2013

Barnaby Conrad Jr., 1923-2013

Today I chatted on the phone with my old man, who remarked just as he was about to hang up that Barnaby Conrad died last week at the age of 90. I mention it here because while I never met the man — who is described in the San Francisco Chronicle as a bullfighter, diplomat,


Slightly Im-Pressed: A Snowy Stroll To York Street

Following a particularly gluttonous holiday season I reigned in my appetite and lost a spot of weight. Feeling healthy and trim, yesterday I set out in the blizzard’s aftermath to visit the newly opened J. Press York Street store and see if I could squeeze into anything. I had fairly low expectations based on the


York Street: The “Daring New Line” From J. Press

One thing’s for certain: You can’t accuse J. Press of being a sartorial mausoleum run by dinosaurs anymore. Like or dislike its new direction (and you can like it on Facebook), today J. Press took a bold step towards recapturing cultural and fashion relevance with the unveiling of a slick new website. In addition to



Sayonara Rugby

This weekend Rugby Ralph Lauren is scheduled to shutter its online doors, joining Chaps…. ….and Polo University Club… … in the Avalon of failed attempts to reach a younger consumer. And that younger consumer seems to be getting younger with each new decade. While Rugby had a spirit of irreverence and winking irony for Generation


Girl School: The Vintage Seven Sisters Tumblr

If you’ve got a thing for WASPy mid-century gals in loafers and knee socks, check out the tumblr Vintage Seven Sisters. While many of the images are from the 19th century, some depict modern girls audacious (or foolish) enough to be photographed while smoking. Anybody recognize the album cover? — CC


State Of The Union: On Domestic Manufacturing For MR Magazine

I penned the cover story for this month’s issue of Menswear Retailer, the trade magazine’s annual made-in-America issue. Since Ivy Style is a website focused on American style, and since many of our favorite brands either manufacture significantly overseas, or are owned by a foreign company (Paul Stuart being the latest), I thought the story


Lost Youth: J. Press’ York Street Collection

In our recent post on the rise and fall of Ivy, we noted how since the fall of the Ivy League Look J. Press has gradually gone from a young man’s brand to an old man’s, while the clothes have remained largely the same. Well as we’ve reported previously, J. Press is going after a


That’s A Wrap: Farewell To The Ivy Style Exhibit

Yesterday the MFIT’s “Ivy Style” exhibit closed its doors. It was a fantastic experience for all involved, especially Richard Press, who earned a pair of gilded loafers for his efforts. The MFIT has a nifty site devoted to the exhibit that we never linked to until now. It, along with the records of the exhibit