A Stop at the Seigo Shop

Far up in the Upper East Side, there's a wonderful little shop called Seigo that specializes in neckties, and carries a few other odds and ends that complete a professional wardrobe.  The proprietor of this shop is extremely welcoming, and let me snap a few shots of his store.  However, these shots don't capture just how many ties are available and how stunning they look in person.  The sales associates are happy to assist you in sorting through the ties to find the colors and styles you're interested in, and have a variety of shirts and suiting materials to pair with your selections to demonstrate how they would work as part of your outfit.

Seigo's ties are all hand made in Japan use Japanese silk, and only a handful of ties are made using each silk pattern. Most of the ties are approximately three and a half inches wide, although they also offer a selection of ties in the currently en vogue three inch width.  Most of the ties are woven silks, although I believe there are some prints to be had.  They also have silk swatches on hand and offer custom ties.  They're not seven fold ties, but construction is top notch--they hang and drape beautifully, which suggests that quality interlining is used.  The price point is also much better than one would expect for this kind of small specialty shop.

Seigo has an incredible selection of patterns--from traditional stripes, dots, and checks, as seen on this one (of several) racks above, to bold geometrics, florals, foulards, and whimsical animal patterns, and many in a several different colorways.  In addition to these racks on the wall (there are more on the opposite wall just like these), their are also cabinets lining the shop, each with several drawers that pull out revealing another selection of ties, as well as cabinets in the center.

Seigo also carries a lovely selection if silk and cotton pocket squares.  I don't know if they have quite as many squares to choose from as ties, but its close.  Additionally, a large selection of bowties, japanese made socks, and if I remember correctly, some cufflinks are also available.  And I'm sure I missed something in my visit.

You might have noticed that a tie looked missing from the racks in the second shot -- well I did take one of these gorgeous ties home -- a navy woven with a small animal print in a few nice colors.  Here it is up close to show off the quality of the silk and the craftsmanship of the tie, as well as the hand-numbered keeper on the back showing that only 12 ties of this silk pattern were made.

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Independent men's specialty shops like this one--it doesn't even have a website--are few and far between these days.  Going into one, especially one like Seigo, generates the same excitement that going to a cool toy or stationary shop did when I was a kid.  Seigo is definitely one of the best men's specialty shops left in Manhattan, and whenever I have a chance to visit the UES, whether I'll have time to stop by Seigo will definitely be in the back of my mind.