We’re A Culture, Not A Costume

My name is Nate. I’m a junior at Yale and I’m here to talk about Halloween. You may think Halloween is just a silly holiday for kids to get free candy and adults to dress up like zombies and hookers. But Halloween is actually a traumatic ordeal when many members of marginalized and gated communities …



How A Couple Of Baseball Players Founded Harvey Ltd., Brown’s Campus Shop

In honor of the World Series, which commenced last night, Chris Sharp brings us a baseball story combined with Ivy clothes and college life. * * * Professor Frederick R. Lapides gave his oral history to Rutgers University in 2006. In the interview, he said that two large clans in New Haven shared his surname. …


Does Color Matter? CC Rounds Up Expert Analysis For Gent’s Journal

As I mentioned recently, I’ve begun contributing to The Gentleman’s Journal, a London-based luxury men’s magazine that just launched a US version of its website. I’ll occasionally share pieces when I think they’re germane to the Ivy Style community. Given that color plays a primal role in preppy style, my latest should be of interest. …


Ivy Style Completes Year Eight With Look Back At Top Posts From Year One

This month Ivy Style celebrates its eighth anniversary. Tempus fugit! Yes, October is the month I typically say thank you to our readers, sponsors and contributors. Special thanks go out to associate editor Chris Sharp, columnist Richard Press, contributor G. Bruce Boyer, and friend and neighbor Daniel Greenwood, with whom I’m privileged to regularly discuss …


Graham Marsh x Jim Marshall’s Jazz Festival + Kamakura Shirts

Last week Kamakura Shirts used its Madison Avenue location for a soiree book signing for Graham Marsh. Marsh, an author, designer and illustrator, is one of the biggest names in the UK Ivy community. He has also collaborated with Kamakura on a line of vintage Ivy shirts. The party was in celebration of a new …


For Your Consideration: The Wool Grenadine Tie

While at Kamakura last week something caught my eye on their meticulously folded tie table. It was an unusual texture, and when I investigated, sure enough it turned out to be in a grenadine weave, but made of only 20 percent silk, the rest being wool. I quickly messaged Mr. G. Bruce Boyer, who agreed …


The Bit Slip

Who knew Gucci made a slipper version of its iconic bit loafer? Pair with velvet smoking jacket for relaxing evenings at home. Price $570. — CC


BB ’88: Twilight Of The Golden Fleece

Saturday night I found myself strolling up Sixth Avenue with the melancholy opening melody from Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto stuck in my mind. I’d just heard the piece at one of those sparsely attended church concerts where you can hear classical music for practically free but we live in an era when you can’t even give …


Country Gentlemen: Norman Hilton And Princeton In The Thirties

Nick Hilton is not only a clothier but a great writer who has just lent his prose skills to a tribute of his father Norman, who made some of the finest natural-shoulder clothing during the heyday and who was one of the first to bank his money on a rising new talent named Ralph Lauren. …


Prepare For Descent: The Shoulder Angle Alteration

Earlier this summer I met with Lee Denslow of Emerson Bespoke, a Connecticut-based clotheshorse who’s having a blast running a little side business making custom clothing. Lee was making me a tweed sportcoat (which I’ll share soon), and the measuring and finishing was done by his associates at Alterations Master, located just a few doors …


CC For Gentleman’s Journal On The Art Of The Slow Dance

Update: 12:26 PM EST I’ve just been informed that the story at The Gentleman’s Journal linked below is not loading. My apologies and I’ve informed my editor to investigate the broken link. Update: 12:49 Link should be working. * * * I’ve recently begun writing for The Gentleman’s Journal, a London-based luxury magazine with close …


The Red Sweater

I turned on the debate last night for 30 seconds before switching it off to watch my DVD from Netflix, which, by bizarre coincidence, was “The Fall Of The Roman Empire.” So this morning I awoke to an email from Ivy Style contributor James Kraus. Apparently it doesn’t take much to distinguish oneself sartorially these …


Ivy Chic, Japanese Edition

Does “Ivy chic” live in Japan? It does to my eye, as evidenced in this bold, simple, and elegant look from a Japanese member of Ivy Style’s Facebook group. He said he’s wearing a vintage Brooks Brothers nailhead suit, white Brooks shirt, and black knit tie from Atkinson’s (also note TV fold handkerchief). Wonder what …


Stop Saying “Suiting”

Misuses of language have a way of spreading like viruses. For years now sportscasters have been using the term “reactionary” instead of “reactive.” Reactionary, of course, means politically ultra-conservative, not “characterized by athletic reaction.” The same guys also like to analyze the “enormity” of the situation, when in fact “enormity” means excessive wickedness, not a …



The End Of Camelot

Yesterday the first teaser trailer was released for “Jackie,” a biopic chronicling the First Lady in the aftermath of the assassination of JFK. Natalie Portman stars as Jacqueline Kennedy and the film opens in December. Anyone else have a crush on her? DCG prefers Anne Hathaway, to whom I have a violent allergic reaction. — …


Shoulda Been There: A Swellegant, Elegant Party, 1957

This post from 2009 came up in conversation yesterday and is worth revisiting. What an incredible mix of people. I had great fun writing this and imagining the scene.  * * * One of the saddest phrases in the English language is “You missed a great party.” Well here’s one we all missed. In 1957 …


Back To School Memories: Bare Feet Squishing On Beer-Soaked Carpets

Back to school 1986-1989 meant the return to the Ohio hamlet of Wooster and the college that shares its name. By its very nature, the start of a school year is cyclic. An upperclassman’s confident return is mirrored by first year students’ fearful leap forward into the unknown. A casual observer would witness that awakened …