Abercrombie & Fitch’s ex-CEO Mike Jeffries is selling off his Upper East Side townhouse. The man who rose in the 1990’s through an inspired reimagining of his company’s direction, and fell again twenty years later through a series of unfortunate events, is looking to sell his Sutton Square residence for a cool $19.5 mil. The neighborhood is exclusive, and the home is one of only six in the desirable enclave that rests at the cul-de-sac of East 58th Street.
The five floors, basement and mezzanine of 4 Sutton Square were restored over the course of three years by noted architect Daniel Romualdez, and the results are quietly cosmopolitan. The exterior offers brick-and-ivy league cred; the interior is generally tasteful, and champions the dark wood and fireplace aesthetic which suggests astute, well-heeled, and literate. Symmetrical balance is still in evidence, but there is a suggestion of individuality in the cool glass and polished paneling.
Among the townhouse’s amenities: a full-floor master suite with fully-mirrored master bath, a formal dining-room, a butler’s pantry, a cutting-edge chef’s kitchen, a wood paneled library, guest bedrooms with walls dressed in Abercrombie cashmere, and lots more mirrors.
Jeffries, who navigated Abercrombie & Fitch out of its hopelessly antiquated, urbane huntsman fashion-sense, and into turn of the century gold-card denim chic, retired as CEO in 2014 after not just seeing A&F up one side of success, but also down the other. After making the company into a trend-setting giant, he retired in 2014 after attempting to float his own awkwardly personal advertising campaign, raising a typhoon of controversy that threatened the foundations of the company.
A&F’s woes have continued despite its attempt to dilute its elitist attitude—arguably the very thing that made it a cult brand. Quality went down along with prices, and the design isn’t as inspiring as it used to be. For all his perceived shortcomings, Jeffries remains a retail and fashion genius. Perhaps he could return to A&F and turn it around a la Steve Jobs.
Interested parties can also rent the Sutton Square home for $39,000 a month, mirror-inclusive.
