The question is can Ivy League Style Make a full recovery and once again reach its peak in American Society. First, I think it is important to recognize that the style never truly went away. Old money WASP establishments, Ralph Lauren, J Press, etc. have helped to preserve its mystique since its decline in the 1970s. But to question whether it can once again reach its peak can only be answered with a no! I just don't think the elements are there. Yes, we have a tradshpere of bloggers, Ralph, and Brooks to continue with Ivy Style, but we don't have as many traditional men's shops that offer traditional Ivy Style clothes. Personally, the Ivy Style from the thirties-sixties is such a foreign notion to the youth of today, that I don't think it can be restored to original form. Ask a teenager what a 3/2 roll is, and I bet they stare at you endlessly. However, shows like Gossip Girl have help to restore some prominence in the youthful attire, but to truly call their clothing Ivy is a stretch.
Do I really care if the style makes a full comeback.....no! However, I still plan to embrace it and all of its joys until I die. In the meantime, let's enjoy some Ivy League photos.
This is a great look that I embrace often in winter months.
A nice Ivy League haircut !
Blair could wear a trash bag, and I would love it. This is her at Yale week!
12 comments:
Richard,
Unfortunately I think you are right-I see the kids of today wearing WASP style as a novelty. That is another reason I appreciate you taking it seriously and sharing what you know.
Bill
what do you think about that?
http://boducon.blogspot.com
Richard, Worthington, et.al.,
I laugh. Ralph Lauren as an "old money WASP establishment"!
Ralph Lauren is as new money as it gets. But credit him for bringing preppy to the masses, and his influence remains strong.
One could get an education just by sitting in the presence of those professors.
One never knows what will suddenly emerge as a retro-trend. So don't count out the Ivy League style. Though perhaps it will appear more as an ironic reference to the WASP past.
It would help if bow ties and three-piece suits were more available. Of course you can get them, but it requires a bit more effort than buying a regular suit and tie.
JC Penny's American Living line, which Ralph designs, has some nice WASPy clothes. And at more reasonable prices.
I can see things both ways.
On the one hand, colleges and universities need to encourage openness and diversity in expression, and are one of the most important bastions of free thought in society. The hectic pace of life and its stark economic realities -- especially for non-tenured faculty -- make it difficult to devote a lot of time to sartorial perfection. And there are always faculty who think they can progress up the ladder by carving out a niche as an "outsider". Some faculty think they can "connect" better with slovenly students by looking slovenly themselves.
On the other hand, the more prestigious higher educational institutions maintain strong connections to tradition and to the past. In fact, the whole premise of liberal arts education depends on interacting with, interpreting and studying the past. Many fields (e. g., literature, art, music) provide inspiring models for stylish dress. The same skills one develops in research can be applied to style as well.
I try to look as traditional as possible without being stodgy. To connect with students it's not so much the clothes you wear, but the attitude and energy that you have.
Richard:
Why would anyone ever want the notion of waspdom via the ivy league to return? It seems that your entire comment is nothing more than feigned disgust for the lower orders and their rampant casualism and street wear rather than any forceful observation of the state of fashion.
Then again, this outrage on your part is entirely appropriate; if in fact the mass of persons somehow migrated to the wasp style even you would have a meaningful exercise of intelligence and authority over someone.
I was in Princeton on business two days ago. Had lunch on Nassau street and walked around campus. If the Ivy League is defined by Waspy dress and deportment, I can tell you that it's long gone.
Retro trends, affectations, fashion of the moment versus enduring style...as G. Bruce Boyer aptly put it...Traditional dressing for most ... for most mind you...not all...is a costume, not an outward manifestation of deeply rooted style or a philosophy of any kind.
The Ivy style is barely regonizable at this Ivy school. Women are content wearing uggs and sweatpants. There are some exceptions, but don't see much of it these days. I find that professors and staff somewhat keep it going, but not like it used to be.
I think the best one can hope for in today's men's style is not a return to 50's menwear but the style so-called "business casual" or "smart casual." Smart casual is today's equivalent of the WASP upper class menswear of yesteryear.
It is interesting to read Wikipedia's article on Business Casual. The article starts out by saying the reason for changing from business formal to business casual was in the 70's when the government mandated businesses to raise office thermostats to fend off the energy crisis. Managers then permitted the workers to shed the jacket and tie from business suits because of warmer office temperatures. So what remained was dress trousers and dress shirts.
I feel lucky that I live in Harvard Sq and have access to all these great Trad men's shops, even though I am no WASP.
Ryan -
Are you at Dartmouth by any chance? The sweatpants and ugg boots comment holds true here - hoping its not the case elsewhere in the league.
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