In August 2018, J. Press shuttered their legendary Cambridge haberdashery after 86 years of dressing Harvard undergrads, professors, and the North Shore financiers commuting into their Boston offices. Indeed, it was a sad day on Mt. Auburn Street. On the subject of sad, 2020 has been nothing if not, well, sad. Like, really sad. But …
Both Chet Baker and Miles Davis played pivotal roles in the founding of Ivy-Style.com. Both were remembered fondly by Charlie Davidson of The Andover Shop when I interviewed him for my 2008 article for Ralph Lauren Magazine entitled “Ivy League Jazz,” which inspired me to found this website. I later ended up writing profiles of …
In celebration of Hanukkah, Ivy Style once again pays tribute to the pivotal role Jewish clothiers have played in helping craft preppy style. Here’s a snippet from a 2016 piece in The Atlantic: From the beginning, American style was synonymous with WASP culture. Sportswear was the uniform of the prep school, the Ivy League, the …
David Caplan, the Charles M. Weis Professor of English at Ohio Wesleyan, has brought us several delightful articles recently. His latest is on the scholar who bequeathed to Tradsville the infamous anecdote about arrivistes at Princeton fraying their OCBDs with sandpaper in order to fit in with the Old Money preppies. Ivy Style is also …
There was a time before JK Rowling. A time we spoke of other initialed authors JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, AA Milne and JM Barrie. An age of Young Fogeys, Sloane Rangers and “Brideshead Revisited.” We called that time the 1980s. Photographer Mark Draisey now shows us what we were not allowed to see. His book “Thirty …
One year ago I closed my chapter in New York and crossed the bridge into Newport. I arrived in my U-Haul at twilight, that “exquisite hour” as the poets say, with a lifelong on the radio: Ravel’s “Le Tombeau de Couperin.” I felt I was crossing into a fairy tale kingdom where I could further …
“Miles, I have holes in my pockets and no one useful on speed dial. I’m built for hiding in libraries.” “I’m not going to lie to the police so you can ponce around in a f*cking cape for the rest of your life!” The Riot Club (2014) * * * Earlier this month, Nylon magazine …
One wonders what will become of all the furnishings from 346 Madison Avenue, such as this amusing blazer chair we posted about in 2012. Presumably the items will be used in stores around the country, which may or may not be located in suburban malls. It would certainly make for quite an auction….
You probably never thought of yourself as a holiday-tie kind of guy. But don one of these ties by Paul Winston/Chipp2 and watch your coworkers at the virtual office party snigger, “Nice Santa tie,” followed by, “Hey, waitaminute… “ From the witty clothier who gave the world Kama Sutra suit linings in conservative sack suits comes …
The backstory: Brooks Brothers is ironic. As a flagship merchant for what is perceived to be the upper class, it has been empty-billfolded for a while now. A few owners, then finally, a covid tipping point bankruptcy, followed by a $325 million acquisition by the Authentic Brands Group, and The Sparc Group, in a venture …
Take a look at the guy above: Mild-mannered schoolteacher, or James Bond, license to kill? Pictured here are screenshots from the 1961 saccharine-fest “Tammy Tell Me True,” a sequel to the equally tooth-rotting “Tammy,” whose title song was a hit for Pat Boone, which pretty much says it all. In the follow-up, Sandra Dee stars …
In yesterday’s Old Money post, I left a comment referencing the concept of the dandy as self-made aristocrat. Although in the digital style world “dandy” has the connotation of foppish peacocks at Pitti Uomo, in its original conception it was something quite different. The title character in Louis Auchincloss’ “The Rector of Justin,” a staple …
The first edition of the Old Money Book was published in 2013. Byron Tully, an American writer living in Paris, recently updated the book to reflect changes in the world since the coronavirus pandemic began. This is a carefully researched, thoughtful, and practical book. It is a must-have for anyone interested in Ivy or traditional …
Looks good on anyone.
Is there anything more exhilarating and terrifying than trying to launch a business? Perhaps a few things. But what about doing it as a young man full of ambition but no experience? And within the notoriously challenging apparel and footwear industry? But Justin Jeffers is not just a young man, but a “fine young gentleman,” …
This week discussion erupted — well, at least between a couple guys — regarding whether Ivy-preppy is a truly American style, or a global one because of its varied components and the people who wear it. Well back in 2012 during the last global Ivy trend, the French magazine Monsieur could declare the whole world was …
What is the future of dressing up? Has the pandemic, as many have suggested, killed off proper attire for good? Back in January I published a storybook of “apocalyptic menswear fiction” in which I assembled the entire history of men’s fashion in one place, lit a match and burned it to the ground. And just …
One of the many things I remember about my parents across their 55-year marriage is that they always followed politics. When I was little, I’d hear them mention off-handedly about friends or relatives, “Oh, they’re just Republicans.” And when I was older, after their political persuasions had moved right of center, “Oh, they’re just Democrats.” …
The last time there was a hit TV show called “Gossip Girl,” a certain patchwork scarf from J. Press had its 15 minutes as a fashion icon. Now a new version of the show — which centers around kids at an Upper East Side prep school — is being shot for release next year. Time …