GANT Campus Store – Return to New Haven

Friday we took a look at J Press, an American classic in New Haven.  Well  just two doors down the block is Gant’s Campus Store, which houses their modern take on the same preppy tradition. 

Gant got their start selling American-made shirts to people like Brooks Brothers, Paul Stuart, and their now-neighbor J Press back in the 50s.  Now though they’re a powerhouse of modern American style, and one of the few brands doing “heritage” right.

The Campus Shop is meant to be a re-imagining of the old Yale Co-Op, one of the classic outfitters for Yale students during the Ivy Look’s heyday.  The Campus Shop even carries a special line of  oxford button-downs inspired by pieces from the company archive and sold under the Yale Co-op name.  It’s amazing how of-the-moment they look with their shorter collars and trim fit.  It just serves as another reminder of how big the 60s revival is right now at large.

Most young guys know Gant from one of the two sub-lines, Gant Rugger and Gant by Michael Bastian.  Rugger is designed by Swedish designer Christopher Bastin, formerly of both Acne and H&M, and typically has a rugged weekend-in-Vermont vibe to it.  Think sweaters with reindeer, puffer vests, and heavy socks, but more trad than hipster.  To say that he and his design team do Americana better than almost anyone would be verging on understatement.

Michael Bastian is obviously at the helm of the other label.  It feel very…well, Michael Bastin.  Stripped slim rugby shirts, chunky knits, and short tweed jackets are de rigueur, but at prices much more accessible than Bastian’s mainline stuff.  So sure, it’s not made in Cucinelli’s factory like the old mainline stuff, but for sub-$300 you can get that red and navy rugby you’ve been lusting after for years.  The trousers are mostly too low-rise for my taste, but if that’s your thing the chinos are tough to beat.

So while down the block J Press is holding up the banner of real tradition, Gant is on the corner innovating without forgetting where they came from.  You’ve heard me rant before about all the false value-bating going on these days, with people dropping words like “heritage,” “authentic,” and “traditional,” to get customers on board.  But if you want the real deal, misters Bastin and Bastian are your guys.