I should have thought Lacoste, back in the late 70s and into the early 80s, would have been essential for that 'American' look.  Fred Perry were perhaps a bit too commonplace - or revivalist mod - by 1978.  This was the year I first came across those magical words 'Brooks Brothers', which meant for me New York - and specifically Manhattan - although it was all mixed up with seeing Brando movies and 'The Seven Year Itch' and so on at the local artsy cinema.  Anything American from the 40s and 50s a small crowd of us eagerly gobbled up.  Some of us have never stopped!  The 'American' look - for me, miles away from Richmond - was quite tentative at first:  Levis, chinos, Timberland shoes, grey sweatshirts, then Pendleton shirts and warm-up jackets: more a blend of 'prep' with 'Americana' than Ivy League.  But it was a way in.

http://peppermintkisskiss.com/images/monty.jpg

Clift was it for us in 1978-79.  We liked Brando, Dean and De Niro, too, but Clift had that air of bisexual mystery some of us found so appealing.  Now, oddly, I tend to prefer Brando; at least in some roles.  Clift seems too obviously tormented by something.  Dean seems more than ever like a cry baby (though 'East of Eden' remains quite effective).  De Niro has become another Jack Nicholson. 

Overall, though, I much prefer a Jack Lemmon, Clint Eastwood or, more so, Stewart and McQueen.  Anyone who hasn't done so should check out Paul Newman in 'Hud'. 

Tastes change, don't they?

I'd be happy to banter with him.

Maybe he thinks Lacoste wouldn't or shouldn't belong there?

We could probably produce quite a list of things which would ruin the idea of The Ivy as being a 'Skinhead' kinda shop - I recall a Dark Blue John Partridge Barbour-style jacket in there once.

I'd agree.

I agree with Alex there. As a relative newcomer to the forum I always thought a 'for sale/wanted' thread would be a good idea, but I thought maybe all that stuff was done backstage. One man's old pair of shoes is another man's treasured find.
Plus, with many of the shipping charges being extortionate on Ebay, Americans could buy for Europeans and vice/versa and we could keep the charges down. What does the team think?

I need to check with The Weejun on the repro Playboys...

Repro Sero number one was produced, sent back for fine tuning, and is back hidden in my wardrobe now so that Mrs Street can see it & call me on it. The project was not a success. I got a new BD out of it but a Sero it ain't.

Aljazz also has a great BD from Jantzen which he loaned me for the project - Again a very nice shirt, but it's not a Sero (not that he was aiming for that).

If I want to take this further I need, by trial & error, to see if another maker can make one.


The Sales section idea is a good one, Alex. All the 'For Sale' threads we've had in the past have done very well.

How about Lil at Trim Fit..

http://www.trimfituk.co.uk/

Uncle. GBX make a decent Playboy. But the postage is usually more than you pay for the shoes. If a large order could be set up where we all buy a couple of pairs that might be a way round the silly shipping charges.

You should be scrutinizing shamrockmonkey's lists.  You never quite know what he's going to come up with.  Could be the answer to a whole lot of prayers.  The Brooks shirts I had, while made in Jamaica, are pretty much like the first I had way back - and that, in this present climate, is good enough for me; particularly when nasty Land's End, Orvis and Izod are beginning to put in an appearance.
In fact, if I wanted to keep the OLD tradition going (which I pretty much do) I'm convinced I could manage it simply by cutting back on current purchasing (from any type of shop) and exercising infinite patience.  True.

Fill in the blanks...  I've always thought this and certain others, combined, would make an interesting thread.  Only the late JFM, however, could have pulled it all together.  It began quite a few years ago - and it was pretty difficult then, getting hold of good, well-made clothing that would last the distance.  How much Ivy of the 'Golden Age' would have managed it?  Hilton?  Maybe.  Haspel?  How many 'small-town' names were intended to be anything other than 'for a couple of seasons'?  I've tried various shirts (not as many as some, granted) but always gone back to Makers.  And shoes?  Do some still favour Alden?  IS, it seems, did not go in for much experimentation; quite different then to JS?