You are not logged in.

  • Index
  •  » Talk Ivy
  •  » Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

#1 2009-05-27 03:48:03

Ian Strachan's Raincoat
Member
Posts: 521

Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

I've been following Toffeeman's, then Gibson Gardens', postings with enormous interest for some while now.  Although he and I don't quite see eye to eye over modernist art, architecture or design perhaps, there is a definite wavelength thing going on, similar to the one I have enjoyed for a year or more now with Staceyboy.
Specifically, GG is unafraid to articulate certain feelings which may be slightly unfashionable in UK Ivy, and by doing so he leads us not into temptation, but points up the aspirational side of Ivy style in its purest sense: removing it from the council ghetto circa 69 back to its collegiate environment, then re-importing it as the finest entity imaginable, so subtle in its execution that even the most ambitious, most fastidious mod from 1960-62 (or thereabouts) might have had difficulty keeping up.  His swipes at the later, Marriott-type mods and skinhead fashion are inspirational IMO, and appeal to me in a very personal sense because I managed to go from useless school-leaver without hope or ideas to university graduate and professional (only after a lot of hard graft), yet dragging a fair amount of chippiness behind me.  The benefit I have derived from reading and studying his comments, and Jim's on Strachan and Lally has been unlimited, informing my choices on a virtually daily basis: in terms of colour, texture, materials, silhouette, everything.  So: the complexity of simplicity.  'Mods', if I may be so bold, probably cared too much, whereas the classic Ivy style speaks of confidence in a very deep and broad sense without any trace of 'flashiness'.  The devil remains in the detail - of course it does - but the 'boldness' is often ditched in favour of clothing more offbeat, such as Madras or seersucker jackets for the warmer days.  I don't think GG is actually a devotee of either, but they are at least a small gesture of defiance in an England which is baggy, scruffy, outsourced, acrylic, ugly, aggressive, stupid, un-co-ordinated and brain-dead.  Just for starters. 

Our style requires thought, thought and more thought.  Gibson injects a welcome amount of pure intellect into the forum, which builds on the knowledge that comes from, say, Chris H.  Who else would have posted about Jonathan Miller, thus avoiding the obvious?  It's taking us far from repellent youth aggression and pleasingly into the realms of black and Jewish culture - and WASP when we want it - and that's exactly where we need to be right now.

 

#2 2009-05-27 04:10:08

Tom Rath
Member
Posts: 172

Re: Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

Ive always liked this quote, seems somewhat relevant:

Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity.
-- Charles Mingus

 

#3 2009-05-27 04:15:14

Ian Strachan's Raincoat
Member
Posts: 521

Re: Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

 

#4 2009-05-27 04:40:23

1966
1,966% Ivy
Posts: 2382

Re: Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

The Mingus quote is one I like to drop myself.

Great post ISR - I agree, simplicity is key and it doesn't come easy. I find myself straying from it, returning to it, it's a work in progress really. You're never "there".

 

#5 2009-05-28 01:43:23

Taylor McIntyre
Son of Ivy...
Posts: 342

Re: Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

Lots of ideas here IRS - Good work - And that Mingus quote is very to the point too.

It's all down to degrees of subtlety and nuance in my book - No grand shouting gestures to get attention. It's a very 'calm' style.

Even when you stray into Madras and using stronger colours then the use of them in the Ivy style is so carefully balanced that the style absorbs what could otherwise be a jarring note.
It's the old 'GTH' rule once more - Only one item of GTH should be worn and even then only as a throw away, literally 'Go to Hell', gesture.
Less is more.

 

#6 2009-05-28 01:44:24

Ian Strachan's Raincoat
Member
Posts: 521

Re: Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

 
  • Index
  •  » Talk Ivy
  •  » Aspiration: The complexity of simplicity

Board footer

Powered by PunBB
© Copyright 2002–2008 Rickard Andersson