Articles by Christian


Forever Prep In Virginia

Recently dispatched to my inbox is a 2011 article called “Forever Prep” that ran in the magazine Virginia Living. Pegged on the release of Lisa Birnbach’s “True Prep,” it’s a lengthy piece that examines the Virginian branch of the WASPy, preppy tree. Author Caroline Kettlewell opines on how it was, how it is, and even throws


Ideal For Lounging About: Bass Weejuns, 1936

It’s already time to dip into the Esquire archives again. This one was spotted by Marc Chevalier, walking menswear encyclopedia and member of Ivy Style’s Facebook group. The ad above dates to August 1936, less than one year after Esquire had helped introduce the Bass Weejun to the nation. Two months later, there was this


Cheap Sheep: Harley Of Scotland Brushed Shetland Crewnecks

I can’t remember exactly what J. Press’ Shaggy Dog sweaters cost when this site was founded in 2008, but it was a lot less than the $245 they’re charging today: Even pricier, Ralph Lauren has some brushed lambswool and cashmere crewnecks this season at $265. At least there’s a bubble-gum pink option: At those prices,


Brooks Cancels Own Make, Says Will Keep Styles

Brooks Brothers’ media relations department has confirmed a rumor posted by a commenter here that the company plans to discontinue the Own Make collection. A spokesperson issued the following statement to Ivy Style: Own Make was a small range and an even smaller part of the business sold in a handful of retail stores. We


Esquire’s League Of The Ivy Look, 1961

Esquire recently made its entire archival history available online. For a mere $4.99 per month you can digitally browse every issue it ever published. I’m sure the folks at Hearst Media wouldn’t mind if we occasionally share the findings, as long as we give Esquire Classic a free plug. The image above is a two-page


Final Thoughts: Searching For The C In PC

As we bring PC Week to a close, I’d like to address why I thought it worthwhile to broach this issue that is so contentious on college campuses. In wondering how to close things out, I found myself pondering the “correct” in political correctness. Can we pursue the “correct” without the “political”? PC by definition


Golden Years: Politically Incorrect In The Heyday

During the Ivy heyday, before the Free Speech Movement, discourse on college campuses was largely the opposite of today. Pro-establishment speech was politically correct, while anti-establishment speech was incorrect. Richard Press reminds us that while the tables have turned, there has always been speech that is discouraged. * * * Professor Herb West delivered his


Hotbed Of Indignation: Roger Ebert On PCU

I had just left college when the movie “PCU” came out in 1994, and I was barely familiar with the term “politically correct.” I had probably first heard it from a guy I’d occasionally run into in the quad, who handed out fliers and held a clipboard. He was one of the few guys who,




Cast Your Vote: Is Trad Politically Incorrect?

According to the season opener of “South Park,” which aired last month, political correctness is back with a vengeance. Its shelf life in the ’90s was about six years, says a character in the show, adding that we’ve got 5.9 more years to go before people start to chill out. In the meantime, you can


Privileged Vessel: College Rejects Yacht Club Proposal As Elitist

The student government at Pitzer College, a small private school located in Los Angeles, has rejected the request to fund a yacht club on the grounds that it would be inherently exclusive and that the term “yacht” is offensive. Thurston Howell III would probably agree. The college plans, however, to fund a new tattoo club.



Lewis H. Lapham On Clothes, Yale, And The Product Placement Of Self

If you find yourself in the properly reflective and curious frame of mind to handle a weighty intellectual essay, there’s a piece in the current issue of Lapham’s Quarterly that you should sit down to with a full cup of tea. The periodical was founded by Lewis H. Lapham, who is also the editor emeritus


A Trad Community In Cape Cod

With apologies to Patti Page, if you’re fond of sand dunes and salty air, you’re sure to fall in love with old Cape Cod Community College. Or at least be intrigued by the photos taken on campus from 1961-1966. We don’t usually drill down to the community college level, but oddly enough, due to the


Secrets Of 346 Madison Avenue

This year marks the 100th anniversary of Brooks Brothers‘ flagship at 44th and Madison*, and yesterday Town & Country put up a fun post called “11 secrets from Brooks Brothers’ past revealed.” No mention of an internal memo to do away with collar roll. — CC *Photo above is actually of Wall Street location.


PhD In Style: Famous Cinematic Professors

Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society”   We return to our Professor Week coverage with a gallery of film dons (and a few schoolteachers). The list must be endless, so let us know who else belongs here. Above, Robin Williams in “Dead Poets Society.” Below, John Houseman as a Harvard Law professor in 1973’s “Paper


Seventh Anniversary And Ask Me Anything At Reddit

Today marks the seventh anniversary of Ivy-Style.com. We’ve now produced 1,233 posts by several dozen contributors, with no end in sight. As per tradition, let’s review the highlights of the past year. • At the top of the list must surely be the addition of our new Millennial Fogey columnist Daniel C. Greenwood, who has