The Way I Dress: Nick Waterhouse
, Today Mr. Porter posted a video featuring 27-year-old musician Nick Waterhouse, who talks about his love of oxford shirts and interest in Japanese Ivy in a fantastic midcentury house. — CC
The Brooks Brothers Gatsby Collection
I just did a story for Billionaire.com on the Plaza Hotel’s Gatsby tie-ins, and now here’s Brooks’. Downmarket companies get Pixar tie-ins and put toys in Happy Meals. This is what plays upmarket.
The 2013 Masters Popped Collar Award
Competition is fierce today during the final round of the Masters. And while we’ve no idea who’ll be wearing the green jacket tonight, Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano wins the green polo. While his American opponents have played the past four days clad in logo-laden, mercerized and moisture-wicking technologically enhanced golf shirts, Spain’s Fernandez-Castano has played each day …
PTO On BB’s OCBD
Derek at Put This On has done a wonderful piece on the history of Brooks Brothers’ oxford cloth buttondown: Not to be wistful about days gone by, but there is something uniquely special about these “Golden Era” oxfords. Their particular proportions and collar constructions seem to give them an enviable roll – something like two …
The Boat Shoe, Spring 2013’s Shoe Of The Season
Last fall we declared the camp moccasin the shoe of the season. No idea if we were right, but making the call was fun. This season our trendwatch antennae have received enough signals for us to call spring 2013 the season of the boat shoe. Brooks Brothers has unveiled the epic patch-madras shoes above, which …
Japanese Ivy Books Pinterest
W. David Marx, who recently gave us his interview with “Take Ivy” author Toshiyuki Kuroso, today shared on Ivy Style’s Facebook page his Pinterest devoted to Japanese Ivy books he’s discovered. It’s another fascinating glimpse into Japan’s longstanding reverence for American natural-shouldered clothing.
Wednesday News Roundup
There are several bits of news here in Tradsville, so let’s take care of them all at once. First off is a new e-book by Sven from Gentleman’s Gazette. The book is on the style of the 1930s and includes a number of Apparel Arts and Esquire images you may not have seen before, several …
From Peasantry To Palm Beach: The Story Of The Bass Weejun
In the history of the Ivy League Look, Arnold Gingrich should receive honorable mention status solely based on his consideration of naming his fledgling magazine Town and Campus. He chose, however, to name it Esquire, and if that was were the story ended it would not be enough to warrant the virtual ink on this …
US-Made Calf & Cordovan Weejuns Due This Fall
Yesterday I visited the Bass showroom and got a look at the new US-made Weejun due out this fall. Bass made some last year for the Weejun’s 75th anniversary, but these are new shoes that will be part of the standard Bass lineup. The shoes are made in Maine, and while the sales rep was …
Wax Wane On Japanese Ivy
As a follow-up to our interview with “Take Ivy” author Toshiyuki Kurosu, here’s a post we discovered recently on a blog called Wax Wane. It features some photos we hadn’t seen before of Japanese Ivy enthusiasts in the ’60s, as well as some magazine covers such as the one above, and some of those cute …
O’Connell’s, Main Street Clothier Since 1959
O’Connell’s may be located on Main Street in Buffalo, NY, but it’s certainly not “Main Street” in its wares. The company has been offering the real deal since 1959, and is still family owned. The website Department of Style recently paid O’Connell’s a visit and produced a short but fun video. Check it out. — …
Campus Style: The Polo Coat
Think I’ll take it for one last spin today. Came across this passage recently in Nelson W. Aldrich, Jr.’s biography of Tommy Hitchcock, Jr.: The polo coat — long, belted, and made of soft camel’s hair — was still for the most part used by polo players, thrown over their shoulders for warmth between chukkers, …
Light Motif: WSJ On The Witty Embroidery Trend
There was a time when you could only get critter-embroidered clothing from a small number of clothiers, such as Chipp. The bespoke blazer above, with embroidered golf clubs, was made in 1971 and is currently for sale on Etsy for $500. But today, according to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, critter litter is …
Transfiguration: The Brooks Brothers Spring 2013 Collections Catalog
York Street’s Grand Opening
Uptown met Downtown Tuesday night at the grand opening party for J. Press’ York Street store in the West Village, where Yalie and Madison Avenue J. Press stalwart David Wilder joined this Dartmouth man and Ivy Style cheerleader in a chorus of “The Whiffenpoof Song.” Sadly no one commented on “the magic of their singing.” …
Norman Hilton Trunk Show In Princeton
Today Nick Hilton sent out an email message with this 1965 image. The car may look dated, but certainly not the clothes. A couple of years ago son Nick resurrected his father’s name for a line of Ivy-cut jackets, and glad to see he’s still doing them. The spring trunk show kicks off this weekend …
Classic Since 1953: The Gucci Horsebit Loafer’s 60th Anniversary
This month marks the 60th anniversary of Gucci’s famous horsebit loafer, which solidified itself in the preppy wardrobe sometime in the 1970s, where it remains to this day. Even a shoemaker as conservative as Alden sees fit to offer a version.
Eye Candy: HTJ On Candy Stripes, University Stripes, And Every Other Kind
Yesterday the blog Heavy Tweed Jacket put up an epic post on the history and terminology surrounding striped shirts at Brooks Brothers, J. Press, Chipp and others. Head over here to check it out. — CC
Quilt By Association: Gentleman’s Gazette On The Quilted Jacket
My colleague Sven over at Gentleman’s Gazette put up a great post this week on the quilted jacket. I’ve got one from Brooks Brothers, and it’s by far the biggest workhorse in my wardrobe. For probably five months of the year it’s worn virtually every day. I wear it for all outdoor excursions around …