Nice question. He resisted it at The Ivy Shop, but I'll ask further.

- Thanks to all for the PMs.

^Ah yes, PM, Personal Mail. Idiot.

To be honest, I've purchased several white slim-fit Brooks OBCD's non-iron for the Summer, and althouth they're made in Malaysia, they seem to be holding out in terms of washing, etc. But will I get more than a season, time will tell, but the quality is above RL. 

I also purchased from the website a black gingham shirt and a multi-grain Tattershall which is made in the USA. The quality of the Tattershall is equal to a Mercer shirt.

Gieves & Hawkes is also, surprisingly not owned by an Englishman or Brit.  And since the Chinese guy has taken over, the quality of shirts purchased online has increased. 

What's Mr Stracham's take on modern jazz, I mean the current jazz scene? And does John Simons dig anything that's new, or only the pure Coltrane?

Why won't the Ivy Shop have a website for those of us stuck out in far reaches of the Empire?  In the old days, there was Indian Pale Ale that was brewed for the benefit of those in the far reaches of the South China Seas. Today, there is internet purchasing that ensures what I can get in London town, I can purchase in Timbucktu or Ulan Bantam over the Net and will be with me in a couple of days.

I don't know what to say about Ian. I can't quite believe you have established communications with him. Do give him my regards. Yes, Coltrane and Bill Evans. That's all he ever really talked about. And New York. And he obviously loved Johnny Simons. Could you ask him for me if he remembers the day when John Lally spent all day with one of the complimentary red plastic Dexter shoe horns hanging out of his mouth panting like a dog? Yes, high jinks in The Ivy Shop. How we laughed. I once went to him for advice after my heart had been broken by a cruel maiden. He looked at me like I was a fool. What was I thinking? You didn't go to Ian Strachan for emotional counselling. He was the man in the Sebagos. The man of some mystery. Liked a bit of posh, but kind of hated it all as well. Confused, but fascinating, and weirdly uncompromising. Inscrutable. Those original Ivy guys are something else. And yes they are all very hetero, not camp at all. Their comfort in talking about clothes, image and style was/is so refreshing. So many straights still just don't have a feel for any of this stuff.

GG

(Sub-consciously - if not consciously - one of the reasons I hated going into Brooks, and cut and run after forking out for that crappy, Malaysian shirt, which is still in its bag in the wardrobe.  I am about to console myself by buying a navy London Fog raincoat).

More than one, I'm thinking.

..  ran into the sand, sputtered, fizzled and faded out like a damp squib even in 2011.

Who did?

Strachan was a Titan of the button-down. That's all you need to know.

Come on. Wise up, Bongo.

What that Ivy sage means is:

Strachan was a Titan
Of the button-down.
That is all ye know on earth,
And all ye need to know.

No 'O' levels for Sammy. At his sec mod he did CSEs. And failed.