chetmiles - whoever you are, I'm digging your work thus far. As someone who was once part of a group of very intense, serious young things who were given the tag 'mod-monks' on account of our abstinence from drink, drugs and the pleasures of the flesh (and this at the height of our youth and beauty), I can strongly relate to this post. Growing up in Liverpool surrounded by its working class pub culture I felt teetotalism was the only appropriate response. The straight world was drunk and sloppy and I was certainly neither. From the ages of 18 to 27 I didn't touch a drop. Just wasn't interested. I look back on this period with fondness. While others considered me and my fellow conspirators freaks of nature I delighted in their frustration. We got our kicks from trips to J.Simons, the myriad varieties of Italian coffee, insanely intense discussions, dancing to soul music and London in general. I kind of sold out as I grew up. I met a lovely middle class girl who kind of straightened out the kinks in my personality and introduced me to the pleasures of the grape (on which I now rather shamlelessly dote). On an early date she took me to Pizza Express in Wardour Street where we shared a bottle of wine. We then went on to the Swiss Centre to watch a new print of Bunuel's classic 'Belle de Jour'. I fell into deep, snore-filled slumber... oh the innocence of it all. But I admire self-control and an element of austerity and agree that it tallies with the mod philosophy and aesthetic. As Mr Meaden said etc etc... There is a perverse sense of pleasure and superiority to be gained from keeping your head while all around are losing theirs. Particularly when you're wearing full Ivy drag.

Best,
Toffeeman

P.S. Toffeeman - with your liking for white Levis (for which I'm now sadly too old), try tracking down a brand of desert boots called Garrett.  They're Italian, chocolate brown, and taper beautifully.

Last edited by Russell_Street (2008-10-10 10:46:12)

Jeeze, I didn't want to sound too puritanical; but Toffeeman hits the nail bang on the head when he discusses the way the races go about their drinking - anyone come across any Ivy Muslims?  I bet they're out there somewhere.

It sounds good, truly it does...

A terrible shame, especially around Soho, because those places link us to an age all but wiped out by the Starbucks-Subway mentality.  I guess some of those businesses once had an almost Dickensian air about them, and I would have loved to have seen Carnaby Street when it was just occupied by a tobacconist and very little else - in the dark, pre-Who, pre-union jack and target past, right?  Camden town still seems lively enough, but Soho...  mm...  for the trendies...

Just picking up on this again, after GGs references to eating.  I'm still strictly non-drinking, non-smoking after a youth spent (from the age of about 14) totally shit-faced and reeking of Camels and Gitanes (Albert Camus phase), but, like Ian Strachan, I'm a sucker for salt beef.  Also Cholent, klops and sausage butties with brown sauce (very northern, eh what, Big J?).  But I've just bought a book on Vegetarian London, as my wife and one daughter are vegetarian.  Is this place in Neal Street all right then?  If I can eat veggie in Venice I expect I can manage it in Covent Garden.  Any strict Ivy/modernist veggies/vegans out there?

My dear Face!  I had no idea you were a member here.

It may be that Big John and myself have slightly romantic notions of that country: after all, we're outsiders.  I had the interesting (if limited) experience last year of travelling by train between Rome and Venice, and saw more cement factories under grey skies than hilltop villages.  Fine by me, showed me there's more to the country than just lazy cats washing themselves in sun-drenched piazzas and stupendous-looking girls advertising lingerie.  But I'm no sucker for 'Roman Holiday' (feckin' Audrey Hepburn) or Fellini's offerings.  Italians I know tend to be sad and angry: particularly about Berlesconi.

Brownshoe, you hedonist, I'm ashamed of you...

Well, those of us with the eye, the sensitivity, the feel for nuance and subtlety and genuine style, we all feel it when we're in Italy. The irony is of course, as 'The Ace Face' pointed out, that the Italians base a lot of their style on 'the British look'. But this is a British look no Brit wears because the Brits no longer have an inkling of style and taste, and the Italians have it at their fingertips and just effortlssly conjure up magical tailoring, shoemaking, eyeglasses and sunglasses design, the best materials, the best cloths, that eye for detail that mod is supposed to represent but so sadly fails to do. I care not a toss for Italian business practice - if the Brits are naive enough to get fleeced by sharp practice more fools them - but I have no doubt that the culture of looking, displaying, of making a show is so beautifully done in Italy. I was brought up, as most British kids are, to not make a spectacle of myself. In Italy it raises my spirits to see people making a spectacle of themselves in the most spectacular urban backdrops in the World.

GG

As for the original post, austerity and I don't get along too well.

However, on a side note, did anyone get a chance to see the relatively recent Italian flick Gomorrah yet? It explores a lot of the negatives you gents raise. It even gets into the corruption of the Italian fashion / textile industry. Despite its critical acclaim, I can't imagine the government being too fond of the vision of Italy it presents.