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#1 2008-07-07 01:54:11
- Moose Maclennan
- Ivy Inspiration
- From: Hernando's Hideaway
- Posts: 4577
'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
http://acontinuouslean.com/2008/05/05/musings-of-an-old-ivy-leaguer/
G. Bruce Boyer's short essay 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Can you hear the sound of nails being hit on the head?
#2 2008-07-07 02:05:06
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Always good to read that to help keep things real.
Good call, Mr. Moose - And as all fans of 'The Odd Couple' know Moose Calls go with the Ivy style very well.
#3 2008-07-07 06:32:54
- mike
- Member
- From: Covington, KY
- Posts: 1397
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
really nice story/article thanks
something to aspire towards - simple and elegant, i like the slightly scuffed he talks about quality being not to new
You love him? He is hephaistion.
#4 2008-07-07 08:51:26
- rsmeyer
- Member
- From: Chevy Chase, MD
- Posts: 751
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Boyer is talking about true "Ivy" here, as I use the word. I, myself, am not true "Ivy" these days, as I wear Double breasted blazers, grenadine ties, English shoes, etc., but do consider myself to be very much a Traditional dresser. Therein, IMHO, lies the difference.
#5 2008-07-07 10:46:11
- AQG
- Member
- From: The Sticks
- Posts: 1306
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
A very interesting read that opened a window on another time. At the same time, it perfectly illustrates why I'm just not an Ivy guy. The wardrobe that Boyer lays out really might as well be the kit bag of a GI with his uniforms. Everybody followed the same codes. There might be a thousand ways to wear the items listed, but thousands of men wore all of them the same way. It was really about being nude with your clothes on. No one was actually meant to see the clothes. They were meant to be forgettable and invisible. No style as the style.
Sure, I get how this ultra-subdued, self-negating style appeals, but aside from an occasional excursion into it, I'm just too much the dandified extrovert. So, my casual clothes are, and always have been, unabashedly preppy with a few outside excursions. And yes, I do mean preppy in its pimped-out way. For business, I go with much bolder looks, even when they are conservative.
Thanks again, Moose. The article was extremely helpful in ordering my thoughts.
#6 2008-07-07 11:26:02
- rsmeyer
- Member
- From: Chevy Chase, MD
- Posts: 751
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
#7 2008-07-07 11:33:15
- AQG
- Member
- From: The Sticks
- Posts: 1306
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
#8 2008-07-07 15:01:41
- JOA
- Member
- Posts: 21
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Boyer speaks my language.
#9 2008-07-08 06:20:32
- rsmeyer
- Member
- From: Chevy Chase, MD
- Posts: 751
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
#10 2008-07-08 06:23:34
- rsmeyer
- Member
- From: Chevy Chase, MD
- Posts: 751
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
#11 2008-07-17 01:22:55
- Moose Maclennan
- Ivy Inspiration
- From: Hernando's Hideaway
- Posts: 4577
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
#12 2008-07-17 01:30:35
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
I wonder how colourful they were back in the day?
I have various in Surcingle (A very different animal to the Ribbon belt), nothing too loud though. 'Kent & Curwen' and 'Blazer' were great for them in the UK, in the US I went with Press. The Guards stripe is my favourite I think.
Preppy certainly picked up on them & passed them on to Tradd with the colours getting ever more vivid it would seem.
#13 2009-05-10 10:27:06
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Best thing Boyer ever wrote on our subject?
If fact the only good thing Boyer ever wrote on our subject?
He's revisited the above but never topped it, IMO.
Don't think Ken Pollock ever topped his AAAC 'TNSIL' post either.
- And Flusser never really said anything.
... IMO.
#14 2009-05-10 10:31:08
- Ian Strachan's Raincoat
- Member
- Posts: 521
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Nice and straightforward.
#15 2009-05-10 13:18:05
- Ian Strachan's Raincoat
- Member
- Posts: 521
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
What I really dig is the fact that it's a basic wardrobe he's describing, very much in line with the 'Esquire' philosophy. It's all too common to end up buying stuff for the sake of it.
#16 2009-05-11 05:27:15
- Prof Kelp
- Professor of Ivy
- Posts: 1033
Re: 'A Curmudgeon’s Lament, or Musings of an Old Ivy Leaguer'
Did you miss this bit Chet?
"Those dozen garments or so weren’t the be-all and end-all, of course. There were myriad other attractions for the dandies amongst us. Silk knit ties (plain black or navy was best, with square-cut ends) and paisley pocket squares, odd flannel trousers, broadcloth tab-collar shirts, cordovan brogues and scotchgrain wingtips, navy worsted pinstripes with vests, white duck trousers for summer, and lambswool turtlenecks for winter. The sophisticated young man may have splurged for a camelhair polo coat. Everyone seemed to have colorfully striped surcingle belts with brass horseshoe-shaped buckles. And the brightest Argyle socks."
Seems to me he's saying that you could just buy stuff for the sake of it, if you wished to or were a "dandy"
http://thetownoutside.tumblr.com