The Great Debate Takes A Turn

Been doing this for a few years now, and there are a few questions that are fun to return to. One of my favorites is whether or not Ralph Lauren is Ivy. My assertion is… no. I do have two great Ralph Lauren as a person stories though. As a person, definitely Ivy. One night,


Ties When You Don’t Have To Wear A Tie

I’ve reprinted this photo on the site before, because it is the foundation for my whole summer look. White OCBD, rolled up everything, hair a little too long. Over at the FB Group I am featuring 22 pieces from Andover, in celebration of their 75th anniversary. Today’s is this turtle tie: … which got me


Watch Andover.

This year, Andover turns 75. To celebrate, we are starting an initiative over at the FB group. 22 pieces, one featured a day. Some of these are anniversary pieces to commemorate. Date yet to be announced but I will be attending their 75th anniversary and doing an Ivy-Style podcast with Constantine Valhouli. You want to


Happy Father’s Day!

When we had Gramercy, I worried about money to an electrician friend of mine who was a grandfather. He said, “You know what she is going to want the most?” I said, “What?” He said, “You.” To all the fathers who answer the calling.




Questions I Got Over At FB and My Answers: Part One

So over at FB people write me questions from time to time privately. In case you aren’t over there with us (and a lot of you are not, and I get it, we don’t need another comment on how you don’t do FB) I thought it would be interesting to place them here. I am


Chuck Taylors Are Magnetic North For Ivy

That’s a great drawing of Chuck Taylors, right? So classic, in fact, that there is even a video that will teach you how to draw them. So The Amazing Tom sent me an article from the Wall Street Journal (it is pay walled) about alternatives to Chuck Taylors. It is written by Nathan Taylor Pemberton


For Online Shoppers

I got an ad in my FB feed from Brooks offering amazing deals, and I should have known better. So I went to the site and put a bunch of stuff in my cart, but the process was a little hinky so I clicked on about us and… I’m no expert but… Just an advisory


The Scent Of Madras (not the city or the fabric).

We used to have a boat. The guy that sold it to me was named Harvey. We looked at a lot of boats before we settled on one, and every time we went below I held my breath like a pearl diver because Harvey wore this cologne that you had to squint to see through.


“The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same.”

Julia Harris from the FB Group, reprinted with permission. Julia posted this on the FB group and I thought it was an interesting question for here as well: Julia Harris  This is a picture my partner took of me 6 years ago, well after I grew familiar with tailoring but well before I had even


In Remembrance

The cover photo, and the photo below, are of Memorial Day parades in 1955, the cover is Texas, the one below is Pennsylvania. “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words but to live by them.” – JFK


RIFFS by G. Bruce Boyer

RIFFS by G. Bruce Boyer is available on Amazon. G. Bruce Boyer G. Bruce Boyer has had, without debate, the greatest career in men’s fashion journalism. For those of you new to Ivy and this site, Mr. Boyer’s resume’ reads something like this: Fashion Editor/GQ. Fashion Editor/Esquire. Fashion Editor/Town & Country. Eight books before RIFFS.





Jay Butler Has Taken Away Your Last Excuse

The recent reviews of Jay Butler shoes in the comments on the site have been great to read. You have to start with this. Jay Butler shoes look like loafers and wear like moccasins. That is because they are constructed differently. They are crazy durable (been two years, wear mine at least 4 times a