or more accurately put, the connection between wearing ivy and one's attraction to the opposite (or same, apologize for any bias on my part) sex.

I thought there was some interesting stuff in Andy thread about whether ivy is something girls actually dig. I thought I would say some quick thoughts of my own and then open it up for comment.

I think I'm repeating myself here, but I think ivy works on the soft sell. When it works right, the look is generally understated. To be a tad trite, an understated look works for people who appreciate understatement and I think depending on one's circles that can cut out a lot of available people. The message it sends is not only subtle, it can easily be confused. I don't think too many people here meet the stereotype of someone who hangs out at tennis clubs or followers of the Mormon faith (no insult intended) but for those not in the know, the clothes can give off those vibes. I mean it is hard not to figure out what the guy in the cannibal corpse shirt is into, but do penny loafers and sport coats really give the clues to those who are not informed who aren't playing the same game or at least aware of its existence? We've probably all been told at various times that we look either retro, nerdy, old-fashioned or up-to-minute, all depending on the day (I am guaranteed to get all of these reactions in the same day if I wear a knitted tie).

The long and short of it is for someone to find ivy attractive, they either have to GET IT, not get it per se but dig it or just simply like the individual.

Anyway, happy to hear some other thoughts on the issue.

I thought Adam's comments were pretty accurate. A lot of ivy stuff seems big right now but is one still au courant if over the age of 20?

Of course, talking about Alfie is a whole other issue. Anyone who gives off Michael Caine's confidence and style is bound to do well (though one hopes such an individual would be kinder to his partners than Caine's character was in said film).