It'd be a start in addressing my need for perfection by being brought up by an over-bearing authority figure who himself demanded perfection, due to his own insecurities caused by a distant and cold mother.
But then it's all swings and round-abouts isn't it.
Last edited by One For Bop (2012-05-22 15:30:50)
Haha, I hope you had them running the marine obstacle course in the garden.
Maybe why those seeking Ivy in the US find so little:
>Most men absolutely don't care. A retailer has to recognize this, or go out of business.
>It is a safe bet that most men in US wear what women pick out for them. Usually seems to end up badly.
As Jim points out in one of his interviews, if you want Ivy, you go to Japan.
No way Leer, I could dress him in a way that'd look right, and it'd would even take much effort, ok people's personalities might shine through, for better or worse. But in the cold hard light of day, all we are dealing with is visual proportion which is what attracted me to Ivy more so than any style of clothing apart from early to mid century Italian, which for my money, is as good a 20's Brooks and boom period Ivy. Sorry I rambling now... what was my point? Oh, there wasn't one.
As a person he's fine. Posture needs a bit of a helping hand maybe, but then I often have to walk with a stick thse days myself. All of his clothes just need keeping the same but improving in cut & quality. He is young after all.
He's going for big statements to assert his identity. Always a mistake. Tone down all the exaggerations (That tie should be half the size...). Keep with The Look but just make it more natural. He looks more than a little forced above - How long did that belt take to contrive ?
All he needs to do is just to relax & just wear clothes.
It's not necessarily the fit, in my eyes that's fine...
It's more like Jimbo wrote, the posture and his choice of assessoires.
It's that it looks like cartoon prep. A little contrived and over the top.
I don't believe it's a "Preppy" problem, Bop!
It's more what people like to call preppy. As NSB wrote in the other thread on boat shoes: It's just words, Ivy and Preppy, it's all "construction" and "fiction"...
You go for some of that kinda stuff, yourself, I'm thinking of the stuff in the Mud Room thread, casual stuff, not "Ivy" in the sense of tailored clothes, i.e. Army and Navy surplus stuff, fishing and hunting gear, sailing stuff, resort wear, golf and tennis and other sports clothes, even some work wear....
And, being our Colour Wheel man, you don't mind some of the louder stuff, I suppose...
If there's something wrong with current "prepster" style, it's all the cartoon stuff, the exaggerations, the affectations and the contrived combinations.
I'm not sure though, if that's to do with Preppy or if that's a general problem in our age.
As someone else said, you will notice similar horrors with contemporary Eurotrash!
How can you say the fit of that outfit isn't the problem, I'm looking passed all the contrived nonsense surrounding clothes, and saying that just looks shit, mainly just due to the trousers. If what I saw of prep really gave consideration to how their clothes fitted, which I rarely see, then I would be all up for celebrating it, but as I see it, it is a look, like many many others just concerned with labels and symbolic gestures. So little to do with actual clothing, and so much to do with trying to say something.
I'm not saying the primary factor of people's clothes should be to appease me, but like I said, the meal is burnt to a cinder, why speak highly of it, I don't me you, I mean people in general, I know it's tough work with clothes, I work with a tailor and I still can't be arsed to get my clothes altered all the time, but RTW deserves a bit of attention to make it work as it should classic clothing is designed in a way to be altered.
Last edited by One For Bop (2012-05-23 04:31:15)
I don't like these particular trousers myself, but probably for other reasons than you.
I don't mind wider bottoms or a slightly baggier look in general, but what I wouldn't want is that lower rise...
Of course, I do care about fit!
What I meant was, that this is certainly not the point of distinction between Ivy and Preppy.
If you think that you can draw a line.
One shouldn't confuse the "Ivy Look" with "Boom Years Ivy".
"Preppy Style" isn't necessarily the same as "Preppy" in the OPH, or current "Prepster" fashions as found on various blogs...
The idea of fit is always subject to fashion.
That's what I meant.
A trouser that baggy, with that kind of opening, which has got to be at least 9.5-10'' to my eye should be breaking down by where his laces are, I know poor fit isn't a prep(ster) phenomenon, but christ, reams of shit on the net celebrating clothes that don't fit people is so ignorant, it's not even worth the LCD screens its displayed on. (I'm not sure that saying works when it's updated)
The two main things that are pissing me off is people being sold shit clothes, that don't fit and not knowing better, and wearing them with pride, it's obscene. Whether Prep, Ivy or otherwise. At least I get the impression with a guy like JS, he wants to meet his customers.
I'm all for anything fitting!
Then you gotta try some Bill's Khakis!
Like Jimmy said, all in proportion! I'm not anti-baggy, I like baggy shirts, but it's all go to sit right, you can't approach menswear like you would joggin bottoms and a tshirt, which is the mentality a lot have, then they think as long as the label is one they should own, all is good.
Baggy,skinny..the the magic word is "proportionate".
Another good point or rather some good observations here by Philly Joe:
http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/viewtopic.php?id=8574
I guess, that there's traditional American style and then there's the AAAT "Trad" pastiche...
There's authentic "prep" and a cartoon version.
There's probably also some sort of "cartoon Ivy"...
Ha!
And what about Smithers in the Simpsons?
Seriously, I think that this Pat Boone ad would be a candidate, too!