Live Crew: Rowing Blazers’ NY Pop-Up Opening Party
June 15, 2018
Last night was the opening party for Rowing Blazers‘ summer pop-up shop. Located in Downtown NYC, founder Jack Carlson secured a much larger space than last summer, and pulled everything together in about a week. As befitting the Downtown location, the party was packed with the young and hip. I spent most of the evening catching up with FE Castleberry.
Here’s our boyishly charming host in one of his Black Watch blazers:
I smirk as he injests carbs:
FEC and Sean Crowley:
Neo-Prep lives:
A fellow from The Armoury:
I suspect these patch rugbys will be a hit:
There’s plenty of prep memorabilia for sale:
The store is located at 221 Centre Street and will be open through the summer. — CC
Chens with a popped collar? I love it. It gets me in the spirit of things. Looks like a great party with all the usual suspects in attendance. Wish I could have been there. Peace of mind may not be one of them but there are certainly advantages to living in New York City.
Fashion aside, I am inherently prejudiced against clothing that purport to identify a wearer as a prep or university varsity athlete, when indeed he was no such a thing (I was, NCAA DI, and value the experience and distinction.) The glowering fellow with the shades and regatta patch — he probably hadn’t seen a body of water bigger than a Crown Heights mud puddle nor rowed across one — is a particularly risible example. As a legitimate son of Scotland, I might add that the Black Watch jacket should also be off limits unless valid, although I don’t much care for the cultural appropriation mania. Go for it if it suits you and you can claim at least some Gaelic ancestry. But please, DON’T purport to be a regatta veteran when you’re not.
While Rowing Blazers is most definitely NOT a store that I plan to frequent (concept seems soooo contrived), seeing folks in the pics above I recall a bit of Latin that I learned from my own prep days: “De gustibus non est disputandum.” And I mention this not to be snarky but to say– hey, if it makes them happy, then great!
Responding to Mr. Hosford above, I’d like to point out that while the store name references rowers, the jacket worn by the individual in question refers to the annual polo match between Yale and UVA, which is open to any spectator, not just the riders. So Mr. Hosford’s assumption that it is a rowing blazer with rowing patch is not only wrong, but his derision seems a little misplaced.
@ Christopher Hosford – Crown Heights? Glowering? Really? Are you sure that dog whistle doesn’t go any louder? (As a side note – if you’re still touting your DI career after graduating from college, one can only assume you haven’t done much to speak of since.)
I actually came to say that I liked that picture the best out of all of these – the tie on the gentleman who drew Mr. Hosford’s derision most of all (speaking of hippie Ivy). Creativity and energy, breathing some new life into traditional clothes.
@ChristopherHosford: you’re welcome to be a bigot (“Crown Heights mud puddle”), but as Jim points out, please be accurate when clutching your pearls about it (Harriman Cup patch).
I, too, was a collegiate rower, and do you know how many times I’ve put down my drink and stormed out of a cocktail party in a huff because someone wore a jersey, or hat, or shirt of a school I knew he didn’t attend, or of sport I knew he didn’t play? Exactly zero. Get over yourself. You’ll lead a happier life.
Now onto more important matters: *extremely* disappointed in the dearth of photos in this post of FEC wearing/doing/being something ridiculous. You raised my hopes and then dashed them, CC.
To the barely schooled eye, it all looks “New Prep.” Wow.
You can’t wear the blazers to work…and they’re not exactly leisure wear. So, is the only occasion a university or college function that calls for GTH? (Think the Princeton P-Rade). Small market for the exceedingly rare (annual?) occasion. Hoping this is a side project bordering on a hobby.
Sorry I missed it. Went to this appalling show in Chelsea instead. Some things you can’t unsee. Would much rather have cavorted amongst these gorgeous rowing Blazers.
The red-headed “Fellow from the Armoury” is actually from the Drakes shop on Crosby St. At least I spoke with him there while trying on some things a few months ago. It may be that the other guy in the photo, whom we see only from the side, is Ameche from the Armoury, but it’s hard to tell from that angle.
I wonder if Mr. Hosford clutches his pearls and fans himself vigorously,
upon noticing an OCBD worn by someone who did not play polo in early-20th Century England.
We live in the United States. It is a combination of the world’s cultures, therefore anyone can wear anything they want anytime they want.
The clothes are almost identical to Polo’s CP-93 collection.
I know you didn’t ask for my advice, CC, but lose the popped collar. It really doesn’t flatter you.
Chens with a popped collar? I love it. It gets me in the spirit of things. Looks like a great party with all the usual suspects in attendance. Wish I could have been there. Peace of mind may not be one of them but there are certainly advantages to living in New York City.
Fashion aside, I am inherently prejudiced against clothing that purport to identify a wearer as a prep or university varsity athlete, when indeed he was no such a thing (I was, NCAA DI, and value the experience and distinction.) The glowering fellow with the shades and regatta patch — he probably hadn’t seen a body of water bigger than a Crown Heights mud puddle nor rowed across one — is a particularly risible example. As a legitimate son of Scotland, I might add that the Black Watch jacket should also be off limits unless valid, although I don’t much care for the cultural appropriation mania. Go for it if it suits you and you can claim at least some Gaelic ancestry. But please, DON’T purport to be a regatta veteran when you’re not.
While Rowing Blazers is most definitely NOT a store that I plan to frequent (concept seems soooo contrived), seeing folks in the pics above I recall a bit of Latin that I learned from my own prep days: “De gustibus non est disputandum.” And I mention this not to be snarky but to say– hey, if it makes them happy, then great!
Responding to Mr. Hosford above, I’d like to point out that while the store name references rowers, the jacket worn by the individual in question refers to the annual polo match between Yale and UVA, which is open to any spectator, not just the riders. So Mr. Hosford’s assumption that it is a rowing blazer with rowing patch is not only wrong, but his derision seems a little misplaced.
@ Christopher Hosford – Crown Heights? Glowering? Really? Are you sure that dog whistle doesn’t go any louder? (As a side note – if you’re still touting your DI career after graduating from college, one can only assume you haven’t done much to speak of since.)
I actually came to say that I liked that picture the best out of all of these – the tie on the gentleman who drew Mr. Hosford’s derision most of all (speaking of hippie Ivy). Creativity and energy, breathing some new life into traditional clothes.
Congrats, Jack! I am sorry I missed the party 🙁 Best of luck to the Rowing Blazers crew
Guys, you really ought to do this stuff in the U.K. too, otherwise we are merely observers.
@ChristopherHosford: you’re welcome to be a bigot (“Crown Heights mud puddle”), but as Jim points out, please be accurate when clutching your pearls about it (Harriman Cup patch).
I, too, was a collegiate rower, and do you know how many times I’ve put down my drink and stormed out of a cocktail party in a huff because someone wore a jersey, or hat, or shirt of a school I knew he didn’t attend, or of sport I knew he didn’t play? Exactly zero. Get over yourself. You’ll lead a happier life.
Now onto more important matters: *extremely* disappointed in the dearth of photos in this post of FEC wearing/doing/being something ridiculous. You raised my hopes and then dashed them, CC.
I’ve always liked Fred. Still do, even if he was wearing saddle shoes. ; )
To the barely schooled eye, it all looks “New Prep.” Wow.
You can’t wear the blazers to work…and they’re not exactly leisure wear. So, is the only occasion a university or college function that calls for GTH? (Think the Princeton P-Rade). Small market for the exceedingly rare (annual?) occasion. Hoping this is a side project bordering on a hobby.
Sorry I missed it. Went to this appalling show in Chelsea instead. Some things you can’t unsee. Would much rather have cavorted amongst these gorgeous rowing Blazers.
How is FEC’s bespoke business going? Well I hope.
Will
The red-headed “Fellow from the Armoury” is actually from the Drakes shop on Crosby St. At least I spoke with him there while trying on some things a few months ago. It may be that the other guy in the photo, whom we see only from the side, is Ameche from the Armoury, but it’s hard to tell from that angle.
I wonder if Mr. Hosford clutches his pearls and fans himself vigorously,
upon noticing an OCBD worn by someone who did not play polo in early-20th Century England.
We live in the United States. It is a combination of the world’s cultures, therefore anyone can wear anything they want anytime they want.
I just noticed this is an old thread. It popped up on the page next to the main article, that is why I saw it and commented on it today.