As mentioned in the San Francisco prep story recently posted, I’ve been writing for the SF society mag The Nob Hill Gazette, which I did some pieces for many years ago when I lived in the city. My latest is on a few proud peacocks in the Bay Area’s tech industry who defy the unofficial …
Yes, it’s true: back in the day, preppy girlfriends would make needlepoint belts for their beaux. In some cases, the belts lasted longer than the relationship. Prior contributor BC explains. * * * When we met in the fall of 1981, M. had left Georgetown, where she had been studying nursing, and was working as …
Looking to the left, hair parted on the right. Drive carefully on your way to the polls. And remember: if two Americans identically dressed in buttondowns, crewnecks and loafers can’t have a civil discussion about politics, then we’re truly doomed.
We’ve been covering the underworld lately, with con men, spies, the CIA, and now a private eye. This year marks the 60th anniversary of “Peter Gunn,” who was a new kind of TV detective when he made his debut in 1958. With his neat hair and simple gray suits, Gunn could have fit right in …
Recently a blog called The Suits Of James Bond paid tribute to 007’s American counterpart, Felix Leiter. The observations are hardly earth-shattering, but it is worth noting how the two tailoring styles relect the characters. “The colours Leiter wears may be the same as Bond’s,” the blogger writes, “but the styles are an ocean apart.” …
Before he became James Bond, Roger Moore cut his teeth in the spy-crime-thriller genre as star of British TV series “The Saint,” which ran from 1962-69, or the end of the Ivy heyday years in the States. In fact, like Pierce Brosnan decades later, Moore had to turn down the role of Bond due to his …
Darkness has fallen, the witching hour is upon us, and the boys from “Take Ivy” have rolled over in their graves, disinterred themselves, and become the walking dead, driven by the unholy urge to retake Ivy. Trick or treat!
Phanes College, a small liberal arts school in rural Vermont, has taken a bold step forward in the fight for gender equality. This year students attending any on-campus Halloween festivities are required to wear gender-neutral costumes in an effort to dismantle stereotypes and foster a safe environment for everyone. In a campus-wide email, Phanes dean …
Forum is a privately circulated men’s lifestyle title produced by the company that puts out the menswear trade pub MR. I’ve been writing essays for it for over a dozen years, many of which I’ve shared here. What follows is my second piece from the current fall/winter issue. It’s based on a wonderful recent interpretation …
Classics become so for a reason. Grey trousers are pretty much unbeatable, which is why they’ve been the default for wearing with patterned jackets for almost a century. So honor your ancestors with charcoal trousers and an odd jacket — it’s a combo that works for me. You might also consider a tab collar for …
Last night J. Press hosted a tweed-themed event at its New York store. It was the first with Richard Press in his new role as columnist and what you might call brand ambassador. Richard shared tales of J. Press’ 50-year partnership with the Irish tweed mill Magee, along with Magee CEO Patrick Temple. The chat …
Since then I’ve trimmed my beard down, but the supercilious smirk remains. Check out the event in question here. — CC
Being a con man doesn’t necessarily preclude having conservative tastes. In fact, since the devil uses the guise of virtue to spread evil in the world, it makes perfect sense for a grifter to don the vestments of the establishment. Men’s Journal recently ran a fascinating piece about a writer’s father who had passed away …
Recognize anything on the two boys in the center? Sure everyone looks cheerful, but those boys seem to be channeling a kind of inner joy. Could it come from wearing bold patterns? Or is the kind of fellow who’s drawn to bold patterns naturally jovial?
Rowing Blazers is on a roll. Smooth sailing, you could say, though I’m sure Jack and company would say it’s actually crazy currents, wild but exciting. The brand has been “dropping” new collections left and right, and garnering an amount of press that any fashion startup would envy. In doing so, the brand is doing …
Kamakura recently unveiled a new unlined OCBD called the Sport model. Here’s the description: The traditional button-down shirts of America from the 1960s captured the hearts of so many in the past. Now, those button-downs have been reproduced using all the techniques available to Kamakura Shirts. It is said that the button-down shirt was born …
Last week I met with Robert “Squeeze” Squillaro, the new exec at J. Press, to learn about Richard Press’ new column. After that, talk turned to the new fall collection and where things are going. You could say it’s a story of expansion (“press”-ure, perhaps?), and contraction (that is, squeezing). As soon as the fall …
As a follow-up to the announcement of Richard Press’ new column for J. Squeeze, here’s his inaugural Ivy Style column from 2011. * * * I remember well the Yale-Harvard weekend of 1962. It was during the time of the War Between the Tailors. In his coverage of the annual football contest, Sports Illustrated scribe …
Ivy Style is proud to present an exclusive news announcement coordinated with J. Press. As of this moment, Richard Press, grandson of founder Jacobi and former company president, has officially rejoined his family’s business. He will write a weekly column for the J. Press website and will hold the title of archival consultant. The 80-year-old …