Our last post was called “Come Fly With Me” and featured Frank Sinatra’s private jet. In this post we look not at flying in planes, but leaping from them. Contributing writer Jeff Samoray examines this little-known bit of historic trivia. * * * Sixty years ago this past May, curious onlookers gathered in Woodbury, Connecticut, …
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Nobby Shop of Nantucket offers US-made, wool surcingle belts for just $40, including Breton red, as the island’s famous color was originally known. Check them out, along with Nobby Shop’s other Nantucket-themed belts, right here.
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In another example of the high cost of manufacturing in the US, Hardwick has filed for bankruptcy after a federal pension protection agencey ordered the Tennesee-based comapny to replenish its underfunded retirement plan. Founded in 1880, Hardwick is the oldest privately held clothing manufacturer in America. Ivy Style has discussed the company as the maker …
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Speaking of American music during the Ivy heyday — as we are on the “Optimism And Prosperity” comment thread — here’s a terrific pop culture find. Frequent comment-leaver “GS” uncovered a reference to Ivy League suits and desert boots in the song “Have You Got Any Castles, Baby?” recorded by Bobby Darin in 1960. GS noted …
Contributing writer James Kraus is an arch-connoisseur of the 1950s and ’60s. Herein he takes us on a tour of the years of the Ivy heday, giving us a broad overview of what else was going on in American life besides penny loafers and buttondown collars. Part one covers the first half of the heyday, …
Kamakura has a new collection on its website called “Looking Ivy Stylish” in conjunction with Graham Marsh. Included is a tab-club collar shirt, something I’ll need to consider as a change of pace from my pinned club collars. Alas Kamakura’s are alpha-sized, but that doesn’t mean a decent fit is impossible. Check out the collection here, …
Yesterday was National Seersucker Day, which began on Capitol Hill as “Seersucker Thursday.” It went on in DC as usual, with Senator Dianne Feinstein grabbing the spotlight. There aren’t any noteworthy photos of Congressmen worth running. So instead we’ll jump in our sartorial time machine and journey back to May of 1961, when Esquire called …
Update 6/1: We’ve got enough guys on a waiting list to do another production run of the Ivy Style Club Tie. We’ll take orders through June 8. Scroll down for full details and to order via PayPal. Pictured above is W. David Marx, author of “Ametora.” * * * The Ivy Style club tie has …
Castaway Clothing, which recently uveiled some new shirts made in India the old-school way, had some videos of madras fabric being loomed in Chennai, the city formerly known as Madras. At my request Castaway has uploaded the videos to YouTube so we can all see them. Click play to watch the video below: There are …
Even in an ancient culture like India, old traditions can die out — or perhaps we should say “dye” out. Last year Matt Bridier of Castaway Clothing met with Prasan Shah at the New York office of The Original Madras Trading Company, a multi-generational family-owned business that is truly one of the original madras makers …
George Axelrod’s play “The Seven Year Itch” lit up Broadway in 1952 and stayed there for 1,141 performances. The star, Tom Ewell, a dedicated J.Press aficionado, won a Tony Award, although his performance was later dimmed in the movie version when he was paired opposite Marilyn Monroe. Taking time out from my mainstream obligation running the …
“Entry E” is something of a pulp novel, telling a tale of Ivy League life in America that was considered startling on its release in 1958. But for all the adolescent angst and raucous action in this story, there is plenty of mid-century Ivy League style and quiet consideration of the “Ivy Man,” described in …
Last week we ran a photo from 1954, the dawn of the Ivy heyday. The post was entitled “The Ideal” and featured tennis player Vic Seixas wearing a J. Press sportcoat for a Sports Illustrated clothing spread. Now, as promised, is the rest of the article. The piece is entitled “The Not So Odd Jacket” …
Nobby Shop of Nantucket offers US-made, wool surcingle belts for just $40, including Breton red, as the island’s famous color was originally known. Check them out, along with Nobby Shop’s other Nantucket-themed belts, right here.
Startup shirtmaker Michael Spencer, the dream of founder Spencer Bennett, continues to grow and has added a number of new summer shirtings. Yes, it’s fun to actually use the word “shirtings” correctly. A variety of seersuckers and poplins are now available. “We are extremely excited about the new fabrics that have been added to the …
These photos of a young man with precocious trad-dressing competence were posted over the weekend to Ivy Style’s Facebook group, where they earned instant accolades. The young man, JL, has just graduated high school but is already years ahead in the dressing department. Note the contrast of the sober J. Press suit, blue buttondown, Argyll …