The Andover Shop WOCBD Review Is Coming Thursday, But Here, If You Work There, You Can Probably Save On Shipping.

The Cambridge and Andover locations of The Andover Shop are looking for seasoned full and part-time sales associates. This is a unique opportunity to work for one of America’s oldest and most distinguished haberdashers. With 70 years of history behind it, The Andover Shop has served as a steward of classic American style for generations. Successful candidates should …








If Ivy And Covid Had A Baby

Thanks again to the amazing Tom for sending me an article from Bloomberg by Max Berlinger this week about what is happening, somewhat disturbingly, to custom clothes.  The gist of the article is (it’s a paywall and we don’t link paywalls anymore) is that… A 2022 forecast from personal-styling service Stitch Fix found that half …


Poison Ivy, The Madras And Clearing Up Some New England Confusion

There are things that New Englanders are very specific about, and New York not being in New England is amongst them.  They’d be correct.  New England was first defined by John Smith in 1616, but I think he meant New England as in, “Everything I can see from here is New England.”  And before you …


Two Reader Submissions.

Editor’s Note:  Reader submissions are always welcome.  You can email me here.  Ask these guys, it is painless.   First, a ditty about the Scally Cap by Mitchell.  In “Bonfire of the Vanities,” Tom Wolfe famously alluded to Boston style with his catchy phrase, “the Boston Cracked Shoe look.” Apparently, Tom Wolfe never ventured farther than …



Ivy Notes S1 E14

P.J. O’Rourke and I were not friends other than online, but I was going back over my emails when it dawned on me that P.J. O’Rourke is the Father of Degage. Exhibit A Exhibit B   Exhibit C I am loving Bruce Boyer’s work on music, and the playlists are doing well.   I did see …



Question Marc

Editor’s Note:  Our first round of questions for Marc Chevalier, whose Ivy History cred stands up with anyone’s.  As always, you can email me questions or just put them in the comments.   And that last question, we already voted, the quarter zip is in.  🙂 Q:  Are there other types of collars, other than the …


Ivy Notes S1 E12 – Chipp Off The Old Block

Alright man, look.  In various professional capacities over the years, I have had to write funny for money.  My brief to my divorce attorney was both hilarious and ultimately economical.   I have punched up scripts (a godawful project I couldn’t finish, it was written by an actor, a REAL actor, who should REALLY act.  He …




Lord Have Mercer. The WOCBD Review.

  David Mercer is simply a great, great guy. And has the bona fides: “Not being a math major, I figure it’s always safer to say I was born in 1946. My Mercer&Sons designs and manufactures shirts and boxer shorts. I was fortunate to enjoy a classical secondary education and studied the liberal arts and …


Ivy Notes S1 E11 – A Follow Up

Emails came in (thank you ALL) in large volume about the Ralph Lauren initiative with Morehouse and Spelman. First, thank god and finally. Second, I need a deeper understanding of the way that WWD handles the subject. Here is a typical headline of the coverage:       In contrast, WWD starts with the line, …