^No, far from it, IMO. Although in South Holland there is an over abundance of Nantuckett red pants on men. Otherwise, I find they're quite studied and have almost an indignant quality of always being forthright. They won't back down in a business dealings which can make negotiations problematic and fraught, the Brits are much more subtle and pragmatic in our ways. That's why we can handle the Italians.

Edit: The Dutch do like to be seen as arty though, much more that the Brits.

Last edited by 4F Hepcat (2012-06-21 00:45:08)

^The more eradite, witty and tenacious of us, with the exception of FNB himself, have gone off and created blogs.

Who stop? FNB continues his informed and learned critique of men's sartorial habits and fashions right here. Several on the Ivy forum have gone into blogging mainly and they are indeed fine blogs. But they are missed here.

Tony has thrown in the towel I believe, Shooey knows the details. His was a big voice, always cutting through the BS. I hope he comes back.

Andy B has come back, refreshed and in a new guise with renewed sense of purpose.

It's all part of the ebb and tide that is a forum. The syphillitic type paranoid madness comes and goes too, everyone gets a touch of that in the forum universe.

I have slowed down a bit but I do still publish. My concept of who I am helping and why and whether it is indeed of any help are more finely honed than when i started out. The forum exists mainly for enthusiasts to enjoy themselves and exchange information without being harassed by control freaks, bullies and people who want to pretend to discuss clothing but really only want to discuss anything but.


I have a few things That are near completion and only need a little time. Problem is that I hate arranging photos.

Also, I did something on 60s/70s style that got way too involved and rewritten and now I can no longer look at it. That was unfortunate because i thought it really gave some help on how to determine your own style and develop it.

As it stands, i have put up quite a bit on the articles page and if it doesn't always tell someone where to get their first suit, I think it discusses how to make oneself aware of what male style really is. I think the number one and two reasons men do not dress well is their egos prevent them from admitting they aren't or their ignorance of matters of style renders them singularly uncritical. Self awareness through studying a "look" and why a culture or circle dresses that way is one avenue to a more enlightened sartorial plane. I have always advocated that being a wardrobe designer is a great exercise to understand the objective effects of clothing. If someone guesses that you are what you set out to be through clothes, you have achieved something useful.

There are indeed a lot of blogs but many of them are what the blogger likes without any relationship to whether it helps someone else -Hey, look at my new shoes. My new shoes are awesome, well, because they're my new shoes. Who cares? That's just a continuation of the use of style to elicit jealousy from other men. Not useful and highly subjective. I have always suggested people do not copy me.

I have other interests, Military history, sports, girls, not to mention going out 3 days a week, and I am no teetotaler. Frankly, I just can't get all my thoughts down on paper. I wanted to mention something for two weeks on here and never got a chance and now I forgot what it was.

Bump...!!!

Do we have any more to add to this...

I think English style is fast becoming American style for business. For example, American ties never used to ever be purple, lilac, pink, hot pink and now they often are. The English have very strong color prejudices whereas the American ones can usually be overcome, at least in the bigger cities.

American men, outside of a small group are play acting an imagined role. American style is no more natural for someone from rural wherever than it is for someone from Outer Bothgolia.

I think of the English, even if they have zero taste or style themselves, as a people who can identify their cultural colors/patterns/styles etc. I dont think Americans can.

I am in a city that is probably more like London than the rest of its own country. I think of most American men as well as their style as what i call "Lowest Common Denominator" style. The sort of thing a public figure wears to make sure he doesnt rankle the nose of even the most prejudiced, uptight, jealous, suspicious, uneducated, idiotic, superstitious, xenophobic, bigoted "moran" .

Is there a show from the 30 years which showcases English City style time and time again?