Irving Selbst was mainly employed in the wholesale menswear industry. He was instrumental in representing the first wave of Italian designers in the United States. He was also involved with the American designer Jeffrey Banks. Mr. Selbst was the archetypal "inside man"; he knew everyone in the menswear business and everyone knew him. Physically a big man,with big appetites. His type of personality was not uncommon in those days ,when New York City was the place to be in the rag trade. Mr. Selbst was also a partner in Nickels, a restaurant popular within the industry,located on the Upper East Side.