Film Noir Buff Style Forum / "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

Yuca · 2021-10-02 11:25:06

I've got a number of 50s and 60s suits, tweed jackets, summer jackets and overcoats from retailers that were unknown outside their locality, and the clothes have plenty of life left in them. That shit was made to last. An equivalent quality nowadays would cost a lot. At the same time, the big names (Brooks, Hilton etc) were even better quality.

People complain about people nowadays not wearing smart clothing, but when the value to cost ratio is so much lower (or should that be higher?) than it used to be, who can blame them. Then there's also the vast increase in housing and other costs, the necessity of owning a car nowadays in so many places (although I've never owned one personally), etc.

Last edited by Yuca (2021-10-02 11:30:40)

Tworussellstreet · 2021-10-02 18:00:59

Ian Strachan. Can I talk about Ian Strachan. I do hope he is well. Drank like a fish and was prone to melancholy. Minimalistic palate. Brooks shirts, levis, plain Aldens, or brown Sebago. In summer madras shirts, white Levis, no socks. Bandy legged. Idolised Coltrane. Tough, cynical but generous. Very very fond of John Simons. They used to stay in The Algonquin together and go to menswear trade shows in NYC, and go to The Village Gate and Brooks and J.Press together. Cool cats.

A Fine Sadness · 2021-10-03 02:33:11

Minimalism and melancholy. I can relate to both of those. I'm an eight Brooks shirt, four pairs of shoes man and have been, more or less, since 2010. Blue shirts, white shirts. I've a few things I'm hanging onto but only until I find the right home for them. I am not giving Paul Stuart or Andover to a local charity shop.
Mr. Strachan exerts a kind of weird fascination. I've no idea even what he might look like. Still gardening in Gloucestershire? He probably doesn't even know these Internet get-togethers occur. I think he'd just laugh if he knew.

Tworussellstreet · 2021-10-03 06:31:06

I hope he is well. Will be an old man now. He had a fall a while back and was poorly I believe. Him and Lally made quite a team - Ian's default gloom lightened by John's silliness, running around the shop with a red plastic Dexter shoehorn in his mouth pretending he was a dog. Lally was quite bald but spend much time brushing his locks in the mirror. Loved clothes and had a great feel for pattern, colour and fabric. Very good at repairs and had considered training with a tailor. Navy cords and grain penny Bass, plaid cotton flannel Ivy button-down. They put a Mose Allison CD on and danced around the old place. Ian's kids loved him. Unlike their dad, John larked about, was always full of fun. Sorry to ramble, but I think about The Ivy Shop often. Ian was always dodging bills. Would answer the phone "Mr Strachan's not here at the moment. Try again next week..". The shop was always just about hanging on. Strachan was another member of the Burberry Trench 21 fan club - looked great on him actuallly, the proper all-cotton original trench.

A Fine Sadness · 2021-10-03 07:14:33

A bit of rambling is just what we need on a breezy Sunday afternoon. I can never get enough of this. Both Ian and John had an impact on JFM. Plenty of chit-chat here and there on 'TI' over the (golden) years. I hope he's in the pink and watching the flowers bend in the wind, listening to Coltrane and contemplating a salt beef sandwich...

Runninggeez · 2021-10-19 10:26:30

Ian Strachan, always wanted to look like him, always waited around in the Ivy shop as I wanted to be served by him.

A Fine Sadness · 2021-10-19 10:33:58

Ah-ha: a soul brother for Gibson and I.

Runninggeez · 2021-10-19 10:41:50

Definitely, he's always been the main man IMO.

AFS · 2022-07-13 03:43:31

I return to this frequently; I find it helps. Guidance, to some degree.
No-one is coming along to take their place.

AlveySinger · 2022-07-13 04:32:45

Are the old traditions now more akin to the current trend?

With forums like this, blogs and Insta the Ivy Clothing world is now quiet joined up.
The availability of clothing through online retail, Ebay and specialists stores make getting hold of stuff easier. Ring today get it in a few days.
Marsh publishes a series of inspirational look books and he and 2RS explain, demystify codify the style.

John Simons promotes new madras styles eight years ago and others follow.The influence of this small shop is massive.

The downside of increased visibility of the style has also created confusion. How many guys on Insta claim to be wearing Ivy when it's just traditional menswear - spread collar shirts, pleated trousers and fat pleated trousers. The argument of what is Ivy rages on.

The individual Ivy enthusiasts out there suddenly realise that their often obsessive behaviour is a shared passion amongst many. Views are shared, recommendations made and knowledge expands. A collection of nerdy, train spotters in loafers and button downs.

The tradition has stayed alive and in many ways prospered

AFS · 2022-07-13 04:44:15

That's a good point on 'traditional menswear'. Plenty of 'Ivy' items are definitely 'overground'. Take my own father, dead these ten years, often to be seen wearing Ralph Lauren, L.L.Bean, Levis, Timberland etc. Nothing to do with 'Ivy' or 'Preppie' or anything else. Had I pointed it out to him (possibly I did) he would have shrugged else given me a blank look. He'd have seen the stuff cheap in a mall and bought it. Nothing more or less. No 'deep' or 'double' meaning for him.
Plenty of chaps sporting The Pony - often teamed with Matalan/Primark shite. The shoes betray them. The puddling round the ankles.
Back to the visual illiteracy of the English male.

AFS · 2022-07-13 04:51:08

I think Ian Strachan was highly specific in his tastes and attitudes.
That remark (from Jimmy) about NYC...
TRS might care to elaborate...

#51 2021-10-02 11:25:06

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#52 2021-10-02 18:00:59

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#53 2021-10-03 02:33:11

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#54 2021-10-03 06:31:06

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#55 2021-10-03 07:14:33

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#56 2021-10-19 10:26:30

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#57 2021-10-19 10:33:58

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#58 2021-10-19 10:41:50

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#59 2022-07-13 03:43:31

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#60 2022-07-13 04:32:45

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#61 2022-07-13 04:44:15

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

#62 2022-07-13 04:51:08

Re: "You've got to keep the OLD Tradition Going": Ian Strachan.

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