Ivy Style continues its decade-long honoring of Black History Month with a tribute to Sidney Poitier. The actor, who is aged 93, hails from the Bahamas and also served as the Bahamian ambassador to Japan. In 1964 he became the first man of African descent to win the Best Actor award for his performance in “Lilies Of The Field.” During the heyday of the Ivy League Look, Poitier wore buttondowns, knit and rep ties, blazers, and grey flannel suits, just like every other clued-in working professional. In 1968 he made a film with the fitting title “For Love Of Ivy,” though the Ivy in this case refers to his character’s love interest and not his wardrobe. In the last photo, on the night he received his Academy Award, Poitier demonstrates how a man is supposed to dress for an event when the women wear floor-length gowns. — CHRISTIAN CHENSVOLD
Classy, occasion-appropriate clothing; classy human being.
What a classy gentleman!
I was glad to see that you changed “just like his fellow Americans ” to “just like every other clued-in working professional.”
Ivy style may have been widespread, but it was never as widespread as some might believe.
Let us not forget that he is Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
He got his Oscar as Best Actor competing against some giants:
https://youtu.be/qCzTyxXPy1o
Christian — Wonderful photos. I thought you recently said that you did not like triple patch pockets like those on the jacket at the top. I must have misunderstood. I tend to agree with those who find them unfriendly to a pocket square, but of course they are very traditional, especially for true blazers, and it is certainly not a deal breaker for me. Assuming it is navy blue, I would prefer gold or brass buttons, though.
Greetings “Charlottesville,” my fellow pinned-club man, and hope you’ve been well. Alas I think you may be over-scrutinizing things. It is true that I find a triple-patch jacket to have one patch too many, but that doesn’t prevent me from admiring how great Poitier looks in the first photo. The Corneliani reference was for the overall silhouette; the jacket I have that the photo reminds me of doesn’t have any patch pockets at all!
Thanks, Christian. I am unpinned today, but otherwise quite well. Mr. Poitier does indeed look good in the jacket in the top photo (from To Sir with Love, perhaps?). I suppose the KBE gives new meaning to that film’s title. In future I shall attempt to scrutinize comments such as “I’ve a jacket just like that” less diligently. In that spirit, I note that I look exactly like Cary Grant in The Grass is Greener. 🙂
I don’t think “Lilies Of The Field” was Poitier’s best performance, but he is a class act and has Best Actor quality ability. I just don’t think it’s his best film.
When I see images of another great actor Anne Bancroft I think what a lucky man Mel Brooks was.
He is one of those actors that you cannot take your eyes off of. Even as a young man in films like No Way Out and Blackboard Jungle, Poitier was riveting.
Best Regards,
Heinz-Ulrich
David Brent’s favourite actor.
Sidney turns age 94 on Saturday.
Happy Birthday!