aarongilson asked: Fall is fast approaching - i think the art of the scarf is something that might make a good feature.

T:  Aaron, thanks for the question and sorry it took me so long to get back to you.  A few days ago I had some time free but, I had to wait in line for a cheesesteak with an annoying friend of mine for almost an hour.  Wait….that friend was you.  My bad.

Anyway, Valet did an awesome job schooling us all on how to tie a scarf this winter (or any winter for that matter).  Check out their article here.  Seriously, it’s way better than I could do (but Andrew could do way better). 

I am currently looking for a scarf for my personal collection.  I find that most scarves are too short for my liking so I can’t tie them in my preferred way—which is making a loop and then pulling the other end through (if you must know).

Right now, I’m liking the University scarves at J. Press.  It seems that University scarves have been all the rage these days because of their bright colors and ties to the oh-so-of-the-moment Ivy League aesthetic.  Although  Press doesn’t make a scarf for Vassar, I like the Dartmouth one because they have bitchin’ colors.  As of this moment, all of J. Press’ 72 inch wool University scarves are on sale for $66.75.

T: Here at T&A, we try our best to be the last to break news in the world of men’s fashion.  It’s one of the reasons why so many people read this little enterprise.  Andrew and I can’t hire enough interns to keep up with the traffic we get on a daily basis. 

So, here is a picture of the new (old by blog terms) 20 piece collection between the the venerable J. Press and the throw-away fashion purveyor, Urban Outfitters:

Urban Outfitters has been turning out some much better stuff lately and has been taking a page out of J. Crew’s book by collaborating with other, well respected brands.  According to a press release from Urban Outfitters and J. Press:

“We wanted to recreate the height of traditional Ivy League style in the early ’60s,” says design director, Mikito Takeshima. Drawing on influences from the film Animal House and the popular television show Happy Days, the 20-piece collection offers preppy casuals mixed with classic basics and relaxed styling. The exclusive line includes solid and striped oxfords, slim-fit pants, a Black Watch tartan golf jacket, and a wool vest, alongside several collegiate accessories such as a Dartmouth scarf, Princeton tie, and Cornell belt.”

From the looks of the pictures, I believe that I could make out a few items in the color schemes of Columbia (booo) and U. Penn. as well.  To me, this collection seems to be another attempt (albeit more mainstream) to cash in on the “Take Ivy” aesthetic that has been everywhere over the last few years and seems to have finally reached critical mass. 

In any event, it looks like the collection will be released sometime later this month or in early December.

Editor’s Note: I have nothing against Columbia as a school but I have plenty against the Columbia rugby team.  Why they thought they could talk smack to a former all women’s college that had beaten them 3 straight years is beyond me. 

p.s. thanks to L.A.S for the quote and the picture. 

aarongilson asked: turns out you guys are just following in vassar tradition. http://www.ivy-style.com/boyfriend-jacket-the-vassar-girl-and-the-ivy-league-look.html

the girl that wrote it is writing an entire book about "vassar fashion" and was a TVE student of mine

Aaron,

Thanks for the link.  I hope that her Vassar Fashion book can capitalize on some of hype that Take Ivy is receiving these days. 

Dearest readers, when you get a chance, check out this Ivy Style article about an upcoming book on the Vassar style tradition here.

-Tom

Professor X asked: What should I wear to a friendly game of softball between professors and students? How do I dress so that I look appropriate but not overzealous? Cleats - yes or no?

T: I have played in these type of softball games pretty often and there are a lot of ways to go.  I would think that a t-shirt (as long as it’s not brand new) and a pair of shorts would be the way to go.  Wearing baseball pants, an Ichiro jersey, and stirrups might be overdoing it.  If you have cleats already, I would wear them (I did when I played intramural college softball) but if this game is as friendly as it sounds, I would say that it wouldn’t be that big a deal if you wore sneakers and slipped a few times.  If you have cleats and feel bashful, bring them in your bag and break them out if you see a few other people wearing them as well. 

When I first moved to New York after college, I stopped wearing hoodies all the time.  Mainly this was because it’s hard to wear a hoodie with a shirt and tie and my Vassar rugby sweatshirt wasn’t as cool when walking around off the Vassar campus.  Because I stopped wearing hoodies, I started to wish I had something that might shield me from the elements when it wasn’t that cold.  So, I needed a light jacket. 

So, one hungover Sunday, I stumbled off the subway and tried on a Harrington-style jacket from Uniqlo. The first Harrington-style jackets were made by British clothing company Baracuta in the 1930s.  Elvis popularized the Baracuta G9 when he wore it in his 1958 movie King Creole. Over the next 60 years, the jacket would be worn by style icons Sinatra, Dean, McQueen, JFK, Weishaupt (that’s me—couldn’t help myself) and countless others. 

This style of jacket earned the nickname Harrington because it was worn by the character Rodney Harrington in the 1960s soap opera Peyton Place.  (Obviously Peyton Place has managed to continue to influence our life today in many ways—huh?)

Baracuta Harrington jackets like the one pictured on Christoper Reeve in Superman 2 (above) can be found at JCrew and set you back a few hundred dollars.  I think that the tartan lining on the inside of these jackets really makes them stand out.  However, there are some cheaper options that can be found at Gap (left) and L.L. Bean Signature (below).

I get compliments on my olive Uniqlo jacket that I wear during early fall and early spring.  Until I went into Uniqlo that day, I never knew what I had been missing and the jacket has received countless wearing since then.  It’s a great alternative to a “windbreaker” or a jean jacket for the times when a shirt won’t do but a hoodie or sweater might not provide the pockets and wind protection you demand.