The landmark retailer Julian's should be the first stop for anyone visiting Chapel Hill. (Perhaps the Sunrise Biscuit Kitchen should actually be the first stop, then go to Julian's.) If you are looking for enlightened UNC merch and want to be reacquainted with the art of Southern menswear, this is the place to go.
The shop's history of outfitting Tar Heel royalty has made Julian's truly iconic. Through the generations, it has dressed legendary coaches—from Dean Smith to Hubert Davis. The Franklin Street fixture continues to be a tremendous source of Carolina pride. (It's worth noting that Bill Belichick wore a Carolina Linking Diamonds tie from Julian's at his announcement press conference.) Beyond being an enlightened outfitter of school spirit, Julian's is the last of a dying breed of great menswear shops.
Julian's is also the quintessential American men's shop. Founded in 1942 by Maurice Julian, the retailer is a holdover from a time when customer service, quality, and a stylish point of view were the standard for dressing fathers and sons. Similar shops like Wm. King Clothiers in Bristol, Tenn., Cuffs in Chagrin Falls, Hilton's of Princeton, or Harrison Limited in Mountain Brook, Alabama elicit similar feelings. These special places deserve our patronage and reverence to ensure their continued existence.
The tradition of men's shops should be celebrated everywhere, but the ones we find on campus (like Dick Ferguson's in Athens) are something special. Every college town visit starts the same way for me: finding good school merchandise. When I'm in Cambridge, that means a trip to the Coop for the sought-after college Champion fleece. A visit to New Haven would demand a stop at J. Press to see what good navy and white goodies can be unearthed at the longtime Ivy outfitter. In Chapel Hill, it's always to Julian's for a tie, a needlepoint belt, or a Carolina blue hat with Old Well, UNC's iconic university symbol, embroidered on it.
In Chapel Hill, there's no avoiding the prevailing wind of Carolina blue. Julian's has long been the purveyor of style to the University of North Carolina community and the appreciators of fine menswear near and far. It's good to know that while the world changes, some things remain the same.
