Packers legendary coach Vince Lombardi, in fedora, buttondown and striped tie, casts a cool gaze across the field….
… and sizes up his two opponents:
He pauses to ponder their attire and helicopter-pilot headsets, then formulates his game plan:
And four quarters later:
Enjoy the game today. And here’s The Philadelphia Inquirer on the vast discrepancy between football coaches’ salaries and their sartorial standards. — CC
It’s funny how the collar points in the first picture are at least four or five inches too short for some of my fellow traditionalists.
Belichick is pure prep. Grew up in Annapolis, the preppiest town (well, maybe next to Oxford) in the preppiest state (lacrosse is Maryland’s state sport), went to Andover, and played varsity lacrosse AND squash at Wesleyan. Daughter is women’s lax coach at Wesleyan, oldest son played lacrosse at Rutgers. Other son plays lax at Trinity. That’s why he can get away with wearing that tattered old hoodie on the sidelines.
Well done, CC.
St. Michaels is preppier than Annapolis. And, beyond the state, Richmond and Charleston are preppier than both. Nashville gets a nod, as well as every Southern campus on game day.
As for prep school brand name and sport, neither do a “pure prep” make. (or do they? Do I smell a poll?) One of my colleagues played lacrosse for ten years, and is a self-professing slob who’d never be mistaken for an old line WASP.
But who cares, right? It’s game day. As CC said, enjoy.
While going to Andover and playing lacrosse (not to mention squash, which has nowhere near the mainstream popularity or commercialization of lacrosse today) didn’t make Bill Belichick a “pure prep,” it certainly seemed to rub off.
For one, Bill can clean up pretty well. Here’s a photo of him in an Andover Shop tie! http://photos.northofboston.com/Newspapers/Andover-Townsman/AT-Archive/2011/June-2011/i-PSR6VVs/0/M/110611_AT_TJE_BELICHICK_2.J-M.jpg
That being said, I think what perhaps rubbed off most is the nonchalance and slightly disheveled approach to clothing. I like to think of Bill’s look as the ultimate expression of the go-to-hell look. His cutoff sweatshirts scream “I don’t care what you think about what I’m wearing at all.” They offend good taste (like yours, CC), they offend Reebok/Nike, and they offend Goodell and the league.
He’s got some individualism, anyway, and I respect that. I’m a fan.
Here’s a question for you guys. What would you wear if you were coaching today? And by today I mean 2015 and you don’t exactly want to be mocked as the throwback guy.
I’m thinking the “Tea & Sympathy” formula of khakis, white canvas sneakers, blue oxford and grey sweatshirt. I think something like that looks timelessly sporty (NBA coaches look silly in business suits) but with a small nod to formality via the collared shirt.
When it’s a bit cooler, I think you could wear a tweed jacket with the sneakers and sweatshirts and not look silly at all.
When it’s very cold, a toggle coat (or even polo), but downplayed by the sweatshirt and perhaps a wool ball cap.
I just remembered this post, one of Ivy Style’s earliest:
http://www.ivy-style.com/boy-george.html
George Halas takes the trad cake with this soft shoulder 3/2
https://dubsism.wordpress.com/2011/01/14/why-you-shouldnt-cheer-for-the-chicago-bears/halas_spt-0917-08-01-386×336-lh/
I would go with OCBD in color closest to team color, rep tie with team colors, khakis or cords with team mascot, I agree with canvas sneaks, and needlepoint belt with team mascot (unless wearing the cords, don’t want to come off as an Archie). If cold throw on O’connells Sheltland Cable. If very cold, let my asst. coach fieldside and head to skybox.
I do not give Belichick a pass. Just bc you’re to the manner born doesn’t mean you can disregard your family’s sartorial traditions. And I agree with SE, my native South has the corner on “prepdom.”
Belichick is a documented liar and cheater
The coaches in the NFL have to wear league approved threads on the sideline with logos and colors. Major colleges have the same type agreement with the uniform manufacturers for coaches.
That is why dapper dressers like Paul Brown, Tom Landry and George Halas are gone forever. We are stuck with the Belichicks, Carrolls and Rex Ryans.
If you want flare, check out European football (soccer) coaches. They’re frequently wearing very trim dark suits. Not exactly ivy, but it’s stylish nonetheless.
Rick Pitino, coach of Louisville basketball, the other day was wearing on the sidelines against North Carolina a white suit, with a very wide tie that made a thick fist of a knot in white and orange. I kid you not. Roy Williams, slightly less loud, was wearing a jacket with large, thick exaggerated blue checks. They looked like a vaudeville routine.
Coaches can’t wear nice clothes because they might end up with a bucket of Gatorade poured over their head.
I like Jim Harbaugh’s unvarying uniform. Even in Green Bay’s sub zero temps he wore the same thing, just layered up. Plus he’s so entertaining.
http://larrybrownsports.com/football/jim-harbaugh-clothes-khaki-fat-michelin-man/215832
The problem with your “What would you wear if you were coaching today?” question is that NFL coaches don’t have a choice. They must wear something with NFL/Team logos.
A few years ago when Mike Nolan became coach of the 49ers, he wore a suite and tie to pay tribute to his father’s (Dick Nolan) style as a head coach. He was fined and had to give it up for an NFL mandated outfit. That’s why you don’t see anyone dressing like Vince Lombardi, Tom Landry or Allie Sherman anymore.
http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Mike-Nolan-scores-one-for-the-suit-2522877.php
RJG, I watched a few minutes of that game. “Vaudeville routine”–yes.
I am beginning to think those FNB-Talk Ivy lads have it mostly right. “Ivy” is basically about wanting to look like the cool crowd circa the late 50s and much of the 60s. There are all sorts of ways to depart from this subtle, tasteful look–including shiny, heavily padded suits and wide, loud ties.
Reflecting a bit, it seems the Patriots coach is wearing what a lot of male undergrads wore after class was dismissed–gray sweatshirt, khakis. We might think better of him if it was s crew neck with an OCBD underneath, paired with canvas sneakers. But one can’t be John Cheever all the time.
…or can one?
Of possible interest here, Ivy presence in the Super Bowl:
http://www.ivyleaguesports.com/sports/fball/2014-15/releases/Ivy_League_Presence_in_Super_Bowl_XLIX
“A few years ago when Mike Nolan became coach of the 49ers, he wore a suite and tie to pay tribute to his father’s (Dick Nolan) style as a head coach. He was fined and had to give it up for an NFL mandated outfit.”
Mike Nolan wore a REEBOK suit on the sidelines. You could see the slightly raised logo on the breast pocket.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Nolan#Suit_issue
” In the new NFL policy, coaches were allowed to wear a full suit for only two home games per season. The suits were designed, marketed and labeled under the Reebok corporation. Nolan debuted the suit in a game at home against the Seattle Seahawks on November 19, 2006. A day later, Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Jack Del Rio sported another Reebok suit on Monday Night Football.
After further lobbying by Nolan, the NFL and Reebok reached an agreement to allow suits to be worn at all home games in the 2007 season.[5]
After his firing from the 49ers, however, he has simply worn team-issued apparel in all subsequent coaching jobs.”
Good to see a fellow Fordham man (Vince) on Ivy Style!