In 1996 Mississippi Senator Trent Lott began an annual tradition in Congress called Seersucker Thursday, a bit of bi-partisan frivolity that paid homage to the pre-air-conditioned days of Capitol Hill. It lasted until 2012, when the idea of politicians remaining cool for one day in the hot summer was deemed frivolous. It returns this year …
Next Wednesday marks the return of National Seersucker Day, when the US Congress temporarily resembles a gathering of Kentucky Derby spectators. In celebration, Ivy Style will present a truly epic presentation of seersucker coverage — all spearheaded by associate editor Christopher Sharp — including multiple galleries depicting campus advertising through the decades. By the time …
Last weekend O’Connell’s was profiled in the Buffalo News under the heading “global purveyor of old time fashion.” The article charts the retailer’s embracing of e-commerce and can be read here. There’s also a slideshow that will probably have you reaching for your wallet. — CC
Ten years ago today Christian Chensvold began his foray into menswear blogging with the founding of Dandyism.net. Four years later he turned his attention to the Ivy League Look, and he continues to find new niches to explore (under the loose heading Stickpin Media), with the recent launch of Golf Style. Bruce Boyer herein pays …
A couple days ago I participated in a little forum banter, pointing out that in my opinion the ubiquity of the Ivy League Look during the heyday can sometimes be overstated. What’s more, once certain items became so mainstream they certainly ceased to have any direct connection to the campus and Eastern Establishment, even …
Fashion rolls through time in cycles — while also sliding up and down on a see-saw. For the last several years the sockless trend has reached the point where it’s now quasi-normal for with-it guys to wear dress shoes, suits and ties without stockings on their feet. Ivy Style is here to report on the …
Today, on Miles Davis’ birthday, a section of West 77th Street is being christened Miles Davis Way. The jazz legend made his home there for 25 years. Davis will always hold a special place here, as it was in the summer of 2008, while on assignment for Ralph Lauren Magazine doing a piece about when …
By William Hamilton in The New Yorker.
On Sunday I found myself hurriedly marching up Fifth Avenue in order to make a rendez-vous. Sure I stopped a moment to snap the new Polo store under construction, but mostly I was irritably weaving in and out of tourists for 16 blocks. As I marched the clamor of the city rang in my ears …
Since this site was launched I’ve had a Google Alert set up for the word “preppy.” Today’s lone result gives great hope for a madras-clad future, as today a deservedly self-congratulatory press release went out on the wires announcing that Country Club Prep is up 600 percent in its second year of business. Quotes the …
I passed by the new Polo flagship today, which is under construction on Fifth Avenue. Perhaps they’ll be some updated sack jackets. No idea on opening date. — CC
The era of men wearing proper hats has certainly gone the way of the dodo. Blame it on JFK. Still, there are older men and younger dandies who are somehow keeping the hat business afloat. For them, May 15th is a special day, as it’s the traditional date of putting away your wool hats and …
One of the hallmarks of the preppy approach to dressing is that clashing colors are embraced. The most notorious example is pink and green. But we don’t living in a preppy era, and today one of the most prevalent sartorial sins is not clashing, but over-matching. I’ve got an op-ed piece in today’s Wall Street …
Above is the label from one of my favorite sportcoats by Ralph Lauren. It’s one of those updated Ivy models that basically comes with all the heyday details, plus darts thrown in for free. This particular one, as you can see, is made in Slovakia. Now that doesn’t bother my conscience, but more ardently patriotic …
On Friday the Metro-North line, which runs from Grand Central Station up through Connecticut, served its last alcoholic beverage. Perfect excuse to revisit this LIFE Magazine photo gallery from Ivy Style’s first year. — CC
It’s been Duck Head week here at Ivy Style, and this third post will mark our last until the collection is unveiled. In our first post we noted that the small Southern brand made it to outposts as far-flung as London. As this photo shows, an ad for Duck Head can be seen above the …
On our last post a commenter mentioned the Southern retailer Parisian carrying Duck Head. Here’s a 1992 commercial highlighting the Duck Head brand. — CS
Today’s post comes via another reader tip. While last time it was budget OCBDs, this time it’s something a little more discretionary: regimental-striped pajamas from the English brand Derek Rose. Price converted is $236, plus shipping to the US. This article from the DR website manages to work in a non sequitur reference to “Take …
A reader recently alerted us to the $25 oxford shirts at Target. Surprisingly, they feature a rear collar button. And with their tailored fit, low price and apparently smaller collar, they may prove a viable option for impecunious young trads, perhaps of the student variety. Kudos to Target for offering a bit of Main Street …