I'm not sure that I mind. I've just been looking at unstructured cotton jackets, a few in this country but most in the United States (only Ebay so far, I may try other places later), and a J.Crew example looks rather nice. Now, although I agree with Yuca and others about darts I find two buttons doesn't arouse the same feelings of annoyance that something that worked was tampered with.
In truth, who made the perfect Ivy jacket and when?
I had been looking more at corduroy jackets, having outgrown my nice old J.Press, but plaid and solids caught my eye.
The top button on a 3-2 roll is a nice feature but if the rest of the jacket is perfect I can live without it. I imagine - I've never actually owned such a garment, as most sack jackets come in 3-2.
In fact, I've just bought a (discreetly darted) two-button Stanley Blacker Harris tweed jacket. It's such a nice colour I couldn't resist (a kind of light tobacco).
Oh, yes, and harking back to TRSs previous thread, it was described as a 'blazer'. I'll probably try it with a flannel shirt and Levis. Dress it down.
With cords and a Makers would be more my style. If the cords are 5 pocket then that's pretty dressed down. For footwear: anything goes.
Once it arrives and I've had a good look at it, I'll make a few decisions. The Donegal tweed I bought on Friday will arrive first. That's a lovely jacket. Not especially 'Ivy' perhaps but pleasing. Searching for darts on those Ebay photographs tires my old eyes. I'd still like something unstructured in cotton but nothing really stood out. The sand-coloured Keydge from all those years ago felt nice on: not much heavier than wearing a thick cotton cardigan.
A cotton sack can be a tough call. Back in the day the vast majority of summer sacks had those miracle fibres. Cotton is much nicer though. I only have one cotton sack, which is a madras. Good for occasional wear but not an everyday item.
I could go poly/cotton - just about (even Dacron or similar) - if a. it was especially pleasing to the eye and b. it had some nice Boom Years detailing on the inside like an arty label. I do have a weakness for those. Does anyone on here own a wardrobe containing nothing but items made of natural fibres?
Some years ago, about ten or so, I spent endless hours searching for a jacket similar to the one McQueen is pictured wearing on the cover of J.P.Gaul's classic 'Hollywood And The Ivy Look'. Ditto those boots from 'Bullitt'. I guess they become 'Holy Grail' items, like the 'great lost Harrington' (Gant in olive) or those older G9s in POW check. I guess half the fun is in the pursuit. As with women.
I've got a 2 button tweed sack from the Alumni Shop, Robinsons California. 2 button sleeves but oddly, no back vent. Picked it up at a flea market several years ago, along with a handful of other items from the same estate, all fit perfectly (Arrow paisley popover, McGregor popover, deadstock Hathaway BD, etc), $50 for the lot.
Not Ivy, but did spot an interesting item on the racks this week, Abercrombie & Fitch dacron/cotton wash n wear jacket. Center vent, 3 button sleeve, somewhat padded shoulders, dark grey. Didn't pick it up but always happy to give something like this the once over, especially in a sea of recent fabric atrocities.
Didn't Hardy & Johnson do a copy of the McQueen Hollywood and the Ivy Look ?
2 button I would accept. But ventless would be a dealbreaker for me.
I'll admit I haven't gotten a lot of use out of it, but like having it.
Yuca: 2 button I would accept. But ventless would be a dealbreaker for me.
Same here. At least on a SB jacket.
Why have two buttons when you can have three?
Not always possible. In principle, however, I agree, three is the better look, the ideal. But present searching for really kosher Ivy jackets or blazers has not been fruitful, hence a few compromises.
Why have 3 when you can have four or five buttons? Workwear is the future. Haha!
I didn't know that about Chris and Lloyd Johnson. I only know - read, rather - that what they were selling was well regarded.