Friday, April 3, 2015

Prep Manifestos

  Make room in your home library for these books focusing on the history and culture of the preppy lifestyle.

I may later publish a Part II of this post, as I withheld a number of (lesser) books on the topic. The books listed below vary in quality but together form a solid foundation in collecting literature on the topic.

[The book descriptions are -overall- not my own.]


Take Ivy



















 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 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, 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 this classic is being republished with an all-new English translation. Ivy style has never been more popular, in Japan or stateside, proving its timeless and transcendent appeal.


The Official Preppy Handbook (1980)


















The Official Preppy Handbook is a tongue-in-cheek reference guide written by Jonathan Roberts, Carol McD. Wallace, Mason Wiley, and edited by Lisa Birnbach.

The amazing thing about this famous book is it's attention to detail, especially it's coverage of the clothing that real preps wear.

It's cultural impact on the decade of the 1980's was profound.

This book is second only to the Holy Bible for preppies. 


Seven Sisters Style: The All-American Preppy Look



















 The first beautifully illustrated volume exclusively dedicated to the female side of preppy style by American college girls. The Seven Sisters-a prestigious group of American colleges, whose members include fashion icons such as Katharine Hepburn, Jacqueline Kennedy, Ali MacGraw, and Meryl Streep-perfected a flair that spoke to an aspirational lifestyle filled with education, travel, and excitement. Their style, on campus and off, was synonymous with an intelligence and American grace that became a marker of national pride and status all over the world: from jeans and baggy shirts to Bermuda shorts and blazers, soft Shetland sweaters and saddle shoes, not to mention sleek suiting, pearls, elegant suitcases, kidskin gloves, kitten heels, and cashmere. "[The college girl's] contribution to fashion is as American as Coca-Cola, baseball and hitch-hiking," announced Harper's Bazaar in 1935.


Preppy: Cultivating Ivy Style



















 The authoritative fashion history of the roots, growth, and offshoots of the quintessentially American preppy style. Preppy offers the first definitive and in-depth volume on preppy fashion, exploring its evolution from its pragmatic origins and presence on elite Eastern campuses in America to its profound influence internationally[....].


The Ivy League























 The Ivy League is so much more than a group of eight universities. Attending one of these prominent schools provides entrée into a world of exclusivity and private clubs a membership that never expires. Through photos and text, The Ivy League admits readers to the world s most revered institutions, portraying the character of each school and what sets it apart, from renowned graduates and dominant political stances to athletic rivalries, architectural styles, popular fashion, and more.


Ivy Style: Radical Conformists



















 Focusing on menswear dating from the early 20th century through today, this elegant book traces the main periods of the look: the interwar years when classic items, such as tweed jackets and polo coats, were appropriated from the English man's wardrobe and redesigned by pioneering American firms such as Brooks Brothers and J. Press for young men at elite East Coast colleges; then from 1945 to the late 1960s, when the staples of Ivy Style—oxford cloth shirts, khaki pants, and penny loafers[....].

This is the book published by the Fashion Institute of Technology after completing their incredible museum exhibit of the Ivy style.


The Ivy Look: Classic American Clothing - An Illustrated Pocket Guide



















 Before the "Preppy Look," there was the "Ivy Look." Stylish and comfortable, the Ivy Look's impact and influence can be seen to this day in the clothes of designers such as Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani, as well as in the more proletarian offerings of L. L. Bean, J. Crew, Dockers, and Banana Republic. From the button-down hip of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, and Miles Davis to the enduring style of the cast of Mad Men — they all knew the true cool of the Ivy Look.


The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook



















 The Official Sloane Ranger Handbook explains precisely how to decorate your house, how to wear your clothes (and what clothes to wear), how to word your letters and how to educate your children. If you are a Sloane Ranger, you'll recognize the form. Mummie and Daddy will have done a proper job on that years ago. But It Never Hurts To Be Sure.


Hollywood and The Ivy Look


















 This stunning book delivers a pictorial celebration of the look and attitude of 'Ivy.' Between 1955 and 1965 a coterie of discerning Hollywood hipsters appropriated the incomparable Ivy League clothing of America's East Coast elite. These West Coast actors elevated the Ivy Look to the height of cool and defined a quintessentially American male dress code for a new generation of movie audiences. From the button-down hip of Steve McQueen, Paul Newman and Anthony Perkins to the preppy sensibilities of Woody Allen and Dustin Hoffman; the understated but carefully selected components of the Ivy Look didn't shout 'look at me' but instead gave off an image of approachable correctness and laid back confidence. This volume digs deep into the photographic archives to produce the essential reference book for any pilgrim of the Ivy Look, and explains how it earned its place in history as the look of modern America.


Brooks Brothers: Generations of Style




















 In 1818, Henry Sands Brooks founded Brooks Brothers, the first ready-to-wear fashion emporium in America. One hundred eighty-five years and countless fashion innovations later, Brooks Brothers is publishing its first book. Written by John William Cooke and beautifully illustrated with artwork and rare photographs from their archives, this book chronicles the history of Brooks Brothers. Coffee table-size and covered in grey wool pinstripe fabric from Loro Piana.


Lilly: Palm Beach, Tropical Glamour, and the Birth of a Fashion Legend























 Today, Lilly Pulitzer's iconic brand of clean-cut, vibrantly printed clothes called ""Lillys"" can be spotted everywhere. What began decades ago as a status uniform in Palm Beach became a general fashion craze and, later, an American classic. In contrast to the high visibility of her brand, Lilly Pulitzer has largely kept her tumultuous personal story to herself. Bursting forth into glossy fame from a protected low-key world of great wealth and high society, through heartbreaks, treacheries, scandals, and losses, her life, told in detail here for the first time, is every bit as colorful and exciting as her designs.


 Ralph Lauren


















 The landmark volume celebrating the life and work of Ralph Lauren. Unlike many designers, Ralph Lauren is not known for a single signature look, but rather for his sweeping dreams of American living. Over the course of his career, the images of luxury, adventure, and beauty that he created have come to define American style.

In this visually stunning book, Lauren speaks candidly about himself and his art. In part one, we get to know the designer through never-before-seen pictures of him in private life and with his family, living the lives he designs for. In his own words, we hear about his life, work, and inspiration.


Gentleman: A Timeless Guide To Fashion























350 thick, full-color, crisply designed pages.

Part tutorial, part celebratory, part history lesson, Gentleman covers all men's clothing issues, literally from head to toe. From different types of underwear and the joys of custom-made suits to umbrellas and handkerchiefs, the book schools you on all you need to know about becoming a traditionally-dressed man.

Perhaps the ne plus ultra of trad guides, this coffee-table size book is a must own for your library. 


Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion























 Alan Flusser's name is synonymous with taste and style. With his new book, he combines his encyclopedic knowledge of men's clothes with his signature wit and elegance to address the fundamental paradox of modern men's fashion: Why, after men today have spent more money on clothes than in any other period of history, are there fewer well-dressed men than at any time ever before?


Tipsy in Madras: A Complete Guide To 80s Preppy Drinking























 Gin and Tonic anyone?

Remember the days of sipping Cape Codders in Cape Cod? Bloody Marys over brunch in SoHo? And Old Fashioneds at the Harvard Club?

No?

Doesn't matter. The 80s may be over, but the preppy attitude that pervaded the era lives on in classic drinks with a kick. Tipsy in Madras will help readers "prep" their bar, discern the brands to have on hand, mix their drinks, and delve into the timeless lifestyle. Wanna-bes and prepster hold-outs will get insight into preppy drinking fashion, customs, literature, and more-and answers to such essential preppy questions as:

*Do Brahmins drink beer?
*To monogram or not to monogram?
*Where does one find authentic prep school mugs?
*What are the best preppy movies to drink by?


The Preppy Cookbook: Classic Recipes for the Modern Prep



















 Are you planning the menu for your local junior league’s next luncheon? Wondering what cocktail to sip on while spectating at Wimbledon? Searching for the perfect casserole that tastes just the way Mummy used to make it?

With answers to all these questions and more, The Preppy Cookbook will guide you, step by step, in creating a kitchen, and a world, that exemplifies the preppy lifestyle. This beautifully illustrated cookbook from Christine E. Nunn, the owner of Picnic, offers more than 125 perfectly tested recipes.

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