Rugby World Cup 2011

CULTURE  |  A SPORTING LIFE  |  Rugby World Cup 2011

A reasonably impressive performance from the USA and lacklustre performances from the leading nations has marked the start of the Rugby World Cup 2011. I have mentioned before that I am a huge, HUGE, rugby fan and thus I'd been anticipating this year's tournament like a fat kid about to embark on his first visit to the sweet shop. Unfortunately, I could not be in New Zealand this year to watch any of it live. A real shame as New Zealand is a wonderful country.

Turtleneck Sweater

MUST HAVES  |  SWEATERS  |  Turtleneck Sweater

Brrr... It's windy and cold here today. Fall has very definitely arrived. I love the changing seasons but am aware that this time of year is very difficult to dress for... I always find I'm too warm or too cold. The key is to wear thin layers and layer up or down as appropriate. Chunky knits and tweeds aren't quite right yet...

Popular Trends for Preps this Fall

FASHION  |  TRENDWATCH  |  Fall 2011

Firstly, I must stress that preppy is not a fashion trend. The title of this blog should serve to remind my readers that Preppy is a Way of Life. Preppies hold traditional and conservative values very dearly and this is often reflected in the classic clothing styles that preps opt for.

Free Monogramming at Aspinal of London

OFFERS  |  FRIENDS  |  Aspinal of London

We preppies love to monogram our posessions. Thus, when I found out that Aspinal of London, the pre-eminent leather goods maker, is offering free embossing to customers for September I simply had to share with you.

Skinny Jeans

FASHION  |  THE DEBATE  |  Skinny Jeans

This morning I witnessed, with quite some bemusement, a young man frantically "readjusting" himself as a consequence of the distress caused by his incredibly skinny jeans. It was clear that he had spent quite some time getting himself dressed today and was proud of how high fashion and hip he was looking.

Trench Coat

MUST HAVES  |  OUTERWEAR  |  Trench Coat

As the rainy season approaches it's that time of year when one needs to make sure they have a smart and elegant raincoat to hand. Let's be honest, most raincoats are quite ugly. There are only a couple of acceptable jackets and coats for this time of year. The Barbour quilted jacket is one, though should be reserved for casual or country wear, the Harrington jacket is another for purely casual use. The trench coat is the best option for smart or casual occasions.

Sloane Ranger

PROFILE  |  BRANDS  |  Sloane Ranger

Never flashy. Always confident. This is the slogan for new label Sloane Ranger.

Allen Edmonds End of Season Sale

OFFERS  |  FRIENDS  |  Allen Edmonds End of Season Sale

Sale Now On

Just a quick note to let you know about the Allen Edmonds end of season sale.

No White After Labor Day

FASHION  |  THE KNOWLEDGE  |  No White After Labor Day

To all of my American readers, I hope you thoroughly enjoyed the holiday weekend. I'd love to hear what you got up to.

Varsity Jacket (Letterman Jacket)

MUST HAVES  |  OUTERWEAR  |  Varsity Jacket (Letterman Jacket)
This is a classically American garment that has long since been associated with the athletic set in High Schools and Colleges across the USA since way back when. Traditionally manafactured from a boiled wool and often with leather or tweed arms/swatches, this jacket is a preppy Must Have.

Unless you've been living in a cave you will have noticed these everywhere over the last twelve months or so as they have experienced a resurgence in popularity outside of the academic institutions that made them so famous. Pretty much every fashion designer has been working hard to get their varsity jackets out on to the racks and onto the torsos of the young and beautiful.

However, as always, err on the side of preppy over fashion. These jackets were provided to top athletes as a means of allowing them to demonstrate their letters (an award of distinction - the pride of wearing the school's letters). Often times badges are awarded for specific achievements and these are stitched onto the letter or perhaps elsewhere on the garment (lacrosse, crew etc).

I have a couple of these jackets, my favorite being a black and white herringbone wool with dark sleeves. Lovely. Avoid the softshell puffy versions at all costs!

Throat Latches

FASHION  |  THE KNOWLEDGE  |  Throat Latches

It's that time of year when I find myself contemplating my winter wardrobe and blowing the dust and mothballs off my favorite clothes for the coming cooler months. Seeing a couple of jackets and overcoats that I have inspired me to post something about throat latches...

I am not referring to equine anatomy here of course, but rather to the tailoring term that has borrowed it's name from the equestrian world (in part due to the introduction of the throat latch to equestrian garments). The throat latch is a fabric extension to the left lapel notch of tailored sportswear (tweed jackets and such like). The extended piece of fabric has a buttonhole and corresponds to a button that is discretely fastened to the underside of the right lapel. This allows the wearer to fasten the upper part of their jacket across the chest and thus prevent exposure to the elements. This was of particular attraction to the upper class gentleman when riding on a particularly brisk day. Similarly, many lighter jackets (such as the infamous Harrington jacket from Baracuta) also feature throat latch designs.

Many designers have incorporated the throat latch in their countrywear ranges and these little design flourishes may also be seen adorning great coats and chesterfield overcoats. I prefer to keep them to tweed, as with their original design. I do have one tweed jacket with a leather throat latch that I am particularly fond of. This shooting jacket from Hackett is not dissimilar.

Refrain from having your tailor add this detail to business or formal suits - it's a silly way of showing that your suit is bespoke.

Sailboat Models

MUST HAVES  |  HOMEWARES  |  Sailboat Models

Sailing is a decidedly preppy pastime. For preps life is just something that gets in the way of sailing time. Thus, when not on the water, preps like to surround themselves with nautical paraphanalia to maintain that sense of bliss, that oneness with mother nature, that enlightened zen state, blah blah blah that one gets from being out to sea on daddy's sloop.

This is why you'll always find a model sailboat in a preppy home. Ideally the model should be a replica of a family yacht or some other yacht that has significant meaning to the family. Furthermore, extra kudos is earned if you made it yourself (store bought versions are exclusively for overbearing social climbers).

Ships in bottles are also often seen adorning the shelves of father's study or the library. Building these highly frustrating models is something of a rite of passage for preps when spending summer with the grandparents in Maine... ah memories. There is something quite enchanting about these particular models.