Growing up in New England, I was raised in a family that, stereotypically, cherished thriftiness and a well-worn aesthetic. In a household of five boys, it was both economical and a practical imperative. That top image is a little before I showed up, but rest assured that I wore pretty much all of that gear…
Brooks Brothers. If there is a single brand which at its core is a byword for ‘American,’ it’s Brooks Brothers. Around the world that name quite literally defines the ideal of classic American style. And, with nearly 200 years of Ivy League, East Coast establishment history under its belt, Brooks can lay claim to the…
A few years ago, we had a chance to sit down with award-winning fashion designer Michael Bastian and discuss his belief that what we know as classic American style was in fact born from the confluence of three disparate societal trends. In this article we revisit that conversation and Bastian’s insightful observations of American men’s…
In Part One of this column, we took a look at the philosophy and strategy behind the brand that is Vineyard Vines. Now, let’s look at the business side of that ubiquitous pink whale. A very important thing to note about Vineyard Vines is that they are opening brink-and-mortar stores while almost any other brand…
Vineyard Vines is everywhere. A classic American success story, the company, most associated with whimsical yest office compatible ties, was most recently feted in the long-anticipated follow up to The Original Preppy Handbook – TRUE PREP. In fact, TRUE PREP and TOPH author Lisa Birnbach worked together to promote the new book. In September, Vineyard…
I have a lifelong appreciation for designs that respect a product’s utilitarian roots. Classic and traditional styles have always done that. In fact, the hallmark of the true preppy aesthetic is the re-purposing of utilitarian items for everyday life: foul weather gear becomes a fashion statement, prep school ties and jackets appear in the office,…
True Prep Blad View more documents from Alfred A. Knopf.
Well, without a doubt a Spring here in the nation’s capitol. The cherry trees, a gift from the people of Japan to the people of the United States, are blooming across the city and tourists from around the world are flooding in. Though a little frustrating – please, please stand to the right on escalators…
I think it’s safe to say that for generations now, polo shirts have been the cornerstone of a classic warm weather wardrobe. Though when they hear polo shirt most people think “Polo ™” shirt, the first truly branded version was developed in 1929 for tennis legend Rene’ “The Alligator” Lacoste. Lacoste wanted a comfortable shirt…
No the clearest of pictures, but this guy is always on the move. I couldn’t get him to stand still long enough for a clear shot. KR is a honest-to-goodness DC lobbyist and a darn good one at that. He’s also a very snappy dresser. A South Carolina native, he passes up the standard suit…
