Once upon a time, gents would put their pocket watch in the breast pocket when in the country. I believe this was done only when they did not wear a three-piece suit, as the pocket watch was normally worn in the vest pocket.
Having put the watch into the pocket, there had to be some way to retrieve it, hence the cord. The metal chain that was normally used with a city suit was too ostentatious for the country look (or perhaps it was too much in such a prominent position), so a cord of a less showy material was used instead.
Maybe it’s me being from a different culture but I find RL ridiculously tasteless. It’s the whole thing, the modelling, the ponies and most of the clothes.
My father, a VP for one of the large Wall Street brokerage houses, used to wear a similar seersucker suit during the summers 40+ years ago (no wide lapels or bell-bottoms even though it was the 1970s). . . sans the white bucks, cricket sweater, and watch chain though. He pulled it off and looked good.
Once again, all these pouty pretty boys. . . . Too hip, too short, too tight, and too “cool.” I might be wrong, but it seemed to me that RL’s ads were once aimed more toward grownups. But maybe I’m misremembering.
Some of these looks are silly and some are great, a microcosm of Ralph Lauren itself, which must appeal to a variety of demographics that look to it for different things.
So long as RL is adequately servicing all of those various demographics, there should be no issue with the fact that it is not a niche brand–except among those who glean their self-identity from the brands of clothing that they wear.
I’ve linked this and this forum has discussed it before, but someone wrote a paper on the age, place, homoeroticism, etc. of Ralph Lauren advertising over time.
I share your sense of alternative colors. There are some, but they seem to be rare. I once had a wine color seersucker that I wore with charcoal tropical weight slacks, white shirt, and a black knit tie. Never seen it in that color since.
Brooks Brothers has offered navy seersucker blazers. I think they may be one on this site seen in a showroom preview. And there’s currently an all-white seersucker jacket, though I think it’s for formalwear (shawl lapel).
Gawd, who shot the child in a boat one, she looks like she’s being kidnapped!
That aside these are very nice, although I could never take the full seersucker suit seriously, just the jacket will do.
What is the cord-like thing in the breast pocket of the fellow in the third-to-last picture?
Once upon a time, gents would put their pocket watch in the breast pocket when in the country. I believe this was done only when they did not wear a three-piece suit, as the pocket watch was normally worn in the vest pocket.
Having put the watch into the pocket, there had to be some way to retrieve it, hence the cord. The metal chain that was normally used with a city suit was too ostentatious for the country look (or perhaps it was too much in such a prominent position), so a cord of a less showy material was used instead.
My source? Jeeves and Wooster.
Maybe it’s me being from a different culture but I find RL ridiculously tasteless. It’s the whole thing, the modelling, the ponies and most of the clothes.
Modelling, ponies and items not suited to your taste shouldn’t prevent you from appreciating their endless flow of fantastic items of clothing.
Call me tasteless, but I would sport each of the above ensembles, minus the watch chain and ropes on wrists!
I’d have to agree with M Arthur, with the exception that the jackets seem too short for my taste.
love it, all of it!
The first jacket looks appealing.
Glen plaid seersucker is in the current lineup:
http://www.ralphlauren.com/product/index.jsp?productId=31133386
This is new to me. Covert seersucker is a good thing, but it should look good rumpled in the summer heat and this plaid might just look weird.
To Waldo Walters:
I agree. Plaid seersucker IS weird. Glenurquhart plaid is not a summer pattern. Save it for fall and winter wool.
My father, a VP for one of the large Wall Street brokerage houses, used to wear a similar seersucker suit during the summers 40+ years ago (no wide lapels or bell-bottoms even though it was the 1970s). . . sans the white bucks, cricket sweater, and watch chain though. He pulled it off and looked good.
Best Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich von B.
Once again, all these pouty pretty boys. . . . Too hip, too short, too tight, and too “cool.” I might be wrong, but it seemed to me that RL’s ads were once aimed more toward grownups. But maybe I’m misremembering.
I think you’re right. We did a post some months back about that elderly architect guy who modeled for them in the 70s and 80s.
But the brand has diversified so much since then.
I think Andrew Lauren looks good in the current Purple Label ads. I’m guessing he’s in his forties.
Some of these looks are silly and some are great, a microcosm of Ralph Lauren itself, which must appeal to a variety of demographics that look to it for different things.
So long as RL is adequately servicing all of those various demographics, there should be no issue with the fact that it is not a niche brand–except among those who glean their self-identity from the brands of clothing that they wear.
A.E.W. Mason
I’ve linked this and this forum has discussed it before, but someone wrote a paper on the age, place, homoeroticism, etc. of Ralph Lauren advertising over time.
http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc2887/m2/1/high_res_d/thesis.pdf
except among those who glean their self-identity from the brands of clothing that they wear.”
You mean like all the people around here constantly harping on “the good old days” of J. Press and Brooks Brothers?
Does anyone know if someone makes a navy stripe seersucker suit? I can’t swing pale blue or tan stripes.
I saw a charcoal stripe seersucker blazer made by Ted Baker last year, so I know there are other color options out there.
Buddy – I think that many of these suits have navy stripes, but the white stripes soften its appearance. I have seen solid navy, but it does not look good to me. Maybe this pincord suit would work: http://www.oconnellsclothing.com/product.php?productid=18313&cat=258&page=1
I meant aizan, not Buddy
@ aizan
I share your sense of alternative colors. There are some, but they seem to be rare. I once had a wine color seersucker that I wore with charcoal tropical weight slacks, white shirt, and a black knit tie. Never seen it in that color since.
@aizan
Brooks Brothers has offered navy seersucker blazers. I think they may be one on this site seen in a showroom preview. And there’s currently an all-white seersucker jacket, though I think it’s for formalwear (shawl lapel).