I’ve come to realize I like most fashions inspired by a uniform, whether jobs or sports– nautical, tennis, cricket, nautical, aviation, military, etc.– and the Ivy look depicted in this monograph really is a kind of uniform.  A prep uniform.  Key pieces, fabrics, patterns, and combinations, just tweaked slightly over the years.

On top of being full of great photos, this book has a really interesting story.  Here it is, according to The Pursuit Aesthetic:

“Described by The New York Times as, “a treasure of fashion insiders,” Take Ivy was originally published in Japan in 1965, setting off an explosion of American-influenced “Ivy Style” fashion among students in the trendy Ginza shopping district of Tokyo. The product of four sartorial style enthusiasts, Take Ivy is a collection of candid photographs shot on the campuses of America’s elite, Ivy League universities.

The series focuses on men and their clothes, perfectly encapsulating the unique academic fashion of the era. Whether lounging in the quad, studying in the library, riding bikes, in class, or at the boathouse, the subjects of Take Ivy are impeccably and distinctively dressed in the finest American-made garments of the time.

Take Ivy is now considered a definitive document of this particular style, and rare original copies are highly sought after by “trad” devotees worldwide. A small-run reprint came out in Japan in 2006 and sold out almost immediately. Now, for the first time ever, powerHouse is reviving this classic tome with an all-new English translation. Ivy style has never been more popular, in Japan or stateside, proving its timeless and transcendent appeal. Take Ivy has survived the decades and is an essential object for anyone interested in the history or future of fashion.”

I think the Japanese-American fashion angle is fascinating, and The Trad adds this:

“It’s no secret that some Japanese are obsessed with the Ivy look. The word “Trad” has it’s origins in Japan and I for one think the Japanese have taken care of the style far better than we ever could have hoped. Hardly surprising in a culture where Tradition rules, the Morning Coat is still worn and life is lived and appreciated for small moments.”

Take Ivy will be available in August and pre-orders are available on Amazon now.

via The Pursuit Aesthetic
and The Trad

Looking forward to it!

From Thinking For a Living.

I recently watched Two For the Road and couldn’t get enough of the styling and visuals– the colors, the outfits, the scenery, the cars, it’s all pretty much perfect. It’s the kind of movie that makes you want to live IN it. Interestingly, Design*Sponge featured the movie on their “Living In” column, which shows you how to give your home the same style of the movie, as though you were… living in it. I absolutely love the feature. Below, the blog equivalent of a “retweet,” with images from their post, as well as more stills I grabbed off the netflix.

I love a good old document. And I love that there used to be passports for couples!

An awesome British racing green car and belted trench never hurt anyone’s look. Also notice plaid suitcase with leather trim.

Love the sneakers, they’re like my fave Bensimons! The preppy classic button-up + sweater doesn’t look so staid with cute sneaks + sexy hair.

A very pretty picnic.

Red, white, and blue = a classic combo. Those American flag makers knew what they were doing. Although, they probably just copied the French and British. Also, why can’t cars still be painted with these one-tone pure lacquer colors? Rather than like, pearlescent glittery colors?

I even like the canvas bag in the foreground with the leather straps.