Author Archive
Navy Blue
Navy blue is a blue so inky it almost appears black. The combination of dark blue and white white was worn by the British Royal Navy in 1748, and thereafter adopted by navies around the world.
Originally called marine blue, navy blue caught the public imagination.
Navy blue is most often seen on blazers kept on reserve at fancy restaurants, yachting, and on sport coats during mandatory private school meetings.
Fact Credit: Wikipedia
Image Credit: therow.com
The Originals… minus one
Image Credit: hypebeast.com
Levis 501’s retain their original design, minus 1 crucial button. The company’s president got too close to a campfire, and experienced discomfort when the bottom crotch button conducted heat. The offending rivet was thus removed.
Fact Credit: Wikipedia
Elementary, my dear Watson.
el·e·men·ta·ry: \ˌe-lə-ˈmen-tə-rē, -ˈmen-trē\ : of, relating to, or dealing with the simplest elements or principles of something.
Elementary fashion rules:
1. Cuffs should hang a quarter inch to a half inch past the jacket sleeve.
2. Tie should be knotted with a single dimple, and the tie point sitting at the waistband.
3. Match watch, cuff links and belt buckle.
Fact credit: www.merriam-webster.com
Photo credit: images.starpulse.com
Pink Shirt Friday.
Pink shirt Friday – a modern take on casual Fridays.
Casual Fridays are traced back to the century old practice of excusing brown tweed suits in English towns on Fridays. Less formal attire was donned because many gentlemen headed to the the country after their Friday work day.
Fact credit: The Suit, Nicholas Antongiavanni, p. 140
Photo credit: Balmain via http://129.35.169.230/
Winter Blues?
Professor Judith Waters Ph.D. says that dressing in bright colors has an impact on mood. Colors tend to “cheer us up and give people a lift, especially after a long, dreary winter.” (psychologytoday.com)
The Pantone website explains that “color is light and light is energy”. As such, colors can stimulate, excite, depress, tranquilize and create a feeling of warmth or coolness. According to the Pantone Color Institute, winter is the best time to wear vibrant reds and royal blues.
Fact credit: www.psychologytoday.com; www.pantone.com
Image credit: us.burberry.com
That’s Nautical
Photo credit: roguesgallery.com
Nautical is back for Spring / Summer 2010. Some useful terms should you find yourself at sea:
Groggy: Drunk from having consumed a lot of grog (rum &water).
Avast: Stop. Cease or desist from whatever is being done.
Aye, aye: Reply to an order or command to indicate that the command is understood and will be carried out.
By and large: “By” means into the wind, while “large” means with the wind. By and large is used to indicate all possible situations “the ship handles well both by and large“.
Under the weather: Serving a watch on the weather side of the ship, exposed to wind and spray.
Dressing down: Treating old sails with oil or wax to renew them.
Jack: A sailor
Mae West: A Second World War personal flotation device used to keep people afloat in the water
Tweed Run, London.
January 24th, 2009, London hosted the first ever Tweed Run. The event was organized by London Fixed Gear and Single Speed. Riders wore traditional British cycling attire, namely tweed.
Tweed is a coarse unfinished woolen fabric closely woven in either plain or twill weave. Tweed was often worn as informal outerwear because it is durable and moisture resistant… perfect for cycling?
Fact Credit: Wikipedia.com
Image credit: Photo by Roxy Erickson via tumblr
All Tied Up
When choosing a tie, it is important to consider pattern, width, fabric, formality and color.
Pattern: Lots of options, plaid, striped, spotted etc.
Width: The traditional width of an English regimental tie is three and a quarter inches.
Fabric: Silk is arguably the best textile for ties, durable, lustrous and resilient.
Formality / Color: A darker tie is typically considered more formal.
Fact credit: The Suit, Nicholas Antongiavanni, p. 145
Start The Year Off on the Right Foot.
The Oxford is a type of leather shoe. These shoes were originally from Ireland and Scotland and are typically quite plain with (at most) small perforations as detail. According to Hoyle, when it comes to shoes and ornamentation, less is more.
Straight-laced :
1) Refers to a method of fastening two pieces so that the laces span straight across rather than making a crisscrossed pattern.
2) Oxford English Dictionary definition: having or showing very strict moral attitudes.
Fact Credit: Wikipedia.org; askoxford.com
Image credit: Maison Martin Margiela via tresbienshop.net
Think Pink. Thomas Pink.
The original Thomas Pink shirts were constructed on an authentic block and made from 38 separate components, with a 14 piece hand turned collar.
Thomas Pink was founded by three Irish brothers and entrepreneurs, James, Peter and John Mullen. The company brand name, Thomas Pink came from a London tailor who made red hunting jackets, a color that was referred to as “hunting pink” (see “hunting pink” is more red than you think).
“In the Pink”- is an idiomatic expression for in good health.
Thus, the term “in the pink” has been used to refer both to the color of the hunting jackets (those lucky enough to own one) and hunters’ healthy and energetic approach to their pasttime.
Fact credit: wikipedia.org; www.phrases.org.uk; www.thomaspink.com
Image credit: www.thomaspink.com