The face of NYC’s finest establishments has a long-revered history tied directly to fashion.
Iconic. Prestigious. Timeless.
The NYC doorman fills many roles: helping carry your luggage or hail you a taxi or give you a warm hello as you enter the building. A fixture of your life and your building, seemingly always there.
All-seeing and all-knowing, but what do you know about them?
What seems like a simple role on the surface, has a deeper story behind the facade.
The Origins of the Doorman
The earliest evidence of the occupation dates back to around 200 BC in the Roman Republic. But for the sake of this article, we’ll start about 150 years ago in the streets of New York City.
Immigrants from Ireland held sway over the role, but over time it has become increasingly diverse.
It’s not the hardest job in the world, but it’s a close-knit, unionized group mostly dominated by men. It’s all about who you know and it’s a job that’s held close.
Doormen who work their way into it generally start in a parallel profession at a building like maintenance and develop close relationships with the superintendent and/or clientele. And doormen themselves tend to move on to superintendent positions over time, furthering the chain.
The best doormen feel like part of the family and value those relationships more than the job itself.
But What About The Uniform?
While the doorman style’s origin isn’t clear, it’s likely that it began in the mid-1800s at the leading hotels, perhaps to distinguish doormen from bellhops.
Doormen give the first impression of the building, so they have to be put-together. They project authority, so their uniform must as well, drawing from military details. They have a storied history, so their uniforms must be timeless — and they have remained relatively unchanged from the early 1900s.
The uniform is what gives the doorman their distinct look and position. It’s the centerpiece of the role that they play. One part functional, one part ceremonial. Their image is key.
But that’s not to say that times and fashions cannot change.
At I. Buss & Allan, we’ve been working right alongside NYC’s doormen since 1892, part of the very fabric they inhabit. Generations of doormen have been outfitted by us and we’re not stopping there.
Get a custom uniform designed in timeless style that speaks to your building, your brand, and your clientele. See our current designs here.
Contact us and we’ll create a bespoke look that lasts.
