Consider this. Once upon a time, I was told that Stanley Kubrick’s clothes closet solely contained multiple duplicates of exactly the same clothing items. The reason: that way, he never had to spend any wasted time considering what to wear. Mr. Kubrick had other, better and more important things to think about. His movie legacy certainly confirms that. And incidentally, he dressed in what we consider to be the “ivy style”. (Google him and I think you’ll agree).
Now some may think Mr. Kubrick’s approach is a tad extreme, I know I do, but I can appreciate the concept. After decades of acquiring apparel, I have honed down all the articles of clothing in my closet to exclusively my absolute favorites. This method alleviates any anguish or anxiety about making decisions of how I want to be perceived. I can reach in, grab what is appropriate for whatever the day’s (or evening’s) endeavors demand, and without a second thought, be ready to go in a very few minutes flat. Add thirty seconds if a tie is involved. So far, so good., No complaints or ridicule from the public at large. I’m presentable. And more importantly I feel good about myself.The only drawback is that at times I find myself chilling out with a cocktail in hand listening to jazz (Stolen Moments by Oliver Nelson works pretty good) patiently waiting for my wife to get ready. If you are married, you may know what I’m talking about.
In Howard Hawks’ movie, Bringing Up Baby,. Cary Grant’s character finds himself in a predicament where all his clothes are missing. He is forced to get dressed with clothes someone has abandoned in a closet. He has no choice but to wear what he finds there. He looks ridiculous. .I don’t know if the line was written for him or he ad libbed it, but he rationalizes his situation with the line, “Clothes are clothes’ ‘. I think of that line now and then. It provides perspective. I can not take myself or my clothes all that seriously. I wear what I love, enjoy it, and get on with it. And I try to live happily ever after. It’s all a big smile, anyhow.
@McCool. I don’t know, I find the whole “I wear a uniform of the exact same outfit everyday to alleviate trivial decision-making in my big, busy, all-to-important, decision-making life” somewhat of a put on. Especially since it has become the fashion amongst billionaire tech CEOs re: Zuckerberg, Jobs etc. It’s the same as when they drive the 15 year-old beater to the office claiming that they just don’t care about statements. Yeah right, what really is going on here is that you are absolutely trying to make an even bigger indirect statement, or “flex” as the kids today call it, that you’re just too rich and too important to behave and act the same way “regular” rich people do. Should you drape yourself in all Brioni and drive a neon Pagani Zonda to the employeee parking lot? Absolutely not. But if you’re making more money a day in interest than is even theoretically possible to spend, just buy some nice clothes and a Mercedes for god sakes.
Greetings @Benjamin, I understand what you are saying. Personally, I have nice clothes. (So did Mr. Kubrick). But I traded in the Mercedes for a Tesla. I find it to be a superior automobile in so many ways. And I am definitely not into uniforms.
As for Zuckerman and Jobs, to put it mildly, I am not a fan. Coincidentally, I met a woman a few weeks ago, an international lawyer, who used to work for Jobs.
The stories she told were not pretty.
To be clear, I’m not selling or advocating anything here. My comments are simply meant to be lighthearted musings, and anecdotes, written on the fly, about the whole ivy clothes thing. Please enjoy your clothes and have a nice day. In fact, have a nice life. Truly, I mean that.
McCool,
What you called “honing down”, I call “ruthless culling/decluttering”, and I find it to be a truly liberating experience. The joy of only wearing one’s absolute favorites.
Basic Trad,
Yes! Absolutely!! I try to cultivate anything that produces a sense of well being. Why endure the second rate when all your absolute favorites are stacked neatly or hanging there waiting in line? Enjoyment is enjoyment.
Bostonian is right. One can wear what one wants to wear, but popular appeal among others on this site still does not make something Ivy. Folks can wear jeans and think they look good with Ivy elements, but that does not make the jeans themselves Ivy. I commented earlier that they look good in my opinion with a uni-stripe button-down or a black sweater, and have worn my one pair that way.
Were people wearing these 1/4 zip things 50 – 60 years ago? Not a clue – and I had never seen one until maybe 10 years ago – but if they weren’t wearing them back then, then I submit that they are not and cannot be Ivy. If a majority of readers to this site started wearing sandals, nerd watches, and fill in the blank, that does not make those items Ivy, no matter how popular they are among these readers, It only makes them items which are widely liked among those who otherwise are Ivy.
The Founders went to great lengths in order to keep popular opinion from changing things in America, and I submit that is a good path to follow. It is kind of like Brooks recently anointing of Madison as “traditional” fit. No, Madison is not traditional, no matter how many customers prefer it over the real traditional. Even if all prefer it, it still is not traditional.
I see your point. But I think you misunderstood mine. I do not equate disagreeing with dictating.
Perhaps the fault is in my writing. I could probably use an editor.
Anyhow, “friendly argument”. Why not?
When I say, “I don’t argue taste” I’m saying I avoid a smackdown that inhibits someone else from sharing their thoughts. I enjoy hearing the opinions of others.
I’m also acknowledging how subjective taste is. You know, the whole “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” thing. .All the comments expressed testify to that.
And finally, I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. There’s nothing in it for me or the other person who may or may not be tasteless.
And from what I’ve read here about 1/4 zips, I see we share the same distaste for them. So, we have that going for us.
Very disappointing.
Next, we’ll be hearing that sweatpants are Ivy, too.
Consider this. Once upon a time, I was told that Stanley Kubrick’s clothes closet solely contained multiple duplicates of exactly the same clothing items. The reason: that way, he never had to spend any wasted time considering what to wear. Mr. Kubrick had other, better and more important things to think about. His movie legacy certainly confirms that. And incidentally, he dressed in what we consider to be the “ivy style”. (Google him and I think you’ll agree).
Now some may think Mr. Kubrick’s approach is a tad extreme, I know I do, but I can appreciate the concept. After decades of acquiring apparel, I have honed down all the articles of clothing in my closet to exclusively my absolute favorites. This method alleviates any anguish or anxiety about making decisions of how I want to be perceived. I can reach in, grab what is appropriate for whatever the day’s (or evening’s) endeavors demand, and without a second thought, be ready to go in a very few minutes flat. Add thirty seconds if a tie is involved. So far, so good., No complaints or ridicule from the public at large. I’m presentable. And more importantly I feel good about myself.The only drawback is that at times I find myself chilling out with a cocktail in hand listening to jazz (Stolen Moments by Oliver Nelson works pretty good) patiently waiting for my wife to get ready. If you are married, you may know what I’m talking about.
In Howard Hawks’ movie, Bringing Up Baby,. Cary Grant’s character finds himself in a predicament where all his clothes are missing. He is forced to get dressed with clothes someone has abandoned in a closet. He has no choice but to wear what he finds there. He looks ridiculous. .I don’t know if the line was written for him or he ad libbed it, but he rationalizes his situation with the line, “Clothes are clothes’ ‘. I think of that line now and then. It provides perspective. I can not take myself or my clothes all that seriously. I wear what I love, enjoy it, and get on with it. And I try to live happily ever after. It’s all a big smile, anyhow.
@McCool. I don’t know, I find the whole “I wear a uniform of the exact same outfit everyday to alleviate trivial decision-making in my big, busy, all-to-important, decision-making life” somewhat of a put on. Especially since it has become the fashion amongst billionaire tech CEOs re: Zuckerberg, Jobs etc. It’s the same as when they drive the 15 year-old beater to the office claiming that they just don’t care about statements. Yeah right, what really is going on here is that you are absolutely trying to make an even bigger indirect statement, or “flex” as the kids today call it, that you’re just too rich and too important to behave and act the same way “regular” rich people do. Should you drape yourself in all Brioni and drive a neon Pagani Zonda to the employeee parking lot? Absolutely not. But if you’re making more money a day in interest than is even theoretically possible to spend, just buy some nice clothes and a Mercedes for god sakes.
@Old Bostonian. Re. sweatpants being Ivy–only if they’re loopback Sunspel/Brunello Cucinelli/Loro Piana.
Greetings @Benjamin, I understand what you are saying. Personally, I have nice clothes. (So did Mr. Kubrick). But I traded in the Mercedes for a Tesla. I find it to be a superior automobile in so many ways. And I am definitely not into uniforms.
As for Zuckerman and Jobs, to put it mildly, I am not a fan. Coincidentally, I met a woman a few weeks ago, an international lawyer, who used to work for Jobs.
The stories she told were not pretty.
To be clear, I’m not selling or advocating anything here. My comments are simply meant to be lighthearted musings, and anecdotes, written on the fly, about the whole ivy clothes thing. Please enjoy your clothes and have a nice day. In fact, have a nice life. Truly, I mean that.
Benjamin
I’m old enough to remember Jobs dressing to he nines, top drawer. The tees and jeans came much later.
McCool,
What you called “honing down”, I call “ruthless culling/decluttering”, and I find it to be a truly liberating experience. The joy of only wearing one’s absolute favorites.
I derive great pleasure in looking at my clothes closets.
Basic Trad,
Yes! Absolutely!! I try to cultivate anything that produces a sense of well being. Why endure the second rate when all your absolute favorites are stacked neatly or hanging there waiting in line? Enjoyment is enjoyment.
Bostonian is right. One can wear what one wants to wear, but popular appeal among others on this site still does not make something Ivy. Folks can wear jeans and think they look good with Ivy elements, but that does not make the jeans themselves Ivy. I commented earlier that they look good in my opinion with a uni-stripe button-down or a black sweater, and have worn my one pair that way.
Were people wearing these 1/4 zip things 50 – 60 years ago? Not a clue – and I had never seen one until maybe 10 years ago – but if they weren’t wearing them back then, then I submit that they are not and cannot be Ivy. If a majority of readers to this site started wearing sandals, nerd watches, and fill in the blank, that does not make those items Ivy, no matter how popular they are among these readers, It only makes them items which are widely liked among those who otherwise are Ivy.
The Founders went to great lengths in order to keep popular opinion from changing things in America, and I submit that is a good path to follow. It is kind of like Brooks recently anointing of Madison as “traditional” fit. No, Madison is not traditional, no matter how many customers prefer it over the real traditional. Even if all prefer it, it still is not traditional.
Hello S.E.,
I see your point. But I think you misunderstood mine. I do not equate disagreeing with dictating.
Perhaps the fault is in my writing. I could probably use an editor.
Anyhow, “friendly argument”. Why not?
When I say, “I don’t argue taste” I’m saying I avoid a smackdown that inhibits someone else from sharing their thoughts. I enjoy hearing the opinions of others.
I’m also acknowledging how subjective taste is. You know, the whole “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” thing. .All the comments expressed testify to that.
And finally, I don’t want to hurt anybody’s feelings. There’s nothing in it for me or the other person who may or may not be tasteless.
And from what I’ve read here about 1/4 zips, I see we share the same distaste for them. So, we have that going for us.