Sometimes wish I'd stuck around in Madchester and not tried defying Thomas Wolfe's assertion that you can never go home again.  There was always something happening, always something to do.  Lusting after Greta Schacci in 'Heat And Dust' at the old Aaben cinema.  Jackson Pollock at the Whitworth (the attendant sidling up to me and whispering in my ear, 'Crap, innit?).  Smoked salmon sandwiches for lunch, Peter O'Toole in 'Man And Superman' during the afternoon.  A quid to get in.  I did the odd trip to London (overnight) and one to Liverpool (hitched down, caught the coach back).  I was 20-21.  Life seemed full of promise.  But Salford was grim and violent so I went back home.

I've probably spelled the divine Greta's name wrongly.

I had a similar experience buying trousers that said 'Made In The EU'.  Not even 'Made In France' or 'Made In Italy'.

I once bought a pair of Bass Weejun tassel loafers from JS. They were obviously too small for me but somehow, before I knew it , I was handing money over for a pair of shoes that didn't fit. He was a bloody good salesman.

I live in the USA, so had Ivy adjacent gear as a lad, button downs, Hush Puppies, one pic shows me about age 4 in a 60's tweed blazer but my working class parents weren't thinking in a context of ivy, probably just what were thought of as "nice clothes". And they were! There are photos of my father, an auto mechanic, dressed in ocbds, white levis, tie, loafers, etc. As far as purchasing on my own, probably levi 519 cords in the 1970's or stocking up on 60's Towncraft bd's at thrifts in the early/mid 80's. Other brands too but for some reason Towncraft were much more prevalent than Sears, Brent, Career Club, etc.