decided to open his studio.

"There is really no elegant men's store today," he explains. "Also, in 2000, we became independent of any other manufacturers. My wife and I had inventory and nowhere to house it. Some friends said, 'You should open a men's store.'"

Natural Schmoozer

He has been very pleased with the response, getting a lot of word-of-mouth business and a steady influx of regular customers.

"In addition, he says, smiling, "I found I had the personality to have a store. I'm a natural schmoozer!"

Most of the items in the store are Mr. Hilton's own designs. "Everything reflects our taste and point of view," he explains, "and we offer clothes for people to wear to work or to a dressy occasion."

Princeton customer Jeffrey DuFour agrees: "Dressing up makes you ready for work," he says.

The inviting shop and studio carries top-of-the-line weavers, such as Zegna and Loro Piana, and displays a number of ensembles which Mr. Hilton has coordinated to show how different colors, textures, and patterns can work together.=20

There is also an array of items, such as authentic Scottish tweed shooting jackets, fabulously soft cashmere topcoats, gorgeous leather jackets with lambswool lining, and a flannel-lined goat suede double collar jacket.

Custom-Made

Outerwear and rainwear are available, and Mr. Hilton points out a raincoat specialty. "It features waterproof cotton without chemicals or plastic lining. The fabric was invented for the R.A.F. in England, and we have the same fabric available in golf jackets and three-quarter coats."

You can also find a suit here, and as Mr. Hilton says, "Most men still need a suit or two for a variety of occasions, and our custom-made suits are very big now. They can be semi custom, the basic made-to-measure, or the full custom-bench-made, hand-tailored suit in cloth from world-renowned weavers.

"Friends in the business have formed the Custom Clothing Connection, a group of 40 stores in the U.S., where we can offer custom clothing at a good price."

Mr. Hilton adds that he is bringing back the Norman Hilton name, which will include a line of high-end items similar in style to Nick Hilton's current collection.

Many of the items in the studio are made in Italy, he reports. "You can find quality tailoring in the U.S., but Italy is really the only country that honors the craft. It is unique in the world, the last place you can find fine quality tailoring."

Sweaters and shirts are big sellers at the studio, and Mr. Hilton's designs include cardigans, pullovers and sleeveless in wool, cashmere, and wool/cashmere blends. They are in every color, with orange the "hot" fall color.

Self-Expression

Both dress and informal footwear from France is available, and the display of silk neckwear (including bow ties) is a vivid array of color and design.

Looking nice matters to Mr. Hilton, and he wants to share his expertise and sense of style. "Appearance is important," he says. "It involves self-esteem. I have always been fascinated by dress, as it expresses me =8B as a form of artistic self-expression.

"I never liked the status quo," he continues, noting that he even bucked the trend of the "Swinging Sixties" dress code of jeans and tie-dyes when he was in college, and wore classically traditional flannel pants.

"I liked pants with pleats in the sixties and tweed jackets," he adds. "Not many guys were wearing full-fitting long rise pants then. But I have always felt people should dress in their own style."

Tailoring and alterations are available at the studio, and as Mr. Hilton stresses, the individual look for each client's life-style, taste, and physique is key. He is determined to give customers the best there is.

"We have prices from moderate to high, but whatever the price, the quality is the same. I want this to be the best store in the state of New Jersey. It's a unique destination, and we won't carry anything customers can get on their way here. You won't find expertise of this calibre. It's unique."

Gift certificates are available, and the studio is open Tuesday through Friday 10 to 6, Saturday until 5. Telephone 921-8160.