A SUPERB interview

[Marc Chevalier]

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Really.

Don't miss this one, folks: http://www.ivy-style.com/bruce-almighty.html


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[Tony in Tarzana]

Great read, thanks!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

You're welcome!

It's very rare to find meaty, intelligent interviews about this subject.

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[Carlisle Blues]

Thank you Marc very interesting

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

"IS: The world of online menswear blogs and forums is recognized as a place of draconian cattiness. What’s your take on the Internet?

BB: It’s John Lobb London versus John Lobb Paris, and which one is better. That’s one reason why I don’t get involved. The other reason is that they’re amateurs, and I’m a professional, and I ought to get paid for my opinions."

:arated:

 

[Slim Portly]

A very well crafted interiew, with obvious respect and insight from each of the participants. Thank you, Marc, for the link.

 

[zetwal]

Very interesting interview. But this is a pretty silly statement. Don't you think?

- America kind of invented the idea of sportswear, the idea that clothing could be comfortable but still have dignity. -

OK "sportswear" maybe ... but certainly "the idea that clothing could be comfortable but still have diginity" is very much older than even America ...

 

[Baron Kurtz]

A good one, thanks Marc. Even if it is a backhand self serving plug!

Given the apparent (i'd never heard of it) nature of "ivy-style.com", and the evident disdain with which the interviewee views men whose personal style "encompass[es] the past and present of traditional American style variously known as trad, preppy, WASPy, and the Ivy League Look" but without the "authenticity" (whatever the hell that might mean), it would have been fun to sit in on the interviews.

bk

 

[carter]

Marc, Thanks for posting a terrific interview. There are so many references in the interview to articles and books that I now have to read.

Unfused collars! Where does one find Mercer shirts?

"But what really pisses me off today is that it’s very difficult to get a true button-down constructed the way they used to be. It’s all fused collars now. It used to just be two pieces of cloth stitched together, and now there’s a lining inside that’s fused with glue. I get my shirts from Mercer because they still make the old-fashioned collar. It comes back from the laundry all wrinkled up, and people say, “Your collar’s all wrinkled,” and I say, “Yeah? Well they’re a lot more comfortable and I really don’t give a shit.”"

Great stuff.

This calls for some music!

Double Shot (of My Baby's Love) by the Swingin' Medallions,
http://bosstracks.blogspot.com/2008/07/boss-tracks-double-shot-of-my-babys.html

Bus Stop by the Hollies
http://www.ilike.com/artist/The+Hollies/track/Bus+Stop

 

[Carlisle Blues]

Marc, Thanks for posting a terrific interview. There are so many references in the interview to articles and books that I now have to read.

Unfused collars! Where does one find Mercer shirts?

"But what really pisses me off today is that it’s very difficult to get a true button-down constructed the way they used to be. It’s all fused collars now. It used to just be two pieces of cloth stitched together, and now there’s a lining inside that’s fused with glue. I get my shirts from Mercer because they still make the old-fashioned collar. It comes back from the laundry all wrinkled up, and people say, “Your collar’s all wrinkled,” and I say, “Yeah? Well they’re a lot more comfortable and I really don’t give a shit.”"

Great stuff.

This calls for some music!

Double Shot (of My Baby's Love) by the Swingin' Medallions,
http://bosstracks.blogspot.com/2008/07/boss-tracks-double-shot-of-my-babys.html

Bus Stop by the Hollies
http://www.ilike.com/artist/The+Hollies/track/Bus+Stop

Here ya go Carter

http://www.mercerandsons.com/

 

[Fletch]

You're welcome!

It's very rare to find meaty, intelligent interviews about this subject.

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True. Academics and marketers don't often agree, but they tacitly concur on one point - and that is that men's clothes, with a few exceptions, are not a "language" as women's are and have little meaning. It's not true, but there is a lot of money and a fair bit of gender theory riding on it, so for now, that's that.

The world of online menswear blogs and forums is recognized as a place of draconian cattiness.

Two observations there:
a) Nothing like what the fashion (=womenswear) press and media have been doing for decades. Nothing like.
b) Let's be thankful FL exists as a refuge from all that relentless attitude.

 

[carter]

Here ya go Carter

http://www.mercerandsons.com/

Thanks, CB. That's the ticket.

 

[Undertow]

"IS: The world of online menswear blogs and forums is recognized as a place of draconian cattiness. What’s your take on the Internet?

BB: It’s John Lobb London versus John Lobb Paris, and which one is better. That’s one reason why I don’t get involved. The other reason is that they’re amateurs, and I’m a professional, and I ought to get paid for my opinions."

:arated:

This was the exact quote I was going to post until I saw yours. Haha, cheers! :eusa_clap

Interesting article, thanks for the link!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

a) Nothing like what the fashion (=womenswear) press and media have been doing for decades. Nothing like.

Absolutely.

bk

 

[Sefton]

I always enjoy how Mr.Boyer adds interesting and largely forgotten historical tidbits to his interviews and other works. The part about Nixon getting bothered about Frost wearing "shoes without laces" was great. Marc, thanks for the link!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Glad you guys like it -- I'm enjoying your enlightening comments.


It's interesting to see how the interviewer is willing at times to (intelligently) disagree with Bruce Boyer, and makes sure that Boyer answers the questions clearly. Vague or evasive responses are met with further questions along the same line. It makes for a good interview.

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[Tomasso]

Boyer's MO.

He takes a touch of fact, mixes in a good portion of conjecture, then tops it with a generous amount of personal opinion. Not an altogether uncommon writing style.

 

[Miss_Bella_Hell]

This was the exact quote I was going to post until I saw yours. Haha, cheers! :eusa_clap

Interesting article, thanks for the link!

:cheers1:

 

[Sefton]

Birth of the Cool Trad

I'd like to add that I'm really enjoying reading the many links on Ivy-League Style's site. The article about Jazz artists embracing the Ivy-League look was fascinating. I've always known that Miles Davis had an impact on fashions, but I didn't realize how much he was responsible for the adoption of that look in the world of Jazz musicians and listeners. Also the history of the tassel loafer was another entertaining piece from Mr.Boyer.