There is a lot of stuff around on pink. I'm on the hop now but from memory pink was the manly colour and what young baby boys were dressed in. This was the dominant theme up until fairly recently I think around the early 1900 I think is when it changed to pink for girls.

At least here in Melbourne there was a stage not too many years ago when everyone seemed to be wearing pink shirts. Pink pols were big, plus pink casual shirts on young blokes and pink shirts with ties and suits in the CBD. I still see a bit around and it's usually a pale pink or a deeper pink, it wouldn't  raise an eyebrow in most baordrooms here unless too bright and candy. I don't know what it's like in the less sophisticated places, like Sydney, but Prince Nez and Meister, the only two men on Sydney who wear ties might chime in.

fxh wrote:

At least here in Melbourne there was a stage not too many years ago when everyone seemed to be wearing pink shirts. Pink pols were big, plus pink casual shirts on young blokes and pink shirts with ties and suits in the CBD. I still see a bit around and it's usually a pale pink or a deeper pink, it wouldn't  raise an eyebrow in most baordrooms here unless too bright and candy. I don't know what it's like in the less sophisticated places, like Sydney, but Prince Nez and Meister, the only two men on Sydney who wear ties might chime in.

I agree with your observation about pink shirt trends. There were a lot of them a couple of years back, but to be honest I rarely see them worn by men (or women come to think of it) now. I recall that even some of the most slovenly men I used to work with wore pink shirts on occasion (whether they were the result of washing their white shirts with a pair of red undies I'm not entirely certain), though now shades of blue seem to be the almost unanimous choice for Sydney men.

As I recall, "metrosexual" was a tag that used to be considered a compliment until recently; men actually wanted for a while to be identified as well-groomed SNAGs and as such adopted what they thought was an integral part of the metrosexual uniform - the pink shirt. But over recent years there has been a noticeable backlash against the "metrosexual" and some of the feminist elements he personified. Now it's a bit more about being a blokey Aussie bloke, and as such the pink shirt has fallen out of favour with the majority of men who are already insecure about their masculinity.

Then again the lack of preference for pink could also be a symptom of the economic uncertainty in much of the country, and the fact we haven't had a real summer for a few years. That kind of stuff probably dissuades many people from wearing anything too bright.

Film Noir Buff wrote:

fxh wrote:

Sorting out the laundry I thought I'd try to do that artistic, casual yet careful, thing that FNB does with the shirts,  but it just looks like I chucked them on the table. url]

The photos I posted above are of shirts awaiting completion at my shirt makers. I didnt realize I had started an art movement .

He took out a pile of shirts and began throwing them, one by one, before us, shirts of sheer linen and thick silk and fine flannel, which lost their folds as they fell and covered the table in many-colored disarray.

While we admired he brought more and the soft rich heap mounted higher--shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange, and monograms of Indian blue. Suddenly, with a strained sound, Daisy bent her head into the shirts and began to cry stormily.  "They're such beautiful shirts", she sobbed, her voice muffled in thick folds. "It makes me sad because I've never seen such such beautiful shirts before."

Last edited by fxh (2012-03-08 06:56:48)

Film Noir Buff wrote:

formby wrote:

Film Noir Buff wrote:

And the approach to color is probably a result of the western way of warfare, very plain and direct, thus the interest in primary colors, rather than a million shades.

Flowers also play a role in English color choices as well ass the bleak sky which influences the intensity and tone of those colors.

I know that Saxon colors were very basic as well, part of that was a lack of sophistication with dyes and shading but also with paints used on shield colors. Only the most primary reds, blues and yellows would give even coats that yielded recognition at a distance.

Wool itself was considered a peasant or working mans cloth until the English elevated it to the level of gentility courtesy of Brummel and HRH the Prince of Wales.

I'm not sure where the love of pink comes from though. I do know that the Victorians originally dressed baby boys in pink and baby girls in blue. So...

The British got a lot of their weaving expertise (even though they had been weaving and exporting cloth to the continent for centuries beforehand) from Flemish settlers who were encouraged to move here by Edward III in the 14c. Later came the Huguenots fleeing persecution in France who in doing so practically decimated their own silk weaving industry. Their loss was our...

From an industrial perspective an over reliance on the textile industry was sadly to play a part in our industrial undoing.

Probably it arose during the sexual revolution because it appealed to women. Then there's Pink Floyd...

Looking at archival stuff, Pink was in gear during the sixties but I dont see a lot of pink things before that. If someone has a wealth of information regarding pink/lilac established in mens clothing before that, I would love to get the references.

Brooks pink button down oxford shirts at least since 1900 and a big boom around 1955 (very popular both with the heaviest grey flannel three piece suits and with the lightest blue and white striped seersucker sack suits, important accessoire with the pink shirts were narrow black silk knit ties)...



In the May 2 issue, LIFE declared 1955 “The Peak Year for Pink,” writing:


    The color that women have traditionally appropriated from babyhood has taken a turn in the other direction. Across the U.S. a pink peak in male clothing has been reached as manufacturers have saturated more and more of their output with the pretty pastel. Against the charcoal  gray with which it is usually worn, pink is shown here in almost everything short of a trench coat — even in a golf jacket and a dinner jacket. Now more of a staple than a luxury, the color is even acceptable to teen-age boys.

    Like most male fashions, including the Ivy League Look, this pink hue and cry has taken  some time to develop. Sole responsibility lies with New York’s Brooks Brothers, whose pink shirt, introduced in 1900 but long unnoticed, was publicized for college girls in 1949 and caught on for men too. Already being copied in clothes by such rival bon-bon colors as light green and lavender, pink is heading into home furnishings.


http://www.ivy-style.com/the-day-brooks … -pink.html

Last edited by Hard Bop Hank (2012-03-09 10:19:52)

fxh wrote:

ooey - careful with the jazz / colours/ tonal/ music / coltrane/ Miles  thingo - it will freak out the dudes over here on the Wardrobe* , who aren't used to your IVY musings.

* their musical tastes run to Backman Turner Overdrive Greatest Hits.

Loved me some BTO in my 8-track days ...

Hard Bop Hank wrote:

Film Noir Buff wrote:

formby wrote:

I'm not sure where the love of pink comes from though. I do know that the Victorians originally dressed baby boys in pink and baby girls in blue. So...

The British got a lot of their weaving expertise (even though they had been weaving and exporting cloth to the continent for centuries beforehand) from Flemish settlers who were encouraged to move here by Edward III in the 14c. Later came the Huguenots fleeing persecution in France who in doing so practically decimated their own silk weaving industry. Their loss was our...

From an industrial perspective an over reliance on the textile industry was sadly to play a part in our industrial undoing.

Probably it arose during the sexual revolution because it appealed to women. Then there's Pink Floyd...

Looking at archival stuff, Pink was in gear during the sixties but I dont see a lot of pink things before that. If someone has a wealth of information regarding pink/lilac established in mens clothing before that, I would love to get the references.

Brooks pink button down oxford shirts at least since 1900 and a big boom around 1955 (very popular both with the heaviest grey flannel three piece suits and with the lightest blue and white striped seersucker sack suits, important accessoire with the pink shirts were narrow black silk knit ties)...

http://www.ivy-style.com/wp-content/upl … /pink2.jpg

In the May 2 issue, LIFE declared 1955 “The Peak Year for Pink,” writing:


    The color that women have traditionally appropriated from babyhood has taken a turn in the other direction. Across the U.S. a pink peak in male clothing has been reached as manufacturers have saturated more and more of their output with the pretty pastel. Against the charcoal  gray with which it is usually worn, pink is shown here in almost everything short of a trench coat — even in a golf jacket and a dinner jacket. Now more of a staple than a luxury, the color is even acceptable to teen-age boys.

    Like most male fashions, including the Ivy League Look, this pink hue and cry has taken  some time to develop. Sole responsibility lies with New York’s Brooks Brothers, whose pink shirt, introduced in 1900 but long unnoticed, was publicized for college girls in 1949 and caught on for men too. Already being copied in clothes by such rival bon-bon colors as light green and lavender, pink is heading into home furnishings.


http://www.ivy-style.com/the-day-brooks … -pink.html

I can't vouch for fly over country but pink was always right for nice young men from the suburbs. Years ago, I rememebr meeting some morgan stanley bankers my father knew and one of them had a pink bengal striped shirt. For that time and place in the nineties, when the style the was for very plain shirts at  a bank which was  bastion of people from the right families but serving a country even more conservative and insular than brooks brothers, that shirt had to test as acceptable. Also, that man was a real square which means he mustve seen the choice as mainstream.

formby wrote:

Film Noir Buff wrote:

formby wrote:

Very funky.

Out of interest what cloth is that jacket?

It is great for a certain young, party vibe. But, frankly, I could wear it for more uses than it was originally intended because the way it is cut has aa harmonious effect on the busy pattern. Colors are amazing. I think I wont wear it for a casual wamazing,bthough.

That jacket I think was a dormeuil cashmere and vicuna from a while back.

I thought it was some cashmere mix/camelhair type cloth as it has that 'lofty' look typical of those cloths.

I like the look, the shirt seems to have some kind of abstract thing going on and is very bold. I wouldn't wear that colour of cloth(jacket) myself, however probably something darker.

I am not a huge fan of camel hair because it's bulky. That jacket has a great history to it. I didnt wear it in forever because I didnt want to deal with someone spilling something on it. Dont you know, the first time I finally wore it, a seagull (I assume by the size of the pay load) pooped on it and I accidentally used bleach which I thought was a fabric spot cleaner to get the stain out. It did survive somehow.

It's a very NYC color for a jacket. It either has that big shot look or works with something more hip like that 70s look.  The colors in the shirt are awesome, it's a sort of Picasso-esque street scene; a vintage Liberty of London print. I generally stay away from the florals and get other patterns.

formby wrote:

Film Noir Buff wrote:

formby wrote:

I thought it was some cashmere mix/camelhair type cloth as it has that 'lofty' look typical of those cloths.

I like the look, the shirt seems to have some kind of abstract thing going on and is very bold. I wouldn't wear that colour of cloth(jacket) myself, however probably something darker.

I am not a huge fan of camel hair because it's bulky. That jacket has a great history to it. I didnt wear it in forever because I didnt want to deal with someone spilling something on it. Dont you know, the first time I finally wore it, a seagull (I assume by the size of the pay load) pooped on it and I accidentally used bleach which I thought was a fabric spot cleaner to get the stain out. It did survive somehow.

It's a very NYC color for a jacket. It either has that big shot look or works with something more hip like that 70s look.  The colors in the shirt are awesome, it's a sort of Picasso-esque street scene; a vintage Liberty of London print. I generally stay away from the florals and get other patterns.

Yeah, I like the shirt pattern and colour. I have no problem with abstracts or floral for after work occasions. Floral, can look a bit hippy, trippy, dippy but I don't mind that. Ssshhhhhhh!! The laydeezzzzz don't seem to mind though.

My latest crazy ass project is a midnight blue pin cord jacket single button peak lapel job. It was originally to have hacking and a ticket pocket but at first fitting I decided to ditch them and nudge the jacket more towards a formal look because the colour and cut made it look smarter than I expected. I was quite surprised to be honest. Just goes to show how difficult it is to gauge a cloth.

Now to pick some shirts to go with it.

What cant you wear with that jacket? 


I am thinking of a certain pink paisley cotton, a white royal oxford with double cuffs, a tartan with a lot of red in it. Honestly, aside from a couple of obviously summer shirt fabrics such as linen, I dont know that you can mess it up.

I went to an art show wearing a liberty shirt (white ground with light and dark pink pencils forming repeating lozenge shapes, a pucci pocket square in pinks and greens, navy cashmere blazer with gold buttons and cherry red cords. The ladies were all either interested in the shirt or the pocket square. One Englishman, noticed my large, pope goes the weasel cufflinks. Only the English and an occasional girl notice cufflinks here.

JDelage wrote:

I have seen more pink and lilac shirts than green, especially bright green, especially in dress shirts.

Green is the new pink.

Film Noir Buff wrote:

JDelage wrote:

I have seen more pink and lilac shirts than green, especially bright green, especially in dress shirts.

Green is the new pink.

Mmmmm...........

I thought you were anti-green?

g- wrote:

Film Noir Buff wrote:

JDelage wrote:

I have seen more pink and lilac shirts than green, especially bright green, especially in dress shirts.

Green is the new pink.

I have a great fantastic green shirt that I will post up if I get the time.  It is a light green check from Thomas Masons silver line.  I think people make to much of the colors.  If you know how to match them they work, if not  . . . .

Green is a country or summer color. I dont like it when men reinforce the green with pocket square and tie. I have a Holland and Sherry 140s charcoal flannel with an alternating white and apple green chalk stripe, both very faint, which I will have made into a DB for next winter.