I think they'd always have been around. Just another option ?

Thats weird, I'm wearing lilac lace knickers as well. Might be a bit to Prep for some but I like em.

From "The Ivy Look",  About Sperry Topsiders "The shoe gained legendary status when in 1939 at the onset of the 2nd World War the US War Department named the Sperry Topsider one of the official shoes of the Navy. In the 1960s the shoe finally came ashore and became essential footwear throughout college campuses - THE ULTIMATE IVY SEAL OF APPROVAL" (my emphasis)

Natural Sole Brother wrote:

I would guess they migrated from the boatyard to the campus in the late 1960s / early 1970s despite being around from the 1930s.

The abandonment of university dress codes such as wearing a collared shirt or sports jacket to classes in the preceding years would have facilitated the adoption of all sorts of leisure clothing for everyday wear: down vests, sneakers, sweatshirts, boatshoes, duck boots etc. all came to be fair game in that timeframe.

If that means 'Prep' then so be it. I haven't got involved in the thread positing 'Prep' as the diametric opposite of 'Ivy' because I believe that to be a construct or fiction.

The reality is one of simple evolution. Society itself changed, institutions responded and the clothing choices of people evolved over time as the result.

NSB is spot on as always!

I wouldn't even be surprised if you could find Campus pictures from way before Take Ivy with Ivy students sporting Madras half sleeves or Lacoste polo shirts with khaki Chino pants or Bermuda shorts, no socks and Topsiders or something similar...

I think I've seen some 1950s advertising (or other) photo with both penny loafers and boat shoes.

Somewhere in our Boom Years thread, maybe something from Decline and Fall?

Last edited by Hard Bop Hank (2012-05-23 03:10:08)

Axelist wrote:

Jimbo wrote:

I think they'd always have been around. Just another option ?

Sure, I like them. Actually I am wearing a pair while I type this. That and lilac lace knickers.

I'm trying to avoid lilac lace knickers, so I am wearing comfi tight gray Jersey boxers and Madras shorts. But I'm also wearing boat shoes Fucking preppy prick I am...

I've seen a pic of Errol Flynn somewhere wearing boat shoes in the 40s while fishing (on a boat)... But that was only Errol on a boat.

Unbelievable, I found the pic I was talking about. If I recall it correctly, it was taken in the mid 50s. Camp mocs more likely than boat shoes, I'm afraid. 

Natural Sole Brother wrote:

I would guess they migrated from the boatyard to the campus in the late 1960s / early 1970s despite being around from the 1930s.

The abandonment of university dress codes such as wearing a collared shirt or sports jacket to classes in the preceding years would have facilitated the adoption of all sorts of leisure clothing for everyday wear: down vests, sneakers, sweatshirts, boatshoes, duck boots etc. all came to be fair game in that timeframe.

If that means 'Prep' then so be it. I haven't got involved in the thread positing 'Prep' as the diametric opposite of 'Ivy' because I believe that to be a construct or fiction.

The reality is one of simple evolution. Society itself changed, institutions responded and the clothing choices of people evolved over time as the result.

Shit yeah.

This can only be the truth.

The old East Coast Brooks Bros look, later marketed as 'Ivy', even later morphed into yet another marketing promotion: 'Preppy'.

What next?

America has only left itself the Kiddy Class to still exploit in its bizarre juvenalisation of its national clothing style...

The Thin Repp wrote:

Axelist wrote:

Unbelievable, I found the pic I was talking about. If I recall it correctly, it was taken in the mid 50s. Camp mocs more likely than boat shoes, I'm afraid. 

http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/uploads/ … __life.jpg

I am currently in the throes of a torrid love affair with camp mocs. I started with the LL Bean version, but for the closest thing to those in the photo above, I cannot recommend the Quoddy Canoe Moc highly enough. Even though they are recraftable I bought a second pair just in case anything happens to the first. They look great with military chinos (as in the photo above). Very 50s utilitarian Ivy.

http://shop.oconnellsclothing.com/image … 390175.jpg

I've got a pair of the much dreaded LL Bean Blucher Mocs from the Signature Range and like them very much. I am such a simple character,  only added leather laces to make it worse. Quoddy is very tempting and sounds and looks great, but unfortunately is above above my budget.

I did a research a while ago and only found one German online shop who sold them, and OiPolloi in the UK, both expensive. When buying directly, there are considerable shipping costs and customs duty.

http://www.moccasinsales.com/minnetonka … lariat.htm