On the Coffee Table: Hollywood and the Ivy Look

"Hollywood and the Ivy Look" is the definitive reference book of preppy American style as popularized by young Hollywood actors from 1955 to 1965.  It features many previously unreleased, full-page photographs of Hollywood style icons, and also includes behind-the-scenes shots from the films that helped cement the "ivy look" into the young American style consciousness at the time.  With minimal, yet amusing and interesting text, it's clearly all about the gorgeous pictures and the appreciation of classic men's fashion.  The relaxed and effortless approach to fashion as demonstrated by these Hollywood men is what inspires my own personal style and attitude.

Published by Reel Art Press and written by Tony Nourmand, a specialist in entertainment imagery, and Graham Marsh, who also authored "The Ivy Look: Classic American Clothing-A Pocket Guide," this book is a worthy addition to any preppy enthusiast's library.

Above images via Reel Art Press

Knot Yourself

I think this promotion for Alexander Olch neckwear is quite clever and very well done.  There is nothing sexier than a woman wearing a necktie...well, perhaps sans moustache.  Starring the lovely Aurélie Claudel, a tutorial on the four-in-hand knot...

Wild West Wedding

Image via Vogue

Two weeks ago Vogue published the exclusive photos from David Lauren and wife, Lauren Bush's, Western-inspired wedding, which took place at Ralph's  Double RL ranch in Colorado this past Labor Day weekend.  With Ralph Lauren as the groom's father, it's no surprise that the event combined classic elegance with true American flair.  Ralph Lauren designed the bride's gown himself in an antique tulle with Swarovski crystal, bead, and pearl details.  Along with David's Old West inspired tux and boots, I think this aesthetic is quite awesome.


Check out the rest of the photos featured in Vogue and read the article here.  

Hail the Wale!

Image via Corduroy Appreciation Club

Today is 11|11|11, which means it's Corduroy Appreciation Day - the day of the year that most closely resembles Corduroy fabric.  The Corduroy Appreciation Club of New York, dedicated to the celebration of the "King's thread", has already been celebrating the fabric for the past 11 days leading up to today with Corduroy related events...see what went down here.  


Today events will be held across the country from New York City to Portland, Oregon where Corduroy enthusiast rejoice and layer up - attendees must abide by a "Three Item Rule" and wear at least three items of Corduroy.


In addition the club gave away 111 pairs of Official Corduroy Club Pants made by Betabrand, the makers of Cordarounds - a horizontal take on Corduroy pants.

Cordarounds

Images via Betabrand

I also like these skinny Corduroy ties made especially for the club.  They're something different to pep up your fall style.  Happy Corduroy Appreciation Day and "Hail the Wale"!

Image via Corduroy Appreciation Club

Hats Off to the '70s

Fashion in the 1970s has often garnered a bad reputation.  However, aside from those bell bottoms and polyester hanging in the closet, this week the Mr. Porter Journal takes a look at some classic looks sported by several iconic men in Hollywood and "How They Wore the 1970's."

Image via Mr. Porter Journal

I love how the article gives advice on some subtle ways to hat-tip and cut the decade some slack when it comes to men's style.  One of my favorites is the tweed lined trench worn by Ryan O'Neal in Love Story.  They suggest a Ralph Lauren Purple Label trench, but for a fraction of the price, I think this Rugby one looks just as dashing.  It's a perfect example of a piece that just never goes out of style.  Check out the slideshow for the rest of these great retro looks.


Aside from this article, the entire weekly issue of the Mr. Porter Journal is dubbed "the Retro Issue," full of interesting head-nods and shop-able looks.  Read more here! 

Holy Cow!: The Monk Strap

Sid Mashburn via GQ

I have always admired the simplicity and sophistication of the monk strap style shoe.  As its namesake suggests, it was modeled after a centuries old tradition of buckled footwear worn by monks in Europe.  According to legend, the first pairs were worn by friars in the Italian Alps during the fifteenth century.  Upon visiting his fellow clergymen in Italy, an English friar, impressed with their simplicity, took home a pair, where they became an instant hit.


Touted for their comfort, as a result of a wider tongue than traditional lace-ups and buckle closure on the side, the monk is the perfect shoe for day and night.  Made in both single and double strap, plain or cap-toe, brogued or burnished, I prefer the subtle flair of a double strap and capped toe in a versatile burnished brown.  It strikes the right balance, worn either dressed-up or casual, and personally, I think they're just nice to look at.

Image via JohnLobb

When it comes to monks, John Lobb, the revered English bootmaker since 1849, makes the crème de la crème.  When Hermès acquired the company back in 1976, it left the original John Lobb bespoke shoe shop intact on St. James St, London.  The shop continues to produce bench-made shoes for discerning clients from around the world one shoe at a time.  Thanks to Hermès, however, ready-made shoes by John Lobb can be found at any of their shops around the world.

Image via SidMashburn

While the John Lobb William II Monk leaves something to be desired, the price tag at $1275 is not as alluring.  Enter Sid Mashburn, the Atlanta based clothier, who brings the same English bench-made appeal and killer styling at half the price.  Pictured at top, these shoes are the Real McCoy of versatility and style.  With the dedication of Mr. Mashburn to quality with respect to tradition, it is no wonder why these shoes are one of his most popular items.  Check out his inspiration, and browse the site for many more goodies.

The Tale of Green Horn

There is no doubt I love vintage eyewear.  While in college I always enjoyed perusing the local antique and flea markets around rural Maine looking for vintage treasures.  On one occasion, while exploring my collegiate town, I stumbled across a hidden gem tucked away in a second floor apartment downtown.  It is called Ed Welch Vintage Eyeglasses and Spectacles, and I had the pleasure of meeting the lovely couple who run the business.  After chatting with Ed, I learned that after over twenty years of collecting, he and his wife have amassed a warehouse full of vintage eyewear and supply their glasses and frames to optical shops and specialty stores across the country.  
Eventually I came across a pair of mint condition horn-rimmed frames circa 1965.  Not knowing exactly what I would do with a pair of non-prescription glasses, I purchased them anyway and set them on my shelf.

Recently, I have been into collecting vintage GQ magazines, and a couple of months ago I got a 1986 Woody Allen issue from Ebay, which included a feature on New York City.  There were a lot awesome finds in the magazine, but for the purpose of this story, there was an article entitled "Here is New York," highlighting the best finds of Manhattan.  One of which was Morgenthal Frederics Opticians, noted for its vintage inspired frames and tinting services.  Although many of the businesses in the article have since gone out of business, luckily Morgenthal Opticians still occupies the same corner at W. Broadway in SoHo.

The store is a really fun place just to browse, and the service was such that I am not surprised the store has been in business for so many years.  They can tint any frames in practically any color imaginable.  The dapper and knowlegable salesman helped me choose a bottle green tint that would stay true to the frame's vintage.  Completed in only a few days, and customized for my eyes, I scored a pair of custom, vintage sunglasses for half the price of any designer brand.  Check out the editorials from Oliver Peoples site on their Gregory Peck collection - looks awfully familiar!


I wear them everywhere and always get a ton of complements.  So without further ado, my vintage horn-rimmed sunglasses by Morgenthal Frederics...

It Runs in the Family

I finally feel like it is an appropriate time to start embracing fall fashion, and this Gant Fall/Winter preview really gets me in the mood for the coming autumn months.  It makes me want to unpack my sweaters and cords from the cedar closet and sip Pumpkin Spice Lattes, while strolling in the crisp fall air.  I love everything about this.




And the accompanying ad campaign photos...

Images via NYC-Fashion.com

The Best of Both Worlds: Isaia Autumn/Winter Collection

 In an interview with Details magazine a few years ago, heir and current head of the Isaia menswear brand, Gianluca Isaia, admitted, "If I am going to do something, I have to do it right."  Clearly Mr. Isaia's prerogative has payed off as the brand his father started back in the 1950s, has grown into one of the premier men's tailored clothing brands.  Based in Naples, Isaia focuses on striking a balance between traditional and modern styles, resulting in quality hand-crafted and practical garments.


The Autumn/Winter '11 Collection features a melange of heritage patterns and fabrics with modern cuts and detailing.  Combining tartans and wellies with fine Italian hand tailoring, I think this Scottish Highlands meets Neapolitan coast is really quite sharp - not to mention the MUTTON CHOPS! 

Images via Isaia

"They love to love, to be noticed, they are not afraid to stand out, they express themselves with a personal style, part gentleman, part dandy-like, unmistakenly stylish." - The Isaia "New Gent"

The Crossing of the Waters

Ah, it's that time of year again, when despite Mother Nature's best efforts, the apparel industry insists that we switch gears to the colder months ahead.  With Fall/Winter 2011 previews abound, I have been enjoying the flow of creativity, as many companies continue to expand their lifestyle branding.


One preview that particularly caught my eye was the short film "The Crossing of the Waters" by photographer Oliver Pilcher, which is actually originally from A/W '09, but is still airing on the UK menswear brand D.S. Dundee site.  


Set in the Highland countryside, the story follows a wise man and his horse as he narrates in appropriate Scottish brogue, based on the poem by Scottish author, Patrick Gordon Duff Pennington.  The words are beautiful and the imagery is equally as stunning.  Paired with classic British styling, this is one to turn the volume up!

Pinterest Virtual Pinboard

I am obsessed with this site!  Pinterest is a place where you can create online inspiration boards using everything you love on the web.  The website's goal is simple - "to connect everyone in the world through the things they find interesting."  It's a great way to organize your thoughts, and for visual people like me, seeing everything together looks awesome. 

My Inspiration Board

To promote a sense of community, new users must be invited by current users or they can request an invite from the site (the easier option).  Once you're in, it is incredibly easy to get started by installing the bookmarking tool and surfing the web.


Another cool feature is the ability to search other people's boards and "following" them.  If you find something you really like on another board, just simply "re-pin" it to your own board.  


My first board is a collection of things that inspire me and define my personal style acting as a complement to my blog.  I invite you to check out mine and encourage you to make your own. Get pinning!

Jack Wills in America

jackwills.com

Recently I was walking down Main St. in Westport, CT on one of those aimless shopping excursions just to get out of the house, when I noticed a new addition to the variety of familiar shops lining the street.  The sign above the door read "Jack Wills University Outfitters."  Somewhat intrigued, I walked past admiring the preppy fall outfits featured on the mannequins in the display window.  I decided to venture inside and browse the merchandise...


I was greeted by a girl in a pleasant floral sundress and encouraged to look around the tiny retail space.  The selection somewhat puzzled and intrigued me - amidst tee shirts and hoodies with branding and logos galore (à la Abercrombie & Fitch) were iconic British heritage garments.  What particularly caught my eye was a pair of hand made Oxford Brogues amidst an array of vintage trophies.  Also of note were the wool blazers in collaboration with the venerable Fox Brothers & Co., purveyors of "the finest handmade woolen cloth in the world" and founded in 1772.  The traditional British clothier Cordings of London also collaborated on some of the pants and jackets, which I was impressed by.  Check out this cool production video at the historic NPS shoe factory making the brogues...




I began chatting with another employee, who fittingly had a British accent, and found out that the store had only opened the day prior and that the popular "Fabulously British" company had been making a push within the last couple of years to open to the American market in locations ranging from Nantucket to Charlottesville.


Claiming on its website to purport "excess, adventure, and sexiness," I'm not sure Jack Wills is hitting its demographic in Westport, nonetheless, with the array of interesting preppy inspired garments and brand novelty, I'm sure it will do just fine.  Here is the JW Back to School Preview.




Relying mainly on word-of-mouth rather than traditional advertising techniques, with only a handful of locations nationwide, the company's marketing platform relies on its printed catalogue and seasonal events called JW Seasonnaires, such as the Jack Wills Varsity Polo Match, which took place this past June at the Gaurds Polo Club.  Here are the 2011 highlights...




On a final note, check out Jack Will's older brother line called Aubin & Wills, a similar idea but geared towards an older crowd.  The blog on the website is worth a visit, and there are plenty of other things to explore on the site.  For the time being here in the US we'll give Jack a go.

Intellectual Eyewear

Oliver Peoples continues to impress me with their attention to detail and appreciation for classic design.  It's times like these that I seriously envy those with less than perfect eye sight!  

Oliverpeoplesvintage.com

If I were in the market for frames, I would pick up the O'Malleys in light tortoise.  Frames like these will never go out of style, so picking up a pair of these limited editions and using them as sunglasses until you need the real thing isn't a bad idea or investment.  The OP Vintage Collection is perfect, timeless, preppy, style. 




I'm dying to spend an afternoon at Dragon Books and pick up this $4,450 first edition "The Catcher in the Rye" from 1951.  One can dream...

Oliverpeoplesvintage.com

New Haven Revisited

Despite its Scandinavian influence and recent Swiss buyout, I'm glad to see that Gant still holds strong to its New Haven roots.  After all, it was there that Bernard Gant established the Gant shirt company in 1948, and where it reopened in 2010.


Prized by male Yalies in the 1960s, the shirts were an instant success with their tailored details and locker loop - the loop on the back of the shirt invented by the company.  Although designed to hang in a gym locker, my mom remembers a more common practice of girls pulling the loop off of an unsuspecting perspective suitor.

This pre-fall '11 Gant Rugger video called "The New Haven Math Club" tips a hat to New Haven and incorporates some humor to boot.  Modeled after a retro educational video, its a little corny, especially the way the guy says "but-tons," but I was entertained nonetheless... and I liked the closing line - "if you dress smart, your mind will surely follow."

Great in Britain

Check out this awesome photography archive of Brits at work called Great in Britain, sponsored by Barbour.  Through submissions from across the nation the project hopes to create "a visual time capsule," which celebrates the diversity of people who make up the British countryside.   


Each month a winner is chosen, who receives a new Barbour Bedale jacket - fancy that!  Here are a few of my favs from the archive.

Photo by Elizabeth Evans

Photo by Elizabeth Evans

Photo by Jay Thompson

Photo by Edward Perry

And there are many more to see in the full archive!

His & Hers: Tennis Whites

After returning from a relaxing week of sun and sand, I am revitalized and anxious to update the SS.  


First, is this article that I came across in the WSJ coming off of last weeks Wimbledon tennis finals.  I really like these vintage inspired tennis whites - especially the men's Gant Rugger cricket sweater and Nylite Tretorn tennis shoes (however, I sport the classic white-on-whites).  Read the article if you haven't already, it's a neat retrospective in tennis wear history.

I will certainly continue to update more vigorously, now that I am on home-turf.  Keep an eye out for my July playlist coming shortly!

Looking Good with Put This On.com

Around this time of year, many of us are looking for summer jobs, or in my case real jobs, so I thought I would share this video from Put This On.com filled with tips on interviewing, looking good, and honoring tradition (sorry girls this one only covers the guys).  There is also a great interview with master of style and director Paul Feig.


It just so happens that Paul Feig is the man behind some of my favorite TV shows from Mad Men to 30 Rock to Arrested Development.  He also just finished directing Bridesmaids, which you should definitely see in theaters - very funny.  Mr. Feig really understands the meaning of being stylish without trying too hard and the power and confidence that comes with looking good.  I admire his sartorial philosophy.


Also noteworthy is the segment with Roxanna from Nerdboyfriend.com, a really cool blog that takes pictures of style icons and finds similar outfits available to purchase today.  This take on Tom Wolfe is classic. (For the records, The Right Stuff really is a great film and is Watch Instantly on Netflix!)


There are also many helpful pointers and tricks in this video, so take it from the guys at Put This On.com to look good and start taking yourself seriously...but never too seriously.  




For more helpful videos check out Putthison.com

To Judge a Book by Its Cover

Recently while strolling through the bookstore in search of some summer reading, I found myself ignoring the age-old idiom to not judge a book by its cover.  At the checkout counter I realized that inadvertently the cover of every book I chose had a visually striking or innovative cover.  As I opened my first book, I realized that it was designed by Chip Kidd, famous for his iconic Jurassic Park cover, and more recently the cover design of Lisa Birnbach's True Prep.  Kidd has designed covers for hundreds of books redefining literature as art. 

Image via Metropolismag.com

Dwell Magazine's "Design Leaders Film Series" offers a nice retrospective of Kidd's work in graphic design and also his extensive Batman collection.  He's a really fascinating guy with a great sense of humor, and this video will make you realize the visual influence of design and style.

The Dapper Stroke

The Strokes band member Albert Hammond Jr. has been known to sport a trademark three-piece suit and is generally noted as one of the most sartorially inclined of the bunch.  Back in 2008 while on hiatus from the group and pursuing his solo career, he collaborated with the LA stylist Ilaria Urbinati to make a line of vintage inspired luxury suiting.  In an interview with gq.com he described the looks as “a good mix of old man, hunter, and seventies rock ‘n’ roll.”  I like these...

Above images by Eric Ray Davidson via GQ