Reflecting on this overnight, I'm trying to find a balance of 'good enough' in lots of areas of life.  I could invest in McIntosh or Linn audio, but what I have is decent and definitely 'good enough'.  I could have a more expensive car or house, but what we have is to our satisfaction and 'good enough'.

That sounds like feint praise, but we're very happy. We all get seduced in chasing the highest quality or maximum spend in our lives, in a society based on competition and striving to be feel a winner. But that doesn't really take us anywhere useful. I've opted out from that and am very happy with 'good enough'.

That is also how I feel about clothes and shoes at this stage of life too.  Watches is another area like that, I have no desire for expensive watches in an era when they don't deliver a specific requirement. I'd like a Defakto German modernist watch, but I doubt I'll ever buy one. A watch that works and looks good (and in my case is solar based as part of my work emphasis) is a good choice for me at a reasonable price.  I definitely am unlikely to ever need a new watch as I only wear a third of those I already have. 

I'm 55 now and nobody around me cares about style (other than Mrs Unseen who just wants me looking okay). Even in my business life, clients are in jumpers, jeans and trainers up to executive level most of the time.  Yesterday in an onsite client day, there were two hundred men in a software company and I was the only person even in a shirt.  I haven't worn a tie or formal trousers for work since before Covid, so there is a limit at to how much it is worth spending. I'm gradually adjusting to needing less, standards around me not being the same and my own ageing.

So 'good enough' in Ivy style .....well that's...... much more than.....good enough.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2024-11-13 03:43:10)

I like that concept of the eye... it also makes getting dressed longer and involve thinking before hand.

What you observe of Ralph Lauren in dining also was the case with Terence Conran, or even the Carluccios chain at its peak.

RL seem to be transitioning from being founder-centred to carry on the ethos, Conran didn't.

Nor did Mary Quant or Michael Ingram's various lines (he ultimately gave it all up quite early having had hundreds of shops across multiple brands in both UK and USA). It's intriguing how Biba is now a brand name only divorced from its origins.

For Conran, the restaurants, his books, shops, Habitat, architect practice, design didn't cohere into more than the sum of their parts into something that would endure together. I don't think there was any attempt to, there various businesses were separate and went their own way. I hadn't realised until recently the shop in Marylebone has gone.  I have books on it all and it's fading away now though Conran retail and the architects remain.

Paul Smith is worth a mention too - for decades his brain span out into all kinds of areas that complemented his clothing. As he is ageing I feel a sense of his passions not being as envident and they seem to be becoming a more dull retailer. Even ten years ago his cycling passions, love for colour schemes showed up - his presence was felt. They had capsule lines, small runs, interesting curios, books, the Japan only line with fascinating items. It felt like his interests and brain still stimulating the business. There were multiple books, including one on cycling badges I bought for a friend. He talked about how the brand was more than him and he was setting it up to continue, but I don't see any inspiration carrying forward that will create anything distinctive - as the people leading do not have his founding and influences here in Nottingham and then beyond.  I have friends who wear Paul Smith polos primarily, but they don't carry that on into his wider lines. I have a couple of jackets and some excellent Italian made shoes from there as I've received a lot of gift tokens for there being based in Nottingham.

I'm not sure how it will last as he inevitably isn't involved. It's hard in UK for us to appreciate how much presence Paul Smith has in Japan.

Margarat Howell is also big in Japan and while the clothes aren't for me, ther care and passion is still there - emphasizing craft and related topics such as Isokon building/design.

RL though seems to be beyond Ralph now, which it needs - it seems to be able to add without losing its core and representing American aspiration softly in a way that will likely endure. Newer lines have kept it positioned into contemporary trends without any overt influence of Ralph being involved.

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2024-11-13 09:48:21)

The Conran work in architecture is quite nice and continues: https://conranandpartners.com/

Last edited by An Unseen Scene (2024-11-15 02:02:35)