One of the hallmarks of the preppy approach to dressing is that clashing colors are embraced. The most notorious example is pink and green. But we don’t living in a preppy era, and today one of the most prevalent sartorial sins is not clashing, but over-matching. I’ve got an op-ed piece in today’s Wall Street …
Above is the label from one of my favorite sportcoats by Ralph Lauren. It’s one of those updated Ivy models that basically comes with all the heyday details, plus darts thrown in for free. This particular one, as you can see, is made in Slovakia. Now that doesn’t bother my conscience, but more ardently patriotic …
On Friday the Metro-North line, which runs from Grand Central Station up through Connecticut, served its last alcoholic beverage. Perfect excuse to revisit this LIFE Magazine photo gallery from Ivy Style’s first year. — CC
It’s been Duck Head week here at Ivy Style, and this third post will mark our last until the collection is unveiled. In our first post we noted that the small Southern brand made it to outposts as far-flung as London. As this photo shows, an ad for Duck Head can be seen above the …
On our last post a commenter mentioned the Southern retailer Parisian carrying Duck Head. Here’s a 1992 commercial highlighting the Duck Head brand. — CS
Today’s post comes via another reader tip. While last time it was budget OCBDs, this time it’s something a little more discretionary: regimental-striped pajamas from the English brand Derek Rose. Price converted is $236, plus shipping to the US. This article from the DR website manages to work in a non sequitur reference to “Take …
A reader recently alerted us to the $25 oxford shirts at Target. Surprisingly, they feature a rear collar button. And with their tailored fit, low price and apparently smaller collar, they may prove a viable option for impecunious young trads, perhaps of the student variety. Kudos to Target for offering a bit of Main Street …
Today GQ reported on the unveiling of the anticipated seersucker suit collaboration between Brooks Brothers and streetwear brand Supreme.
A few days ago over at Golf Style I interviewed Bill Thomas from Bills Khakis, one of our longtime sponsors. Those of you who play or who are interested in this man committed to US manfacturing can check it out here. The brand has grown so much beyond khakis that you wonder if they’re …
I believe it was Derek at Die Workwear! who stumbled upon this, or stumbled upon another stumbler. Either way, it’s a great chronicle of student dress during the Ivy heyday, including plenty of white socks, shorts hems, and penny loafers. — CC
We last reported on Baracuta back in September, when the brand unveiled a revamped website. Well this spring it’s showing its famous G9 jacket in a slew of new colors, fabrics and styles, including the olive suede version above.
I got taken for an employee at Brooks the other day. Hasn’t happened in a while. — CC
English lass Rebecca C. Tuite reached out to us several years ago, introducing herself as a sorority girl simpatico with our little sartorial fraternity here. She was researching the corollary of the Ivy League Look, namely the style that WASPy women wore at elite eastern colleges at the same time young men were setting styles …
Last night the CBS evening news did a story on Joe Brown of Pensacola, FL, who is still a hardworking barber at the age of 98. Patrons were asked, as they should have been, whether they feel safe in the hands of a nearly century-old tonsorian, especially when he breaks out the straight razor. But …
I suppose after nearly three years now of a golf obsession that’s caused me to neglect career and relationships (though apparently I’m not the first the sport has had this effect on), it was inevitable that I start a golf project. And so I’m pleased to announce the debut of Golf Style, which is accessed …
My latest piece for Ralph Lauren Magazine is on the shawl-collared cardigan, which was the favored warm-up gear for baseball players from about 1900-1930. Origins of exactly how and why the shawl cardigan became associated with baseball are murky, and very few of the sweaters survive outside of photographs. I was able to talk to …
Kudos to longtime Ivy Style supporter R. Hanauer for the wonderful cover on its new spring catalog, which arrived in my mailbox today (as it should have in yours). Hanauer paid tribute to the great tradition of apparel illustration that companies such as Brooks Brothers and LL Bean championed for so many years. A quick …
In case you hadn’t heard, tomorrow is Tartan Day. To celebrate, we’re sharing a LIFE Magazine article from 1950 (scroll down to page 123) that showcased Yale students in plaid vests and Andover preps in plaid caps. The article opens with this: When the British caught wind of the fact that American men were developing …
We bring our double-breast-fest to a close with the all-important reader vote. Have your thoughts on them changed? And since they play such a tangential role in the trad wardrobe, how many of you even own one? Vote below. Pictured above, incidentally, is the 1941 Yale swim team. Note DB with buttondown on the left, …