Biden shops for clothes close to home

Something to chew on ...that's not necessarily food related ...but it is Delaware-related and you know we're all about our local guy Joe here at Biden Central.

So the flap continues today about Sarah Palin spending $150,000 in clothes, hair styling and accessories.

But Joe sticks close to home when it comes to buying HIS clothes.

On Aug. 25, I wrote story - along with features editor Betsy Price - about where Biden does his wardrobe shopping.

It's not Neiman Marcus. It's not Barneys New York.

It's the local Jos. A. Banks store in Greenville.

Conservative Delaware is not exactly the fashion capital of the world. Jos. A. Banks is a 450-store chain and happens to be the place where a lot of local businessmen - i.e. area bankers -shop.

(Joe apparently likes the Jos. A. Banks' Traveler's Collection line of no-iron, wrinkle-free shirts. The web site says two shirts are $129.99 and "executive" suits start at $199.) Looking good on a budget is the name of the game.

Here's the story:

By PATRICIA TALORICO and BETSY PRICE
The News Journal

Joe Biden's sense of style has long been: Never let them see you rumpled.

As Barack Obama's running mate, Biden will be basking in the national and international limelight like never before.

Yet the Delaware senator has long understood that first impressions are lasting. He may sometimes put his foot in his mouth, but the 65-year-old is also known for putting a natty foot forward.

Local style arbiters believe that Biden's bastion of old school fashion savoir-faire -- from his carefully coifed head and dazzling white teeth to crisp shirts and neatly polished shoes -- will continue to serve him well with the very picky fashion police.

"I think Joe has a very American high style. Very Ralph Lauren. He has a commanding look about him, but it's a sophisticated look as well. It's very approachable," says Michael Christopher Hemphill, owner of Wilmington's Michael Christopher Hair Salon.

Biden tends to favor the sharp and standard "banker" look that's oh-so popular in his home state. His suit selections are almost always blues and grays and he prefers "no wrinkle" shirts.

And Biden is certainly not above passing along his sense of style: he often donates personalized Senate cuff links as charity auction items.

"He's pretty conservative, but sort of updated conservative," says Jay Steimle, store manager of the Jos. A. Bank store in Greenville, where the vice presidential candidate is a regular customer.

Is this a senator thing?

"I think it's a Delaware thing," Steimle says. "He's one of our best white-shirt buyers."

Steimle has known Biden for 35 years. He first began helping Biden with his clothes selections at the old Mullin's store in Wilmington.

The senator has been shopping at Jos. A. Banks in Greenville Crossing on Kennett Pike ever since the store opened 15 years ago. He often pops in on Saturdays.

"He never goes for anything real wild. As far as his suits go, he's pretty basic. But he'll step out a little more with the color of his ties," Steimle says

Biden sometimes selects strong gold and yellow ties and he likes the Jos. A. Banks' Traveler's Collection line of no-iron, wrinkle-free shirts.

"He always looks nice and neat and crisp."

While Biden does sometimes seek fashion advice, Steimle says "he's pretty much his own guy. He's the classic dresser."

If Biden dresses down, he's not donning short shorts, slogan T-shirts or even sweats -- at least not in public.

"I've never seen him in sweats. He always looks like he stepped out of the pages of GQ [magazine]," Steimle says. "If he's wearing shorts, they're neatly pressed. He has a Corvette convertible and sometimes he'll wear a baseball hat, but he always looks nice and neat."

Hemphill agrees. "I think Joe wears pretty classic choices. I don't think he's going to be sporting any kind of Crocs any time soon."

Part of Biden's elegant style can be attributed to his "good body type," says Leonard Simon, owner of the Wright & Simon men's clothing store on Market Street in Wilmington.

"Joe is handsome and thin, and he looks good in his clothes. Certain people look good in clothes and he does. He's tall and slender. That's a good look for any person. He always look sharp and crisp," Simon says.

Biden, who sometimes wears shirts with formal French cuffs, often donates cuff links for local charity auctions. The gold and dark blue cuff links, slightly bigger than a dime, have the Senate seal and are engraved with the words "U.S. Senator Joseph R. Biden Jr."

The cuffs can sometimes be spotted on the sleeves of Delaware Democrats, including Bill Montgomery, chief of staff for Wilmington Mayor James M. Baker.

Questions about his hairline

Biden has taken ribbing over the years for his changing hairline -- there's been talk about hair plugs since his first run for president in 1987 -- but Hemphill believes the senator's now-snowy white mane is yet another example that "Joe maintains himself extremely well."

"I like his hair. However, I believe it is transplants," says Hemphill, who was a Biden neighbor for about 15 years.

Hemphill -- who has gone through two rounds of hair transplants -- believes that Biden has done the same.

"The only thing you can do for your hair is to stay bald or get transplants or get a toupee. I'm so glad he got transplants."

Hemphill also believe Biden's sharp style makes Delaware look good.

"Conservative can be very boring at times, but Joe steps it up a bit. I think he's stylish in a fashionable way. Not trendy. He has a sense of preppie to him, but with a little bit of flair to him," Hemphill says.

Steimle says Biden was last in the Jos. A. Banks store about three weeks ago. (At the time, he didn't ask for or purchase a special suit or tie for his Saturday debut as Obama running mate outside the Old State Capitol in Illinois.) And Steimle doesn't yet know if Biden will be back in anytime soon.

"I probably won't see him much now," he says, "but I hope so."

Contact Patricia Talorico at 324-2861 or ptalorico@delawareonline.com. Contact Betsy Price at 324-2884 or beprice@delawareonline.com.