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Does all this amount to a gentle rejection of the 'Golden Age'? Can we now buy knitwear, shirts and trousers in natural fibres that are superior to what the 'Ivy League' (for want of a better phrase) dresser was wearing shortly before the murder of President Kennedy? - (a random notion). Well, can we? Should we? Yes - probably. I still cannot get over a basic aversion to poly/cotton etc. even though I will tolerate it in a USA-made polo shirt (e.g.). Difficult...
Yuca will not like this. Not saying he's wrong.
That marketing, though, was so cool. The only thing I've seen in recent years - when everything that's supposed to be 'cool' turns out to be the exact opposite - is the old Russell Street website, which picked up on the old images and made them anew.
AFS said : "Does all this amount to a gentle rejection of the 'Golden Age'? Can we now buy knitwear, shirts and trousers in natural fibres that are superior to what the 'Ivy League' (for want of a better phrase) dresser was wearing shortly before the murder of President Kennedy?"
My answer would be no. I've eased up on the hardline enough to concede that certain new pieces may be up to the standards of the past, but I don't think any exceed them.
'Yuca will not like this. Not saying he's wrong.'
Frankly I'm struggling to understand what the hell you're saying. Back in the early 1960s a lot of ivy clothing contained man-made fibres, which at the time were quite new and therefore considered - or at least marketed as - sophisticated and cutting edge. Whereas nowadays many ivy wearers dislike man-made fibres. Thus far I understand, but whether you are arguing in favour of the old man-made fibres or in favour of natural materials purism I have no idea.
I will say that my 60/40 gets more compliments from females than I think anything else I have worn in recent years. But other than that I tend to avoid man-made. I certainly wouldn't wear a shirt or polo shirt that was a blend. I have too many all cotton beauties, and I wore man-made crap for so many years in my mod days.
What's a 60/40? Sounds like I need one.
A supposed mountain parka (they're not as warm as the likes of a pea coat so I sure as hell wouldn't wear one up a mountain). Mine is by Woolrich but I think Bean and others did them too. The shell is 60% cotton 40% nylon (hence the name) and the lining is 85% wool 15% nylon. Don't get caught in torrential rain in one as they are not waterproof but they are just about shower proof. They are practical in that they have lots of pockets, and the elasticated sleeves and high neck keep you warm considering they're not actually heavy winter coats. They're a lot warmer than a Harrington, for example.
Classic 70s ivy I believe. I'm on my second: NOS and quite cheap, after a tip off on here years ago, and still going strong.
Bean did them. My late father passed one onto me. Made In The USA, ultra-warm. I wore it during the winter of 2011-12. Then went off it. But, teamed with, say, woollen trousers and Paraboot, they can look nice and are definitely practical. Never had any compliments from the ladies but then I'm not the Valentino type, unlike our old bongo player.