Re-igniting 'The Back of the Book', as it were. 1959. Discuss at length.
From what I have read, American "Trad" relies heavily on imported British products. Examples include Barbour jackets, Baracuta "Harrington" jackets, raincoats from Grenfell or Macintosh, Thurston braces, Atkinson Irish poplin ties, shetland jumpers, Harris tweed jackets, shaving products from Trumpers etc and even covert coats.
I consider the real American Trad to be OCBD shirts, striped repp ties, madras shirts and shorts, sack suits and jackets with hook vents, seersucker suits, Nantucket red clothing, chinos with ducks etc, white buck shoes, LL Bean hunting boots, cordovan shoes, Polo coats, ribbon belts and ribbon watch straps.
My personal taste is traditional British clothing, e.g. most of the items in the first paragraphs. However, 90% of my wardrobe comes from Huntsman, Cordings, John Smedley, Drake's, Budd, H&K, T&A, C&J and Tricker's. I cannot see the need for Brits to dress "Ivy" when we have our own fine traditional clothing which is the basis for American Trad .
Last edited by Bishop of Briggs (2010-08-14 06:07:49)
Some just do like the 'alien-ness' of it all.
Another good one Mr. Quay.
But 'Trad's' claim to authenticity was that it was THE American Tradition. Then we got given a 'Preppy' shopping list from 'The Godfather of Trad'...
The big picture is indeed the real picture. My only point, if I ever had one, was that what was being sold to the punters on AAAT was not 'THE' anything.
Manton supported 'Trad' as the real deal as we'll all recall with joy as the years pass by, and so the whole joke was well worth it to show up that iFool amongst various others.
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The big problem is the obsession with class, in the US as well as Britain. That obsession led to both the Official Preppy Handbook (1980) and the Official Sloane Ranger Handbook (1982). I could not identify with the Hooray Henry stereotype and stayed clear of several good brands as a result.
The purpose of my earlier post was to distinguish between imported Ivy/Trad from and real American traditional clothing. A Briton wearing LL Bean hunting boots and embroidered chinos would receive strange looks from his fellow countrymen.
Interestingly, this year's fashions on the British high street were based on American traditional clothing. Notable examples were lots of madras shirts (e.g. Uniqlo) and deck shoes (Sperry's everywhere). Fred Perry's range was typical.
Nevertheless, I hope someone takes RS up on his desire to be challenged, to have things ground into the dirt. Would be much fun!
Indeed, where is Harris? Where are the Knights who go Tradeeee?
Ouch! The cold light of day. Again.
Yes. A joke. Endlessly presented as a crusade, a game, a quest for truth, but in reality nothing more than taking a long stick and poking the inmates at Bedlam through the railings.
... As I'm sure my 'Sainted' Forefathers probably did, their breath redolent of Quince & Walnuts, and with some Spitalfields Doxy by their side...
Now there was a Gentlemanly era. Why else do I live in a 1763 ruin?
To combine the dear old Ivy Look with the mores of the 18th Century would be such fun...
More like baiting Hunks and Sackerson. See Edith Sitwell.
Not bad for a Sunday morning, Uncle. How's every little thing with you?
... I do have to stress that I am deadly serious in my joking though. In the usual English way.
I do believe that 'to troll' in Internet speak is to have a bit of a giggle.
"There's one thing you can say about that Laughing Cavalier, Dud..."