We’ve Still Got A World That Swings
Today we lost legendary comedian Jerry Lewis at the age of 91. But the world still swings, thanks to the filmography he left behind, including this swanky number from 1963’s “The Nutty Professor.” — CC
Southern Business Casual
Keeping the Virginia theme going, a sharp-eyed reader sent a link to this photo of House Of Delegates Clerk G. Paul Nardo, who gave the press a tour of the new Pocahontas Building in Richmond wearing a patch-madras sportcoat. Now that’s Southern Business Casual. — CC
Southern Hospitality: A Visit To Eljo’s
In Charlottesville, VA, resides the legendary menswear shop Eljo’s, whose wares are succintly described on the store’s front sign: “traditional clothes.” Founded by brothers Elliot and Joseph Hyman in 1950, the shop has changed locations twice and is currently located just off the bustling Barracks Road shopping district. Eljo’s features an assortment of Ivy and …
Message From Charlottesville
“Charlottesville” is a long-time and much-respected commenter here at Ivy Style. He is a true Southern Gentleman, a lawyer who married his high school sweetheart, and a devout Episcopalian. I’ve had the pleasure of sharing drinks with him on one of his regular visits to New York, as well as many correpondences. He left the …
Japanese Ivy News Roundup
Following the Boston Magazine Vineyard Vines profile and Garden & Gun OPH interview, we’ve one more batch of media pieces to catch up on. They concern Japanese Ivy, and are excellent, lengthy pieces well worth your time. First off, Lapham’s Quarterly has a piece by “Ametora” author W. David Marx called “The Climb Of Ivy,” which …
Gentlemen, Start Your Engines: Rally Around The Ivy League 2017
Want to take a unique motoring vacation through the Northeast next month? There’s still a chance to register for the Rally Around The Ivy League tour. “The window of opportunity is still open a crack,” says organizer Timothy Cataldo. “Call immediately on 203.451.5127 or email johnnymustard@oldscooltour.com to reserve your spot now!” Below is Cataldo’s description of …
Southern Exposure: The OPH Book Tour Below The Mason Dixon Line
Several Facebook group members have alerted me to a story on Lisa Birnbach and “The Official Preppy Handbook” in Garden & Gun magazine. I assumed it was a new story, but in fact it dates to 2015. Perhaps it was from the print edition and was just recently archived online. Quotes Birnbach in the piece: …
First ImPRESSions
The first stages of construction have begun that will return J. Press to its rightful place on 44th Street.
What Now? The Uncertain Future Of Neo-Prep
In light of the recent Boston Magazine article on Vineyard Vines, we revisit DCG’s first Millennial Fogey column, from November 2013. * * * To speak of preppy-with-a-twist among trad purists is to garner reactions ranging from “What does this have to do with Ivy style?” to “Stop wasting my Internet, I want to look …
From The Vineyard To Main Street: CC & RVP In Boston Mag’s Vineyard Vines Profile
Boston Magazine has a lengthy profile on Vineyard Vines that includes a number of quotes from Richard Press and myself regarding VV’s particular branch — or vine — on the Ivy/prep/trad tree. By way of snippet: That’s where Vineyard Vines came in. What they were doing when they started wasn’t particularly revolutionary—we’re still talking about …
Behind The Scenes At J. Press Fall/Winter 2017 Photo Shoot
Here’s a sneak peek at what J. Press has cooked up for this fall, as recently unveiled on its Instagram account.
Beatniks And Nerdy Ivy Looks: Beams Plus’ Upcoming Subterraneans Collection
Well that’s a coincidence. No sooner had I posted on the completely made-up concept of “beatnik prep” than a reader informs me that that is the very theme of an upcoming collection. Beams Plus, the Japanese brand known for its Ivy and vintage Americana, has developed a collection entitled “The Subterraneans” for this fall/winter. The …
Beatnik Prep
Back in the chilly days of March I amused myself by playing with style juxtapositions. The concept of “beatnik prep” was pretty simple. Start with a beard or goatee (check), take your corduroy or tweed cap and wear it backwards at an angle, so it resembles a beret. Then add natural-shouldered sportcoat and maybe even …
A Diverse Outfit
Meet Ivy Style reader and Facebook group member TJ Aguilar, and have a look at his outfit. The first thing you’ll notice is the strong sense of whimsy: lobster-emblazoned sneakers, madras belt, collegiate crest tie given to him by a friend. Now for his serious side: Aguilar is a sergeant in the Tulsa County Sheriff …
Confronting The Shadow: The Preppy’s Dark Alter-Ego, The Bro
There’s a guy you probably encounter on a regular basis. Sometimes it seems like he’s right over your shoulder, following you. He kind of looks like you. He has a neat haircut. He wears khakis and boat shoes. On festive summer occasions he’ll wear patch-madras shorts and polo shirts in bright, go-to-hell colors. When he …
St. Andrew’s School, Middletown, Delaware, 1960
Wonder what these kids thought of Holden Caulfield? St. Andrew’s is where “Dead Poet’s Society” was filmed. — CC
Rye Humor
“Rebel In The Rye,” a new movie charting the development of JD Salinger and his writing of the classic prep-school angst novel, “Catcher In The Rye,” will open in September. Alas early reviews, presumably based on the festival circuit, are not good. There is much debate about whether “Catcher In The Rye” and its smart-alecky …
Golden Years: My Brief Bromance With Frank Sinatra
Note: This column originally ran on January 22, 2013, and is being reposted today following news of the death of Sinatra’s wife Barbara Sinatra at age 90. * * * The life that late I led in the heyday was “Mad Men” in real time. Until the 1950s, retailers respected the privacy of their celebrity …
Aggressive Style
The past couple of April Fool’s Days, I’ve amused myself — and hopefully a few of you — by indulging one of my pet peeves: campus political correctness. It’s a pet peeve because, you know, it has the power to destroy Western Civilization. Some are concerned that Evergreen State College won’t be evergreen anymore because …