The look was prevalent throughout East Coast Canada and especially Montreal (which historically parallels NYC as a major harbor city and one of the earliest shipping ports which opened up Canada to the rest of the world in the days of fur trade; from the earliest European settlers and merchants in the French Colonial Period to the Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigration surges of the early 20th Century). Jewish Montreal in the mid-century made up a huge proportion of the manufacturing industry - they called it the schmata business. Tailoring outfitters like Samuelsohn and S.Cohen were pioneers of the Ivy Look in the city. There was a large bohemian culture in the 1950's with beatnik clubs and cafés in Downtown Montreal attracting writers, artists, musicians, jazzers and intellects to it's epicenter. McGill University at the time was the very embodiment of American Ivy League institutions north of the border. Everyone dressed in Brooks Brothers and sack cuts. The look permeated both the working class Jewish immigrant community of my grandparents generation along with the university campuses of my parents generation.

Last edited by RobbieB (2015-02-26 02:24:31)

Yes schmutter - one of the great Yiddish words to make it into general slang. I still use it.

I've got some great 60's Ivy slacks made in Canada.

Would be interesting see some pictures of pieces of Canadian Ivy clothes (especially sacks).
Nothing difference with the Americans?