This column grew out a discussion on my blog, Off The Cuff DC, on the relationship between classic and preppy styles. The subject quickly became an effort to identify the real roots of American preppy and what it means today. New England preparatory schools, conservative protestant values and social stratification all combined to create an environment which produced the uniform we know today as the preppy look. Actually, what passes today as … [Read more...]
“A little imagination” my dear old grandmother tells me “goes a long way.” Of course, she was right, although I am slightly piqued that my overly fertile imagination has frequently left me high and dry in the realm of dreams whilst my companions, keen to step ahead, have wisely pursued their manageable ambitions in the doldrums of reality. If necessity is the mother of invention, then imagination is surely the rather caddish father; for … [Read more...]
Ideally, buying designer clothes should be about design. Runway shows have a perennial fascination because they showcase (in rapid, often dazzling procession) a series of unique and original designs. They are a flick-book approach to art – glimpses into the mind of a designer with one theme, and perhaps hundreds of preoccupations. The best designer stores, equally, are fascinating. Glancing through rails, even just taking in the … [Read more...]
Every five to ten years, a designer comes along who completely changes the aesthetic and direction of men’s fashion. Be it Hedi Slimane at Dior single-handedly reviving 60’s rocker-chic and a wave of slim via the trickle-down effect or the creation of the modern suit by Giorgio Armani, they are integral in the forward movement of fashion. The current most revolutionary designer in menswear is without question, Tom Ford. During his tenure … [Read more...]
Whatever happened to the three button suit? It really doesn’t seem that long ago that the normal suit; the veritable ‘everyday potato’ of suits came with a trio of buttons. I must admit, when it was everywhere, I yearned for the individuality, not to mention the elegance, of a two button suit. To me, there was something a little off about the recent three-button suit: being worn with the two top buttons done up, with awkward lapel … [Read more...]
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