These quotes make me wonder where the "trad" phenomenon came from: not Ivy League, but Boy Next Door? It would help explain the squeaky-clean elements and the suburban obsession with uniformity. I am also intrigued by the mention of the Korean War. The mainstream view is that soldiers returning from WWII started attending college and dressing casually, but maybe the Korean War had an impact too?
Really good point.
Can't help you, but I like your thinking.
I think we've worked out that Trad's roots are not actually patrician but aspirational. For that little imposture in the past they've been cheeked by low-lifes like me.
BUT!
Present the style as the authentic voice of middle-middle suburban white-bread then I've got a lot of respect for it as something very real & valid.
AND valuable.
It's all about positioning. As a fake, Trad is bad. Make it real & you've got a deal. I can be a fan of a little authenticity from anywhere.
t.
Last edited by Coolidge (2006-12-10 15:57:35)
Last edited by Coolidge (2006-12-10 17:15:01)
Mr. Coolidge is spot-on as always.
Quite right to correct me not to mix up Trad as it is & Trad as it shoulda been.
When the reformation comes things will be clearer for all.
In England the Ivy suit certainly packs a punch. The suit that's not square and yet not a mannerist exaggeration like the Zoot or the Teddy drape. Smart yet cool.
Perfect.
Thanks -
Looks like a London boy!
Especially in that Baracuta.
t.
Tony, fascinating post. It will be interesting to see how The Good Shepherd (http://imdb.com/title/tt0343737/) treats this subject.
Tony,
That article excerpt is really cool.
In the trailer, when the William Hurt character says, "You're going to have to learn the English system of intelligence," he's wearing a very nice covert coat with velvet collar. There are some DB suits with wide lapels on De Niro, and Damon wears a very nice club tie in one shot, and wears morning dress to his wedding I think. So, overall, I'm optimistic that the characters will look good and that the costumes will be reasonably accurate.
My dad still dresses like the middle picture of "The Folksmen" all summer long. Sans the white socks these days. Sans socks at all.
The lesson I take away from the Gore Vidal quote is this:
It's okay to aspire to dress like an Ivy Leaguer, but don't aspire to act like one.