What is a 31-year-old former Boston College soccer player doing managing a luxury department store? The answer: part family legacy, part personal passion. Growing up in the business—his family owns the Mitchells chain of stores on the East Coast—Tyler Mitchell always had his hand in retail, learning the buying end of things at Harry Rosen in Canada and vendor operations at Brioni wholesale in New York. As men’s merchandise manager at Wilkes Bashford, which the Mitchell family bought last December, he’s tasked with marketing a classic, high-end SF brand to a broader, younger audience. Hipsters, it’s time to get measured.
What fashion mistake do most SF men make?
I always see men wearing clothes that don’t fit right.
How do you accessorize?
Pocket squares. A jacket is dead without them. Kind of like pants with a shirt tucked in and no belt. It just feels like something is missing.
What’s your go-to spot for quality tailoring?
I have to say Wilkes Bashford. We have eight of the best tailors in the city, some of whom have worked here for decades. Our master tailor, Shigeiko Pittman, has been here for more than 30 years.
