It fits in with the whole Anglo-American thing, doesn't it? I think the Brits like a knit tie in navy or maroon. They would more like wear it with a Bengal striped shirt.
^ Absolutely.
Tom Wolfe's "Mid-Atlantic Man" in the 60's wore a Black knit tie like David Frost used to do - The symbol of having one foot in London & one foot in NYC.
There is a lot of Euro influence in their mix it's true.
Even most of their American style offerings have a Euro 'taint' to them.
I see them as more NeoPrep than "Trad" if we have to talk in such terms. Their American stuff doesn't come from the old TNSIL source (Brooks, Press, you know) but more from later developments mixing Prep with Anglo.
And in a way how could this be otherwise?
The OPH was 27 years ago & Silver is a relatively recent company in the grand scheme of things. They are selling a Prep inspired version of an interpretation of TNSIL for TODAY. So what do we call that? NeoPrep? It isn't Trad if Trad is meant to be TNSIL. But it is Trad if Trad is a post-Preppy look at the style.
That sums things up quite neatly I think. And Ben Silver was the foundation of all that followed from the mighty keybord of Harris. He knew them first.
It's all Neo stuff. NeoPrep is honest about that. "Trad" pretends otherwise and does so very badly.
Heads or tails?
Best -
A rather obvious point which I missed, but which a chum has just reminded me of, is that not only did Harris approach "Trad" via Ben Silver but that he also came to us from the GoPreppy site.
The clue is in the name: Preppy.
(Thanks to P.)
Guards Stripe colours in an Ivy knit style:
http://www.jpressonline.com/neckwear_striped_detail.php?ix=68
Great with a Blue button-down & an Olive Poplin suit.