Tradified

Chuck Taylors Are Magnetic North For Ivy

That’s a great drawing of Chuck Taylors, right? So classic, in fact, that there is even a video that will teach you how to draw them. So The Amazing Tom sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal (it is pay walled) about alternatives to Chuck Taylors. It is written by Nathan Taylor Pemberton

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Tradified

From The Editor

  Ivy is a fashion born of a mindset manifested in a lifestyle.  There are values attached:  dignity, the value and power of thought, ethics, hard work, aesthetics, appreciation of all things classic, and the dogged pursuit of excellence.   While Ivy evolves (I haven’t worn socks since Easter) the values don’t.  If you are a

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From The Archives

So This Is College, 1929

One of most interesting aspects of the Ivy League Look is that while it campus dress was extremely formal in relation to that of today, it was relatively casual in relation to off-campus dress of the time. Historian Deidre Clemente has shown how college kids invented the very concept of being dressed-down in her book

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Jay Butler Has Taken Away Your Last Excuse

The recent reviews of Jay Butler shoes in the comments on the site have been great to read. You have to start with this. Jay Butler shoes look like loafers and wear like moccasins. That is because they are constructed differently. They are crazy durable (been two years, wear mine at least 4 times a


Women’s Ivy: A Packing List for Summer Travels (Plus Tips)

Memorial Day–and summer travels–are fast approaching. At one point in my life, I spent most summer weekends away from home. (This was when I lived in D.C.—I don’t miss that humidity!) As I refused to check a bag and did not use wheeled suitcases, creating the perfect packing list was a goal of mine. My


PennBilt Is In The Details

To learn more about PennBilt (not advertisers yet, but I am working on them) go here. They have created fantastic product. In response to the comments, Bill wrote you and the site: “Hey Fellas,Bill Thomas here. Thanks for these comments! I thought I’d weigh in on a few overriding themes. First, the rise. Our measurement


Women’s Ivy: Staples for a Summer Wardrobe

One of the most requested posts from the Ivy Style readership is a guide to a woman’s trad wardrobe. There is no definitive list of the clothes that make up women’s Ivy Style, and this isn’t one either. Rather, my list speaks to my own preferences within this style tradition. This installment is the first


A Brief History Of Alden

Editor’s Note: Special thank you to James Taylor of Waterhollow Tweed, a site you should check out. ALDEN SHOE COMPANY Alden was founded in Middleborough, Mass. in 1884. Like most shoe companies at the time Alden made shoes using the Goodyear welt method. This was a machine process for making shoes, which was supplanting the


New Authenticity – PennBilt From Bill of Bills Khakis

From William Thomas: “To add context to PennBilt, Bills Khakis was based on the replication of an original WWII khaki, therefore “authenticity” was the origin point for BK. PennBilt draws from that heritage and evolves that sensibility where design and customer preferences live today.  This is why I describe PennBilt as the ‘New Authentic.’ If


Women’s Ivy: Five Mother’s Day Gift Suggestions She Will Actually Love

Mother’s Day is just around the corner (Sunday, May 14th, for those who need a reminder). I’ve always found gift-giving for this holiday particularly difficult. How can a mere gift show your mother, or the mother figures in your life, how much you appreciate them? Today in the Women’s Ivy column, I’m sharing five gifts


An Affirmation Of The Masculine By St Johns

I read through this post on St John’s site. It is very well done. I’ve talked to Rhys about the decision to use the tagline Unapologetically Masculine. It is completely thought out, but a risk. AND IT IS WORKING. And I guess my question for the comments is – at what point do we get


A Week In Review. OF Review I Mean. Starting With How Wrong I Was.

Here’s what to expect this week. Today, I admit I was wrong and send you shopping. Tomorrow, St Johns Bay Rum Co’s twist on their story and the best deodorant. Weds = Sarah. Thursday. Remember Bill’s Khakis? I met Bill. And his new khakis. And holy mother of —. Friday, I am reviewing new pair