Writers Block
In 1962 Life ran a group of photos of American authors. Pictured above is James Baldwin, while below is Philip Roth. John O’Hara: Herman Wouk: Peter De Vries: Harrison Salisbury:
At Least We Get To Keep The Clothes
Today a conservative New York Times columnist waxed poetic about the virtues of the former WASP establishment. You can imagine how well that went over. Looks like their most lasting contribution to American culture will be their clothing. — CC
The Prep Revival Is Just Getting Started: RB x JP, Party Pix, And GQ Feature
Last Friday Richard Press, the team from J. Squeeze, DCG aka The Millennial Fogey, and myself gathered at the Rowing Blazers shop in downtown NYC for a shindig celebrating the latest RB collaboration. It’s with none other than J. Press, and consists of what you might call a postmodern branding of the iconic Shaggy Dog. …
GHWB, WASPER
A friend forwarded the following from Greenwich County Day School, regarding President Bush: Honoring President George H.W. Bush GCDS Class of 1937 From Adam Rohdie, Headmaster On November 30, America and the global community lost a leader and statesman whose life is a testament to the power of service and an enduring commitment to …
By George He’s Got It: Is Bush 41 Our Preppiest Prez?
Another look back at our previous posts about President Bush. * * * On Wednesday George HW Bush celebrated his 89th birthday, and well-wishers were encouraged to honor the occasion by donning whimsical socks. Go-to-hell hosiery has become Bush’s trademark now that he’s at that age when dressing becomes something of a challenge. Although JFK …
Solid Tie, Striped Watchband: GHWB & The Preppy Wrist
In remembrance of George HW Bush, we revisit this post from 2013. * * * Last month we paid a style tribute to George HW Bush. But since then the preppiest prez has made news a couple more times, so we’ll give him an encore with a focus on one of his trademark style quirks. …
Golden Years: Read My Lips
“Destiny and Power,” Jon Meacham’s surprisingly vivid biography of former President George HW Bush, is Shakespearean in its depiction of family, power and public service. It also briefly described an incident from one of the great days in the life of 10-year-old Richard Press. My beloved uncle, State Senator and New Haven City Court Judge …
Bots Brothers: Brooks Introduces Innovative AI, Reverse Mentoring
No idea if Brooks plans to retro-innovate and reintroduce the styles and fabrics from the pre-’87 era, but it is taking a bold step forward with artificial intelligence. Multiple news sources reported today on a press conference Brooks gave yesterday, in which it claimed it will be the first to implement an end-to-end AI-powered platform. …
Remembering Ithaca Campus Shop Browning King
Previous Ivy Style features on Rowing Blazers triggered a memory of a boathouse named after a haberdasher that used to exist at the Cayuga inlet in Ithaca, New York. The Haskell Davidson Boathouse was built in 1973 and demolished in 2011. When the boathouse was dedicated in 1974, the Ithaca College crew was six years old. …
I Frankly Don’t Give A D—N
Recently a copyright lawyer came after me over a shot of Clark Gable I ran a number of years ago. I took that one down, but, undaunted, here’s another one of the Hollywood legend. There are still a few days left in November/Movember, enough to show that a pencil-think mustache goes with a buttondown collar. …
Remembering Virgil Marson, Andover Shop Co-Owner— Updated
Due to the scarcity of images about Andover Shop co-owner Virgil Marson, this post from last month is being reposted with a new report from the memorial service, submitted by contributor ANV. The original news announcement can be found at the bottom of the page. * * * “Hi. My name is Nina Marson Roche, …
College Miscellany
Above: University of Pennsylvania, 1949. Below: MIT, 1956: Harvard Divinity School, 1955: Two from the University of Illinois, 1956: Brown, 1938: Tailgate party at Amherst, 1958: St. John’s, 1940:
Much To Be Thankful For, My Friends
Happy Thanksgiving, my natural-shouldered brethren. There’s so much to be thankful for, so let’s jump right in. For starters, as a follow-up to our spate of posts on the great RL, you can stop calling him “Uncle Ralphie” (never understood that one) and start calling him Sir Ralph. That’s right, after a lifetime of drawing …
Travel Day
Good luck on your travels today. According to reports, you’re going to need it.
NeoPrep Revival: Polo RL Spring 2019
Shaggy Dog season is upon us in most of the country. It’s certainly here for the Lauren family, as one member was in J. Press this weekend stocking up on brushed Shetlands. And that’s our springboard from winter to spring, as we take a look at the recently unveiled Spring 2019 Polo collection. Neo-prep is …
JFK’s Shawl-Cardigan Harvard Sweater Sells For $34K
JKF’s varsity/letterman/Joe College sweater would have been the ultimate garment to wear to The Game today, as Forbes reported earlier this week.
Backward Pass: A Short History of Ivy League Football
In honor of The Game today, Bill Stephenson shares his thoughts on Ivy League football. Stephenson graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 1954, but presently lives in Princeton, where he cheers for the home team, which ranks a bit lower. * * * It doesn’t seem possible to have had an exposure to college …
Welcome To The Prepocalypse
Are we in the midst of a preppy revival, or its final orgiastic-death throes-supernova? As with everything, there’s reason to believe both. But today let’s look at the notion of a prepocalypse. Last week LA-based designer Greg Lauren partnered with fashion brand KITH for a collection that was likened to a preppy apocalypse. The creative wellsprings …
The Seasonal School Tie
Contributor ANV shares this tidbit of sartorial esoterica. * * * Richard Press had said that the background color for neckties never went darker than navy blue. Similarly, the patrician wardrobe tends to avoid high contrast, except for formalwear. As a result, one rarely sees white or black in traditional necktie designs. But there are …