Late Winter Layers/ February Favourites

AKA: What I'm into right now

I’d first like to apologise for the relative brevity and somewhat fragmented nature of this meeting, this is as a result of discovering the meeting I had planned for this week required more depth than that which I could achieve in two weeks worth of lunch breaks, expect that soon. In lieu, I hope you shan’t mind if I take the opportunity simply to shine a spotlight onto some pieces and pairings which have me excited about Ivy style right now. If you’d like, consider this a belated style “ins” for ‘twenty-four.

A Change in Direction

With the caveats over, I’ll speak a little about the overreaching ethos which is fuelling most of these choices. In the past month or so I’ve felt a draw towards infusing sportiness into my outfits, particularly now with eyes towards the warmer climes on the horizon. The high-low nature of these combinations has caught my attention, the rejection of rules and tradition.

The other influence which I see creeping into the periphery of my personal style is that of Western wear, inspired by my acquisition of an old ranger belt, and also by the brilliant outfits of my good friend Casz.

See, I don’t much care for having outfits which are totally disassociated from one another from a style perspective, I like to have a coherent personal style, and also just the one wardrobe. It is through the infusion of these styles into Ivy that I get to explore them.

#1: Rugby over polar neck

In our very first meeting I advocated for layering shirts and turtlenecks, just recently I came across a Ralph Lauren promotional photo which, within the same idea, layered a knit rugby overtop a classic submariner. Having tried it, its certainly one for the coldest days, which I appreciate may be behind us for many. As I write this though, there is snow forecast for two days time where I am, so I don’t think its too late to break this one out.

I think this works particularly well with the classic off-white navy submariner, as pictured. My preference tends often to be towards a light first layer, with darker colours over-top. It is worth paying attention to the interaction between the collar of the rugby, which tends to be white, and the colour of the sweater underneath. Just for purposes of comfort, it's probably going to need to be a close fitting sweater.

I think this is one to try if one already owns the two pieces needed for it, but doesn't warrant the acquisition of one or the other if one doesn’t.

#2: Sweatshirts (and Oxfords)

This is pretty much the opposite of a new concept, in fact it is perhaps the quintessence of Ivy style in some forms. The narrative goes, that a bright-eyed and well-dressed student wanders into the college bookstore, and picks up a branded sweatshirt, probably made by champion, and tosses it on over-top of their Oxford and tie, perhaps throws their blazer on-top of that when the wind picks up that evening.

This very much is the aforementioned high-low sporting infusion in practice, and its one that I’ve come to adore. Pretty much following in the footsteps of my rugby shirt discovery last year, I find slouchiness making its way back into my wardrobe. It’s nice too for those days when all the good shirts are in the laundry, and perhaps the night before is lingering, its not lost on me that there are days when style is not the principal consideration. In these instances, having well fitting, easy-to-wear clothes is is invaluable. In consideration of this, I’d opt for easy-to-style colours, the classic heather grey, green, and navy all come to mind immediately.

I think this is one to try, if one hasn't already, vintage stores tend to be about twenty-five percent varsity sweatshirts, the same with Depop, it isn’t that hard to pick one up, that said I’m still searching for my ideal one.

#3: Dark rinse, high waisted jeans

This another one for which the search is very much still on, but I’ve found high waisted jeans, particularly in dark navy rinses, to be filling my Outfit Library as of late. I’ve been looking towards ladies, workwear and retro replica cuts, to get the silhouette that I am after, we’re talking rises in excess of thirteen inches, and a wide, straight leg. Look to SFC for perhaps the best example, Ranger Overall and Bronson for more affordable options.

Jeans and tweed is a staple for me, and whilst my 501s are a classic, I will always long for higher rises, so the search is on for a perfect vintage pair, ideally from Wrangler. When I wear jeans, I want to feel like a cowboy.

#4: Blazers and baseball caps

Alongside the jeans, the other recent edition to my collection of reference outfits is that of pairing baseball caps with sport coats, delving further into this sportswear infusion which I’ve been chasing. It has lead me to an investigation into the precise details which a cap must have in order to be suited to my style. Principally, the soft look of an unconstructed crown is a must for me. I think too that caps are a garment which show age in such a pleasant fashion, I think this is also very much the case for tweed, and the interaction of these facet of both serves to elevate each when worn together. The high-low thing is back again, it is really the defining characteristic of this article as a whole.

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That’s all for this week, at our next meeting expect a much deeper dive. Despite the nature of this being emergency content, I would perhaps like to make these regular meetings, to share that which I find interesting in any given month.

Examples that I didn’t buy

Thank you for your attendance today, see you in two weeks.