Here’s a fun diversion for your Tusday morning. A reader alerted me to the NPR game show “Ask Me Another,” which recently based an episode around the concept of “preppy” as sung to the Pharrell Williams hit “Happy.” See how fast you can get the answers. Head over here to give it a listen and play along. — CC
“That’s the coolest Brooks Brothers has ever sounded.”
Good. I’d prefer them to be more and more obscure. I’d like for them to close all stores except for NYC, Chicago, DC, and Tokyo locations. I’d like for them to focus on a target audience, with traditional, well constructed clothing. I’d like for them to out-source to Martin Greenfield or Southwick only; made in U.S.A.
Revenues would decrease, but margins would improve.
But no, this would incontrovertibly kill the brand. They’ve reached the point of no return – where they are not cool enough for preppies yet not sophisticated enough for yuppies. Like the song said, the brand is “Don Draper,” and we all know that Roger Sterling was much better dressed.
@Chewco – I agree with everything you said in that first paragraph. Unfortunately, I also agree with everything you say in the last paragraph as well. Though I’d probably say they could use a west coast store as well, presumably in San Francisco. But hey, as long as the D.C. store stuck around in that scenario, I’d be happy.
Chewco,
I have had and expressed the very same opinion, but I know that it is far too late to turn back. I also want to say thank you for the kind words in the other post and that I will gladly take pedantic over some of the other choice words that some have had for me.
@rmp,
As a believer of efficient markets, I know there is inexorably going to be a Darwinian solution to Brooks’ problem.
@OCBD,
Your blog is an exceptional read. I check it from time to time on my own. But it also helps that it winds up being the top of some of my search results; which is a good sign.
What in the world are you searching? “how to post photos of yourself on the Internet standing in the same place with the same pose the same expression and navy blazer khakis blue buttondown penny loafers and a different striped necktie”???
Sorry OCBD, we all know you’re a nice kid, but I’m quite a bit older than you. Please post a photo of you in Tijuana, drunk and unshaven with popped polo shirt, surrounded by three lovely senioritas and with lipstick all over your face.
Now Christian, that’s not very nice. Well, in my other post, I did mention that he was ‘consistent.’ Also, one of his posts actually did helped me in making a choice on what brand to go with when buying my replacement pair of Norwegian Mocs. My Bass pair wore a hole right through the sole, just like OCBD’s. So I was not being unctuous.
And I too would like to see OCBD post some photos on vacation, being a ragamuffin, and possibly getting in trouble with the T.I.L.A, or tequila, or maybe even Tila Tequila!
Yes, I’ve managed to see the “consistent” defense. It’s certainly one interpretation.
@OCBD: If you are willing to produce for me a photographic enactment of the scene described above, taken at your local Mexican restaurant*, between now and 12/31, I will immediately PayPal you $50 for the snapshot, $50 for food and drink, plus $16 for lipstick and Advil (for the following morning), for a total of $116 for the year 2016, and will post the photo on Ivy-Style.com on 12/31 with the headline “Happy New Year From OCBD,” with a link to your blog.
* This isn’t cultural appropriation or anything else uncouth, but rather a supporting of a local, minority-owned business. There are certainly plenty on my block here in Diversity Capital Of The World** and I’m assuming there’s one in your town, too.
** Where I’m very happy.
Will there be a bonus if Jerrod wear GTH pants?
Bonus will depend on the number of pageviews (inspired by Ward Wickers, I’m working on being less of an aesthete and more of a businessman).
There’s also this jacket by Castaway:
http://www.castawayclothing.com/products/seersucker-spinnaker-blazers-blue-seersucker-martini
At first I thought Christian was being a jerk. Now, I can see he is just an entrepreneur. I will add $20.00 to the pot, raising the total to $136.
Anyone else care to join?
I’ll Paypal Jerrod $50 and mail him a green J. Press repp tie if he holds up a sign in his next picture that says “Get off my jock.”
Is Jerrod-bashing the new Ivy hobby? What’s going on, gentlemen?
@Merriam Agreed. I was surprised myself. One of the nicest guys around and I defend his “boring” style any day. I’ve learned a lot from him and he’s been kind enough to help me out a few times.
Christian,
Some readers with not be familiar with The OCBD Blog. Why not give them a chance to see that there’s nothing boring whatsoever about conservative Ivy:
http://oxfordclothbuttondown.com/
Correction:
Some readers might not be familiar with…
Sorry.
OCBD – keep posting. Your pictures illustrate the importance of a good fit.
@Christian,
Thank you for the gracious offer. I am going to pass at this time. However, I think that DCG would do that post justice! Also, your first comment made me laugh. I promise that I am good natured about my flamboyant style.
Well shucks, just had lunch at Felipe’s in Harvard Square yesterday, I wish I’d known this was open to me!
Just to chime in here …
I check Jerrod’s blog almost every day. I wish, in fact, he would post more. There is a good contrast between the OCBD blog and Ivy-Style that I personally value. Although there is some overlap in content between the two, I view Ivy-Style as taking a broader view of trad dress and campus life, what they were, how they have evolved, why they’ve evolved as they did, and what’s occurring today. I like the discussions here, and especially the social context of trad. It’s also fun to challenge the right-wing nuts, err, that’s the conservative point of view, from time to time.
The OCBD Blog is different. For me, it’s a place to see how things actually go together. Does a repp tie really go with an uni-stripped shirt. What are the qualities of a good shetland sweater? Where can I get one, what are the options and who’s a reliable retailer? I like how OCBD talks about putting together “a rig.” I wouldn’t have thought, for example, that a simple olive surcingle belt was so useful until Jerrod pointed that out. There’s also lots of discussion about thrifting. This is another thing I would have never thought about without some of the post’s on OCBD. I’ve now bought several really nice items this way thanks to the suggestions on OCBD.
So one is highly practical, the other more broad. Both are terrific, in my eyes, and I’m grateful to both Christian and Jerrod for their work.
@Ward
I, too, check both blogs every day and enjoy them for their respective qualities. However, I see Christian’s point – Jerrod has never let loose. I’d love to see him out of his element, and if it takes a monetary bet/dare, then I am all for it.
Perhaps a post from each imitating the other’s style?
Why would a civilized gentleman like Jerrod want to get out of his element?
Everyday I go to Ivy Style, Ox’s blog and Billax’s blog to check in (along with FNB). I love all three of them and, best of all, they each serve a different purpose in the sphere of the ivy league look. So bravo all around. I just thought there was a bit of bullying going on that went beyond ribbing.
@rmpmcdermott
The bullying of Jerrod is nothing compared to what they did to Muffy Aldrich.
@JDD
Maybe we should all meet at J Press some late Saturday afternoon. Then immediately go to a pub, then another pub, and another, and, well, you get the idea. After multiple pubs, we hit a Mexican restaurant for dinner. I can bring the lipstick (it’s alright, I’m pretty liberal). I suspect someone will have to bring Jerrod, though. He may not come on his own.
@Ward,
You’ve described an ideal evening. I may be thick-skinned, but I do not consider the suggestion that one benefits from letting loose once in a while to be bullying. Perhaps there would be fewer fights in the comments if we enjoyed some real world revelry.
@JDD maybe bullying was a bit too strong a word. Jerrod just seems very happy in the way he dresses and, I assume, the way he lives. It just felt like the guys in college that would make fun of me for not doing beer bongs.
@rmp,
I noticed you didn’t include F.E.C.’s blog on that list. I follow him on instagram and he is quite a special gentleman.
Has anyone any experience with his exceptionally priced ‘cashmere suits?’ They seem to be price on par with Kiton.
@Christian,
You should open the challenge to everybody. OCBD, I do hope you (re-)consider. If you do, I will also commit $20.01 to the cause, raising the total bid to $156.01.
@rmpmcdermott
I graduated college early and was unable to (legally) drink my entire undergraduate career. I understand the pressure to act irresponsibly for the sake of it all too well. Be it far from me to reduce myself to a frat boy. Maybe those not partaking serve as designated drivers? After all, there is nothing Ivy about driving drunk (ツ)
@Chewco FEC isn’t my cup of tea so I don’t check in often. That’s just me, though.
@JDD Admittedly, I was probably being a bit reactionary. I’m not against fun, that’s for sure. In fact, in grad school I developed a nice drinking problem (though, it was whiskey and not beer bongs). Thankfully, I’m sober now. I think I just get a little bent out of shape when it seems like someone is getting fun of for being the way they are. I’m sure Christian and the rest weren’t trying to do that as they all seem like gentlemen.
@Patrick Wellcorn – I don’t know anything about Muffy Aldrich. I visited her site once, read a few articles, but didn’t comment on anything. And then the next time I tried to access the site I was banned. I have no idea why.
@rmp:
Oh? I thought people here liked FEC :-/
http://www.ivy-style.com/uva-fraternity-party-1963.html
cf. comment section re: Aldrich.
@Chewco – I have no gripe with Castleberry. Just a bit too much sprezz for my personal taste. I see the IP blocking stuff there in the comments. Didn’t really bother me when I got blocked. Her blog wasn’t something I’d planned to read regularly anyway. Just a personal choice. No harm, no foul.
Someone told me today is the one-year anniversary of Muffygate. Regardless of when it began, it was over last Thanksgiving weekend.
Much changed since then….
@rmpmcd
“A bit too much sprezz” is an impossibility, particularly for any soul outside of Italy.
Non-Italians have to accept that true sprezzatura is an Italian preserve. They are, after all, the world’s best dressers, and without appearing to even try.
@Bags
Sprezzatura is cultural appropriation – and therefore a sensitive topic. Tread carefully.
@Chewco
Eggshells be careful enough? You old josher, you!
@Bags – Well, I guess I used the wrong word then. His style is too flashy and flamboyant for my taste. Maybe next time I’ll run my language by you before I post.
@Chewco My grandfather is from Naples. Does that me I can use the word? Haha. Sadly, I speak very little Italian, though I wish I’d learned more when I was growing up around him.
@rmp,
Haven’t you seen Goodfellas?
“To become a member of a crew you’ve got to be 100% Italian so they can trace your relatives back to the old country.” Sprezz is like a license to wear popped collars, its like a license to do anything. It means you belong to a family and crew. It means that nobody can f#$% around with you. It also means you could f#$% around with anybody just as long as they weren’t also a member.
@Chewco Damn! Haha. But yeah I’ve seen Goodfellas (and the first two Godfathers) many times.
My grandfather actually grew up in South Philly after the move from Naples and was good friends with the son of Big Nose John Avino, the head of the Philly mob at the time (the late 1920s). He was ten and had no idea. And his father worked in the Stetson factory so he wasn’t connected. Pretty cool stories, though.
http://mob-who.blogspot.com/2011/04/avena-john-big-nose-1893-1936.html
@mcdermott,
You are pretty much telling me your grandfather had mob ties.
All I have to say is: http://www.quickmeme.com/img/9a/9a50f96d13ef78fe55710bbac9e8237966f76b5cc3455e3dfb742d8946530ff2.jpg
@Chewco Ha! I love it.
Wasn’t Muffy the lady who kindly introduced us to much of what was best about New England? Her fabricated biographical details simply added an entertaining touch of fiction to her blog.
@RRL I have no idea. Maybe if I could see her website I could tell you. Apparently I (and a lot of others) got banned because I visited this site and then tried to view her site. It’s like when you walk into an argument between a few people and get yelled at. “What the hell did I do?”
@rmpmcd
Stay as sweet as you are, baby. Ain’t like we’re talking politics.
@Bags That last line about running language by you was actually a joke. I love talking about clothes! I’d much rather do that than talking about politics.
@rmpmcdermott:
Now, her blog consists solely of photos with no comments from readers:
http://www.saltwaternewengland.com/
@RRL I’m sure they’re wonderful photos and I have nothing personally against Muffy, but having my IP address banned for no reason other than I also looked at this site left a bad taste in my mouth.