"who doesn’t really need to lean on Mr. Cardin or Britain's Hardy Ames for ideas." Cultural impact It didn’t take long for Paul's unique style to catch the eye of local and international celebrities. Soon after it opened, his modest North Shore shop became a regular stop on the travels of many touring musicians, actors, athletes and high-profile businessmen. One famous incident in 1971 saw him outfit Sonny and Cher from head to toe for their first ever TV show, The Nitty Gritty Hour. The couple visited his shop while they were on tour and placed an order so large that he couldn’t complete it before they had to leave town again, so he flew to Los Angeles the following week and delivered the order personally. Another incident, in 1978, saw Eric Clapton in town, though Paul was less inclined to bend over backwards. Clapton said he wanted Paul to come to where he was staying and measure him for a white fur parka, to which Paul replied: "If he can’t come down to my store, like everyone else, to hell with him, whoever he is." Later that same year, Penthouse magazine did a feature on the best dressed men in Vancouver, selecting local radio host and devoted Minichiello client Mike Winlaw, who was photographed modelling one of Paul's custom suits. His work was particularly popular among players in the National Hockey League. The trend began with players on the local team, the Vancouver Canucks, who in turn served as de facto travelling salesmen whose flashy bespoke suits started catching the eye of other players around the league. Bobby Hull, Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Gerry Cheevers, Pat Quinn, Dennis Ververgaert and Jerry Korab are counted among some of his most devoted fans, with Korab and Quinn in particular ordering all of their suits exclusively from Paul throughout the remainder of their careers. For three years in a row during this time period, Korab was picked as the NHLs Best Dressed Player. References 1940 births 2014 deaths Canadian tailors People from the Province of Isernia Menswear designers