Our dear friend Richie has recently purchased a very vintage looking madras blazer which is a very muted yellow, blue, and red (possibly a little green as well). It is a beautiful jacket, and one that I might consider wearing. However, Richie insists that he intends to have it altered in the sleeves, and have a Yale Crest placed on the jacket. Richie, I say that is quite bold of you (I exclaimed), and when saying these words he knows I do not approve. For one, I am not much for crests, and second, Richie did not attend Yale. However, Richie quickly pointed out that his father attended Yale, and that the jacket could be perceived as a hand-me-down. In addition, he exclaimed that he liked it, and he was going to do it regardless of my opinion. Oh well, he did promise to model it on the blog when the weather grows warmer, and when it is fixed at the sleeves. The jacket on display is a similar pattern but imagine it muted, and the crest below is the crest he plans to use.
21 comments:
Quite bold and offensive to any true ivy league alumnus.
Well, if it were an actual hand-me-down, then I could possibly get behind the crest idea. But since it isn't...
Richard, I think the blazer is really fun on its own...I'm a fan of madras. Maybe leave off the crest and enjoy it as/is?
Richard,
You and your imaginary freind Worthington are pitiful.
Don't do it. Wearing the school crest of a school you did not attend is declasse. Besides, the WASP lifestyle isn't about being showy or flamboyant. I would argue, in fact, that it is very much the opposite.
WASPs buy quality items of a classic nature and wear them until they are no longer presentable. The casual elegance that many admire in WASPs comes not from crests or being slaves to fashion, but rather from the slow breaking in process of quality clothing.
In short, putting the crest on the blazer is new money. An old money WASP would never dream of doing such a thing.
I agree. WASPs just "are." They don't need to advertise themselves. It seems, Richard, that because you "are not" you feel the need to advertise that you "are." A commentator awhile back mentioned Cleveland Amory. He wrote a book, "Who Killed Society." In Chapter 2 of that book, he discusses crests and Coats of Arms. I think it would do you some good to read it.
I think your site would be greatly enhanced if you discussed the WASP culture in a scholarly, intellectual and detached way rather than attempting to insert yourself into it.
this worthington business is ridiculous.
Zinged thrice so far.Care to rethink your plan?
Worthington,
Why don't you get a matching blazer with a crest that reads.."I'm with stupid".
Worthington,
This is not what I had intended for your posts. When we have a clothing conversation, it doesn't have to end up as a post. In addition, you forgot part of the story. My father gave me some hand-me-downs from his closet which includes some tweeds and corduroy blazers. The week my father stayed with me, he discussed his madras blazer that he wore at Yale, and it did bare the college insignia. However, the blazer did eventually wear out, and it was not possible to be a hand-me-down. So, he and I set out to find a madras blazer that resembled his Yale madras, and we found one. The one we found is almost identical to his, and the color on the tag said Yale Plaid. To complete the hand-me-down, we ordered a Yale badge from J Press. So, even though the jacket is not his true hand-me-down, it is a replica. He bought me the jacket and badge......therefore it is a gift/hand-me-down.
Richard,
How many of your PR clients have sued you for mismanagment and incompetence? You can even make up and manage an imaginary friend with any success.
The madras jacket is awesome. Go for it, Richard! Forget the crest, however, even if your father attended Yale. Something distasteful lingers, after reading this post. For one thing, I'm not sure the Ivies are that WASP-y today, with the triumph of political correctness, third world immigration, and multiculturalism. And for a second thing, advertising where you attended college, or where your father attended college, definitely smacks of a striving middle-class, nouveau-riche stance. If you have to tell the world world where you went to college--whether you advertise your alma mater on a blazer, car decal, or sweatshirt-- indicates a bourgeouis one-upmanship and middle class insecurity.
February 16, 2009 2:50 PM
Anonymous said...
Worthington,
Why don't you get a matching blazer with a crest that reads.."I'm with stupid".
NOW THAT IS FUNNY!
Dickie, my friend, what has happened to you? While I understand your reasoning behind wearing this blazer w/ crest, I just think it’s a very bad idea. Cool your father went to Yale, my father went to a great university as well, but I wouldn’t dare wear his letterman sweater. For one, I did not attend that particular university.
Also, I too am finding this collaborator you have writing here a bit much, what’s this all about? Why didn’t you let him start his own blog, and make comments on yours like most do? I’m sorry but it’s all a bit strange really.
From hicktowndiva, “Well, if it were an actual hand-me-down, then I could possibly get behind the crest idea.” I disagree; I can’t get behind it at all. I can not live my father’s life, hand me down or not. This isn’t a pair of Albert slippers we are talking about here.
From Anonymous, “Don't do it. Wearing the school crest of a school you did not attend is declasse. Besides, the WASP lifestyle isn't about being showy or flamboyant. I would argue, in fact, that it is very much the opposite.” I have to agree 100%. Just let it ride man, cherish the non-collegiate items your father have given you.
From Anonymous, “Why don't you get a matching blazer with a crest that reads.."I'm with stupid".” I disagree. There are better ways to prove a point.
From you, “So, even though the jacket is not his true hand-me-down, it is a replica. He bought me the jacket and badge......therefore it is a gift/hand-me-down.” I think that the word ‘replica” is what bothers me most. Should I go out and purchase a replica Rolex that matches my fathers? Granted your father made the purchases, however, I would have made a point to him that I was not worthy of such a gift.
In short, haven’t you had enough with the blazer crest? Yes, they are nice, however, you continually come under fire when you wear them. As for your friend, real or imagined, be mindful of who deal with, as I’m sure you’ve seen he can’t be trusted.
Um, a madras coat is in no way a blazer. A blazer MUST have metal buttons and be a solid color.
If he's doing it as performance art or something, it is rather funny.
I second LBT. Old money does not draw attention...unless its around other Old money.
A fake hand-me-down?
Are you kidding?
Could anything possibly be more contived?
The funniest thing about this blog is the number of f*#%&*g idiots who think it's real.
Worthington,
I am not happy with you at all. You will not be allowed to post anymore if you keep it up! I didn't bring you on here to be an antagonist, or to argue.
Richard, you've reached a new low.
I'm beginning to think this blog is one long April Fool's gag, with the punchline being me actually getting flustered that anyone should attempt to wear a crest of a college they didn't actually go to.
This blog is a nice treat for vintage devotees like me. My favorite shop which serves my thirst for vintage clothing .
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