Meeting Whit Stillman

Going through my digital photo archive, I found a shot of me with director Whit Stillman (left) last May at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York City.  Whit was there for a screening of his most recent film, “Damsels in Distress,” and a Q&A session with two of the actors in that film, Ryan Metcalf and Carrie MacLemore.  This was one of the last films I saw in the city before moving to South Carolina.

After the Q&A, Whit stopped to chat with me for a while.  He is one of my favorite directors, and has been known to indie filmgoers since the 90s as a chronicler of the “urban haute bourgeoisie.”  Most of his main characters are from WASP families, and their manners, customs and relationships seem very charming and correct, but hopelessly old fashioned by today’s standards.  Though his films lack a precise time or place, they do seem to capture the decline of mainline families (at least their grip on the culture) and an evolving and complicated set of social standards.  His previous films Metropolitan, Barcelona and The Last Days of Disco have been referred to as somewhat of a preppy trilogy.

Whit was sporting plain front charcoal gray pants with cuffs, a oxford cloth button down and tweed sport coat.  I was wearing khakis, a surcingle ribbon belt with webbed cotton backing (and a Palmetto and crescent ribbon), a pink oxford cloth button down and a pair of Bass Weejuns.  Draped over my arm was a navy blue cotton field jacket from L.L. Bean. I thrifted all of my clothes except the belt.

Metropolitan (1990) remains my favorite Whit Stillman film.

The Last Days of Disco (1998) features a fairly wide range of preppy clothes including an impressive Madras plaid sport coat worn by Chris Eigeman, who plays Des.

Preppy In Virginia: Steeplechase Gathering

Gathering of Friends - Piedmont Hunt Point-To-Point, Upperville, VA 1992

I was going through a box of old photographs this week when I found an image that summed up the early 90s for me:  a gathering with my friends at the Piedmont Hunt Point-To-Point Races in Upperville, VA .  We spent countless weekends in the beautiful Virginia countryside.  Decked out in Barbour, Burberry and L.L. bean, we look as though we might have walked right out the pages of The Official Preppy Handbook.  The clothes are casual classics of very high quality and, of course, contain natural fibers.  I am second from right; and I still have the L.L. Bean Boots and the  Norwegian Fisherman’s Sweater.  Preppy clothes last!

Prepped Out & Layered Up

Some accessories are just hard to find in a thrift store.  One example is this navy and maroon grosgrain watch band which supports a cheapo – but very accurate –  Timex watch.  I bought the band at J. Press for $9.00.  Grosgrain watch bands come in many colors and various stripes.  They are quintessentially preppy, and some people change them frequently depending on ensemble.  I think the navy/maroon band works well with the Brooks Brothers tattersall shirt (thrift store purchase:  $5.00), green L.L. Bean wool sweater (thrift store purchase:  $7.00) and navy Ralph Lauren duffle coat (outlet mall purchase:  $279.00).   With a little more patience, I probably could have found a duffle coat in my size in a thrift store, but the weather in NYC turned cold, and I paid the higher outlet mall price for mine.  It’s very warm and has a hood.  I’m all prepped out and layered up!

New L.L. Bean Store

A new L.L. Bean store opened  recently in Yonkers, NY just off I-87 at Ridgehill Mall about 15 minutes from where I live.  Although this was a bit of a departure from my normal weekend round of thrift stores and consignment shops, I just had to go and check out the new Bean store.  I’ve never actually visited one.  This wasn’t an outlet mall version either — it was full retail with the regular merchandise prices.   The store was well-stocked and very spacious, and there were plenty of sales people ready to help at a moment’s notice — but they weren’t intrusive or pushy in any way to sell me.  That was refreshing.  Unfortunately, the battery on my phone/camera died while I was in the store, and I won’t be able to post interior shots until another visit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I looked at the classic men’s handsewn blucher moccasin and came very close – on an impulse – to getting a new pair at $69.00.  For many years, I had a pair of these, but somewhere along the way I lost them, or gave them away — probably to a thrift store.  But I passed on these – actually, they didn’t have the saddle color in stock, only the cactus color.  The store is still trying out the clientele and guaging up what items will move.  I don’t think these shoes will be easy to find in a thrift store.  I’ve never seen a pair in that setting.  It’s one of those items that I will probably have to pay full retail for one day soon.  The gas I’d burn going to the L.L. Bean outlet store in New Jersey would more than swallow any savings.

Bottom line is – while I’d like not to pay retail – sometimes it’s both necessary and practical to do so to get just the right thing.  That sums up my shopping philosophy.  But I’m amazed at how many kinds of clothes in the L.L. Bean product line – shirts, sweaters, field coats and goose down vests – I’ve been able to find in thrift stores.  The money saved has been considerable — hundreds of dollars.

My one purchase today:  a pair of heavyweight 100% Merino Wool Ragg Socks for $8.50.  

L.L. Bean Goose Down Vest

SOLD:  ITEM IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE

I recently came across a men’s large medium blue L.L. Bean goose down vest.  The vest was made in Freeport, Maine before the company began outsourcing more of its production.  This item is available for bidding on my eBay store or you can use the Buy It Now option for $19.99.

The vest has a nylon shell and lining and a 100% goose down filling that will provide great warmth in the winter months.  The vest has snap buttons on the front and does not have a zipper.  It also has two ample non-zipping front pockets for storing keys and other items. Condition of the item:  Excellent – no tears or visible wear at all.  All stitching is original.  

My L.L. Bean Field Coat

Yesterday, I posted about finding an L.L. Bean field coat at a very low price in a local thrift store.  I didn’t buy it because I already had one.  Since I wore mine while walking my dogs in the park this morning, I thought I’d post a couple of shots of it.  This coat is very durable, water repellant and warm enough over a few layers well into December.  The lining is cotton/plaid and not the detachable PrimaLoft version.  So when it gets really cold, I’ll have to wear a much heavier sweater than cotton cable nit one I had on today, or else put on my wool duffle coat.

 The fall colors are really starting to look amazing in New York City, and much of the park near where I live is coming alive in brilliant tones.  Fall is my favorite time of year here.

L.L. Bean Field Coat for $24.99

Location:  Unique Thrift Store, 218 W. 231st Street, Riverdale, NY.  Finding an L.L. Bean field coat in a thrift store today was a first for me.  Its saddle color and distinctive green corduroy collar and cuffs stood out among all of the other coats I had been perusing on the rack.  This is a key item to own, and it functions as somewhat of a preppy membership card.  For full effect, wear it while hunting with your golden retriever.

This coat was a large/tall men’s version with a 100% cotton shell and a 100% cotton plaid lining.  It was marked at $24.99.  With Monday being a sale day, I could have gotten 25% off and walked away with this item for $18.75.  (Retail = $99.00.  The savings would have been $80.25).  However, I already own a Bean field coat, which has held up well for years now.  Moreover, the size was not quite right.  A large large would have been fine, but the tall part of the size would have made it a bit too long for me.  I’m a regular.

It is worth noting that this is an older field coat (perhaps 10 years old or more, I’d estimate).  The label shows that it was made in Freeport, Maine, which is where Bean is located and where all of their goods were made until they were outsourced overseas.  I think most of the field coats are now made in Thailand.

The following is the summary of the Bean field coat from the company’s website:

Often Imitated—Never Duplicated®

Our Original Field Coat has set the standard for quality and craftsmanship since 1924. Originally designed for hunting, it’s built to withstand the briars and branches of the thick Maine woods. Made of best-grade two-ply 10 oz. cotton canvas, washed to feel broken-in and treated to repel moisture and stains.

Underarm gussets and bi-swing shoulders let you move and reach with ease. Sewn-in lining: cotton in body, nylon in sleeves. Five pockets with enough room to carry a day’s essentials. Collar and cuffs are 100% cotton 16-whale corduroy. Imported. Machine wash and dry.

Fit  Large back length 33″. Fits over a midweight sweater.

Bean does make another version of this coat for winter that includes a detachable PrimaLoft liner.  The price point is a good bit higher at $149.00 to $159.00.

Layering For Cooler Weather

We’ve been having some cooler fall weather lately in New York City.  Today it was overcast and actually a bit chilly in the late afternoon when I went out to run a few errands.  I didn’t want to wear a coat.  So I  just threw a lightweight down vest on top of my shirt and sweater, turning the shirt cuffs back over the sweater and pushing the sleeves up a bit.

The total cost of all three items was less than $20.00:  goose down vest from L.L. Bean ($7.99), 100% lambswool v-neck sweater from Cullen, a brand I’ve never heard of before ($4.99) and 100% oxford cloth button down from Gap ($2.99).  While Gap is not an overly preppy company, their button down was very well-made, and the price made it impossible not to buy.  I got everything at Unique thrift store (which I post about prolifically) in my neighborhood.

The preppy look never really changes.  Of course, there have been some trendy tweaks recently by Tommy Hilfiger and Thom Browne among others.  Their “preppy updates” were intended to gain traction with a younger consumer base after hipsters began raiding vintage shops and thrift stores, looking to make an ironic statement.  It was not long before big names in the hip hop world began sporting the look.  All of this doesn’t phase me.  I simply like the classic, timeless preppy style I’ve always known – which is well-made clothes without gee gaws or doo dads.  The way I dress hasn’t changed in any important way since college, aside from the addition of more suits or cap toe dress shoes.

 

Shetland Wool Argyle Sweater From L.L. Bean

Each Monday at Unique Thrift Store in Riverdale, NY is Customer Appreciation Day – all items are 25% off the marked price.  On Thursdays, you can get 25% off the marked price by showing a store card, which is easy to sign up for and is also free.  The 100% shetland wool argyle sweater vest from L.L. Bean below was $4.99 last Thursday, but I got it for $3.75 with my store card.  The online price for this type of sweater at Bean runs $69-$74.  This one will be a nice addition for cooler early fall days.