I have had a quick glance through the book. The music tastes are not mine so I am not qualified to comment. I was hoping for more information and discussion. The list of blogs is surprisingly short.
The list of current brands and retailers listed at the back are the "usual suspects". I expected to see Allen Edmonds, Southwick and Hickey Freeman on it. Crockett & Jones and Sanders deserved to be included because they offer many Ivy style and shell cordovan shoes. Can anyone tell why the book considers John Smedley knitwear to be Ivy? I also expected to see more retailers, e.g. Eljo's, listed.
Overall, to be honest, a bit of a disappointment.
John Smedley, like Fred Perry and Lacoste, has made its way across the Atlantic. Simple, expensive Ivy leisurewear; why not?
Smedley is easeir to understand than LL Bean sold Clarks shoes being ITK when it comes to THE LOOK in the US.
Check the 'Trads' - they love Barbour - F. all to do with Ivy. Ever!
Last edited by Russell_Street (2010-11-19 17:05:02)
The book is an 'artefact' (if that is the precise word I'm looking for); not aiming to compete with the old 'Esquire' fashion guide. It's shelved alongside my art books, not too far away from Loewy, Cubism and even Schott's 'Florentine Painting'. Pretentious? Moi?
Indeed it is an art book: subjective, sumptous and casting shadows and light. I keep mine next to Marsh's album cover books, Claxton's Chet Baker and Steve McQueen photo books and next to them a copy of Robert Franks 'The Americans'.
The previous 8 comments are pretty frightening. Has le perfide Chenners managed to take over RS's, RRP's and Hepcat's user accounts, either via abominable Crowleian magickal workings or electronic skullduggery?
Last edited by zuckermandl (2010-11-20 04:46:01)
The ghastly, greasy air of sidling sycophancy wafting from the last few posts, if you must know.
'Artefact'? 'Sumptious' (as far as I can remember, it's pocket size-ish) ?! And the absolute winner: 'Why did you want information & discussion from a book about a look?'
RS of course tries to temper the damage through a cheeky 'Shucks I was just kidding', but it sounded far to convincing for that. I don't hear Peter Cook here, it all sounds rather David Frost, if you know what I mean, daddy-o.
Last edited by zuckermandl (2010-11-20 06:13:39)
Well, that's rather my point- I realise that the authors are personal friends of some on here, but surely healthy discussion wouldn't change that, would it?
I stand by my position: it's an art book in keeping with the presentation and aesthetics of Marsh's previous works. It is indeed sumptous in layout and design. Size has nothing to do with it. This is not sycophancy, although I am a fan of Marsh and he has influenced my appreciation of jazz album art and style.
I am not a personal friend of the authors and I disagree whole heartedly with the rose tinted esteem they hold Italy and its influence in. Alas, you can't argue against personal preference.
Of course, I do own a J.Press jacket that was once sported by Chenners in New York nightclubs whilst wearing Bass weejuns; yes, perhaps, I am possessed by the demonic spirit of the dandy highwayman, which explains why I've been dancing like a twat all afternoon whilst contemplating purchasing garrish paisley curtains and drinking port and lemon. And how did all these opera singers get in my room?
LOL!
S'pose I should fight my corner too...
I wasn't 'just kidding' at all - Never said I was - I was trying to 'pull the tiger's tail', a very different game indeed.
The Ivy Look is about a look - If I'd have written it there would be no writing at all, just lovely stuff to look at.
Why should The Ivy Look be all about discussion & information, no matter now much you might want that? If that's the book you want then go & write it.
I love The Ivy Look for various reasons, including where it comes from, the fact that it is the first book EVER on this subject of ours, and that it also gets up the noses of all the right (wrong) people!
But, more than any of that, it's just a lovely thing to have in my life. It brings me joy...
... I stick on a bit of Trane & flip through it with my reading glasses on in my Corduroy armchair that used to belong to old Uncle George up in Harrogate and I'm so bloody happy that you wouldn't believe.
Marsh & Gaul are good people who do good things.
And neither of them are anxious, silly, little, bitches with self-important, yet deeply shonky blogs manipulated into being by me!
(I remain "Russell_Street"!)
i am actually half hard now after all that...
Am I missing something here? There are never going to be queues in Waterstones for it, it's not a great work of literature and theres no deep hidden meaning to it. So get over yourselves!
Its just a thoroughly nice little book with a great collection of images and an accompanying commentary that are only of interest to about 0.05% of the population. It's ideal for flicking through in the odd spare moment so I keep my copy in the bog.
Woof, a lot of what is said on here is tongue-in-cheek. These are still only clothes we're talking about - or, in this instance, an entertaining book. And you're right, of course, about the 0.05 per cent of the population. If John Simons published his memoirs tomorrow, who would care beyond a handful? It probably wouldn't shift as many copies as 'The Ivy Look', which has Graham Marsh's (jazz, movie posters, denim) name behind it.
Yup, it's just a book to be enjoyed.
Chensvold was the first to make it out to be anything more that it is in his attack on me pretending it to be about the book. Equally his personal attack on JP Gaul was also all about me. The boy is loopy.
He's fun to play with though!
Not to mention numerous anti-Harrington comments.