... Alex's post about his new Ivy jacket has made my day/week/month/year...
And it raises the thought of that ONE ITEM that opened up a whole new world for you -
- So what was yours?
I bought a load of stuff, but never had any kind of breakthrough until I bought a Troy shirt from Mr. Simons: £42, Blue/White Candy stripe, flap-pocket OCBD.
Wine Eastland Beefrolls were the next Saturday's purchase...
- But that first JS shirt was the breakthrough item - I looked in a very different way at all my old shirts from that moment onwards.
- Plus the atmosphere & service of No. 2, Russell Street was under my skin from second one, minute one, day one, over in Covent Garden.
I'd found another world.
- So what's your take on all this? What was that first item that really 'did it' for you?
Best -
Jim
This phenonmenon does not and cannot exist for me. I've dressed more or less the way I do since I was a wee bairn.
Last edited by Russell_Street (2009-10-17 12:36:31)
Last edited by AQG (2009-10-17 12:43:54)
Did you feel that you had ONE item that in some way summed up your style back then, or was it just a combination of items?
^ This is asking a lot after all those years. Sorry.
1950s Navy gabardine sack suit. It was my first real introduction to Ivy. I had been into vintage but it was sort of all lumped together as just "vintage." There was something about it that just worked for me, and I learned it was the shoulder. Also my first real intro to tailoring, as I had that suit cut way down for a slimmer look.
The first aha moment I had with Ivy Style came pre-AAAT probably six years ago. I picked up an RL Polo Blue label jacket at a NM outlet. I liked the fit of the jacket much better than any other coat I owned. I realized that it was the shoulders. No padding. I loved the way it fit and looked (and still do). For me the most important aspect of the look is the natural shoulders in the jacket. I will not purchase another without a natural shoulder. Everything else is negotiable.
Last edited by The Thin Repp (2009-10-17 17:20:06)
for me, the REAL beginning would be my childhood, like many others here. growing up through the 80s my parents dressed me in little kid loafers, polos and the like. I strayed, naturally, in high school, but came back around to dressing sharp my senior year. I got a new pair of glasses, by Brooks Brothers. They brought to mind going with my dad to the store and admiring all of the sweet suits and the like. 10 years later, and I am back around to dressing as nicely as possible, and the current "ivy" influence would have to also include an appreciation of button-down collars. Once I decided that they looked just how I wanted on me there has been no turning back.
It all clicked for me when I found a Mayfair in the bushes near school...
Last edited by Russell_Street (2009-10-19 03:04:32)
I'll take the link down in Five Mins out of fairness to the sleeping FNB & Jeeves.
Ahh, whatever happened to porno mags in bushes and white dog shit? Happy days Uncle...
White dog shit!
And old ladies with one built-up shoe...
Memories.
We certainly paint a lovely picture of 60's and 70's Britain Jim old boy. Porn, shit and disability. Was there anything else... Oh yes, spangles!
Porn in the bushes! Yes, you're right. I came across it (ha!) on a number of occasions in 78/79, but why? Did folk go to the bushes to masturbate back then or am I being horribly naive?
GG