Take A Bow

The Amazing Tom sent me an article about Patrick McHenry and the history of bow ties in American politics. (Paywall alert.) It’s one of a number of articles about Mr. McHenry and his bow ties, almost all of which describe the bow tie as in one way or another bygone. I really don’t understand why


Set Sail with St Johns

This is so Ivy. For the month of October, $1 from every purchase goes to the Navy Safe Harbor Foundation. From the web site: MISSION:NSHF assists with non-medical resources not available through government funding. The assistance is designed to optimize the success of the warrior’s recovery and rehabilitation. NSHF aims to ensure that every enrolled


Last Word On The Senate Dress Code

Editor’s Note: the lady with the guitar is Rebecca Ann Latimer Felton, the first woman U.S. senator. She was 87 years old when appointed. She broke tradition, and agism, while dressing traditionally. …. and then we can move on. Is it as curious to you as it is to me that the dress code does


No Picture

Duck Head’s Big Deal

This is limited edition, so you might want to skip the rest of this and just go here and buy the pants. If you know anything about Ivy, you know that it is the only place where trad and irreverence meet. In 1978, Duck Head was only 113 years old. But the college kids were


J. Press Again Sets The Bar. The Bar. They Served Scotch. Get It?

I missed an amazing event because… this: But had I gone to J. Press in town I would have had this: And I would have learned about this: That’s tweed from Lovat Mill. Also the cloths featured in Press’ MTM/MTO collection. So I am was bummed that I missed it, until this, which is an


Just Sayin’

The system does work, voices do matter, and sometimes we get it right.. Photo Credit: By United States Senate – https://www.senate.gov/index.htm, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=63532525


It’s What They’re Choosing NOT To Do

Was having dinner with my daughter last night and she was telling me about her ethics class. They were posed with a dilemma – you are conducting a train and you learn that you are going to crash into five people OR you can switch tracks and only kill one person. But you are choosing


Dress rehearsal

Editor’s Note: Again all gratitude to Dan Covell. Great piece, perfect time of year for it. Also photo selection credit: Dan Covell. Every year around this time, as a new school year commences, I get the urge to re-watch “The Paper Chase.” You likely know of it – the 1973 film that depicts the struggles


On The Senate Dress Code

Editor’s Note: This is not a political site anymore, it is a club where we speak civilly and think hard. Please be mindful of same in your comments to this post. If you are not new to the site, forgive my repeating the story, but if you are new, here’s what happened. About a decade


A Great Story From The FB Group

Editor’s Note: MANY thanks to Mr. Jim Moore for this great photo and an even better story. Classic Ivy. In the spring of 1988, Jos. A Bank was a middle-income man’s version of Brooks Brothers: its undarted coats featured a 3/2 closure and a center hook vent, its button-down collars rolled admirably, and their tailors


Can We Talk Boxers?

Unless you count the hybrid shoes that, despite Ivy-Style’s best efforts seem to be coming back, and maybe velcro but only on foul weather gear, the greatest innovation in men’s fashion over the last 50 years has to be the boxer brief and yet it gets very little love. Let us repair that breach. Boxer



Holy Ivy-Style

From Steve Getman, perhaps the greatest Ivy Style photo of all time. And from the MIGHTY Anthony Kalamut, a quick laugh:


A Q&A With Bill Thomas, Founder of PennBilt

Editor’s Note: Many thanks to Mitchell for this Q&A. PennBilt has been featured on the site, we welcome them now as an advertiser. Please click through and check out the next step in khakis, and some badass gloves. Recently, I called PennBilt customer service with a question about khakis never expecting to have Bill Thomas


Ivy Notes S3 E1

For those of you who got that message from J. Press that they have gone all digital, fear not. Leave them your address and a paper catalog will be sent. And DO leave them your address. Jacket and Khakis = Duck Head. Shoes = Sperry. Stay tuned for a great series of reviews of over


The Bill Stops Here

I don’t even need to introduce him or his work. The site is here. Bill. Bills Khaki’s. Now, on his own, free form. More in the next few days. But for now, welcome PennBilt to Ivy-Style.



West Coast Ivy Labor Day

FB Group member and #IvyGirl Colleen F. Montoya shared her Labor Day Pot Luck BBQ pictures, as hosted by herself and her husband. Thought you would want to see this. And THAT is West Coast Ivy. Top to bottom:– Earrings handmade by Charlotte Lynn Begay from Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico– RL Polo madras


The More Things Change…

The J. Press Pennant Label brought about a very interesting conversation about evolving Ivy. It’s kind of a moot point, it has already happened, but hopefully this helps the few remaining who are struggling. Ivy started as a fashion innovation. People weren’t wearing loafers with shorts and no socks in the 40’s. Ivy was one