A little dash of humor for your weekend with a flashback to this post from a decade ago, which offers a glimpse at the sense of whimsy that ran in tandem with the modesty and sobriety of the Ivy League Look — especially when it came to the clothier Chipp.
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When legendary clothing company Chipp moved in 1985, Paul Winston threw away the pattern he had once used to make suits for President Kennedy. He still kicks himself for it, but at least he managed to save the vintage Cornell jock strap pictured above. Winston recently shared the item (sized medium, however that works), while I visited his tailoring shop. It was hidden in a drawer, but Winston knew just where to find it.
Known for their whimsical linings (including postures from the “Kama Sutra”) in otherwise conservative suits, Chipp offered matching tie and jock-strap sets in the early ’60s, Winston said. Schools included the Ivies, plus other big sports colleges like Michigan and Notre Dame. Winston would cut and sew them himself while watching football at home, cranking out up to two dozen in an hour.
Winston says Chipp sold “a lot” of them, clarifying that “a lot” in this case is a relative term. — CC
Though it probably should be, this post will not be filed under Top Drawer.
Thanks for posting always wanted to see one. I had Paul make me a Kama Sutra pocket square a while back. I wanted to have a little piece Chipp history.
This may be the single funniest thing you have ever posted to Ivy Style. Everytime you put a Chipp story up, I feel a huge tinge of regret that I’ll never know what it was like to shop there in its heyday.
No words, really.
Some things once seen can never, ever be unseen. Thanks, C. You bastard.
It would seem that the actual size label, stitched in the front, undermines the “Big Red”.
Foghorn,
Cornell ’99
I recently purchased a lot of never-worn neckties from Chipp. I’m not sure how old they actually are. Am listing them on ebay. Seller name: wailua
Have they ever done a tie or pocket square in twig and berries? I mean the real things of course.
I had such a jock. I forget what motif I chose 30 + years ago.
At the time most of my clothing came from them RTW and MTM.
I wore their two button model usually w/ side vents. I still have
some pieces which no longer fit.
Those were sold as gag gifts, right? Guys didn’t actually wear those, right?
I had one of those! Great conversation piece at the squash courts. I miss Chipp! Loved the whimsical touch.