Thrift Store Preppy

Meeting Whit Stillman

anasazi — Thu, 23 May 2013 06:29:32 +0000

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, an 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.

Bleeding India Madras

anasazi — Tue, 21 May 2013 06:42:07 +0000

Today at the Nearly New Shop in Greenville, SC, I found a great bleeding India Madras, patchwork plaid, short-sleeve button down shirt for $8.00. It was made for Rush Wilson Limited, an exclusive men’s store that has been in business in town since 1959.

The label inside the shirt indicates that the Madras was “hand loomed” and features irregularities in the weave that are actually a sign of authenticity. The dyes used in hand loomed shirts are natural and not synthetic and bleed when washed. Over time, the bleeding produces a wonderful faded look. I’d guess this particular shirt might be 20 years old, judging from the fade of the colors and the softness of the cotton. Madras is a key summer fabric for preppies and is essential in the hot and humid climate of the South.

The Nearly New Shop is run by the Junior League of Greenville. Store details:

118 Greenacre Road
Greenville, South Carolina 29607
(864) 232-1051
Nearly New Shop Collection Hotline: (864) 232-1091

Monday through Saturday
Hours: 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Karen Howard, Manager
Shannon Simpson – Assistant Manager

My Blogging Hiatus – A Move and Such

anasazi — Sun, 16 Sep 2012 18:31:12 +0000

I’ve been out of the blogging and thrifting loop for some time. Moving to another state – from New York to South Carolina – will do that. So will spending an entire summer of house rennovations. Having been an apartment dweller in the Big Apple, I have learned more about tile, grout, studs, dry wall, sheet rock and tongue-and-groove flooring than I ever thought possible. With rennovations, the rule of thumb is that where one issue or complication pops up, more are sure to follow. But now that things are winding down on that front and life is settling into a normal pattern, I hope to be up with thrifting posts soon. Stay tuned.

Cotton Rules: Madras is King

anasazi — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 16:04:39 +0000

Now that we’re past Memorial Day, the color barrage begins. It’s full on madras go-to-hell season, and the colors run bold. A few months ago, I thrifted a great pair of flat front 100% cotton madras plaid Bermuda shorts from Lands’ End. The color pattern is red, navy, yellow and white. I also thrifted a braided cotton belt with leather tabs (unknown maker) of very good quality. Yesterday, I got a shirt that finishes off the quintessential look of summer – a short sleeved navy Lacoste that I bought on eBay. These items can be worn with Sperry Topsiders (leather or canvas), Weejuns or Bean Blucher Moccasins.

Cost Breakdown

Lands’ End Madras Shorts: $15.00

Braided Cotton Belt (Leather Tabs): $4.99

Lacoste Shirt: $16.00

Total of all items: $35.99 (less than 1/2 the cost of a new Lacoste at retail).

Available On My eBay Store – Preppy Madras Plaid Bow Tie

anasazi — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 03:33:27 +0000

Just in time for summer: Preppy madras plaid adjustable bow tie in 100% cotton in bold colors of yellow, blue, green and red. This is a gently worn vintage item. Measurements are as follows:

Width: 3.5 inches on each end.
Maximum Length: 40 in.
Self-tied and adjustable for various shirt collar sizes (13-17).
No stains, rips or tears.

This item is wider than most contemporary bow ties, and I’d estimate that it was made in the late 60s to early 70s. Buy it now on my eBay store or make your best offer.

Thrifty at the Races – Middleburg, VA

anasazi — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:04:29 +0000

My wife and I recently made a trip down to Middleburg, VA for the spring steeplechase races at Glenwood Park. She took this photo just after the final race of the day. Most of what I’m wearing was thrifted. Here’s the breakdown:

Thrifted Items

3-Button linen/wool sport coat by Huntington: $6.99 @ Salvation Army, Greenville, SC.
Brooks Brothers 100% cotton button down: $9.99 @ Unique Thrift Store, Bronx, NY.
Silk/Linen tie by Robert Jacobson for Rush Wilson Limited: $1.00 @ Salvation Army, Greenville, SC.
Ralph Lauren 100% cotton plain front khakis with 1 and 3/4 inch cuffs: $8.00 @ The Nearly New Shop (Junior League), Greenville, SC.
Total: $25.98

Retail Items

Surcingle ribbon belt with cotton backing (SC Palmetto & Crescent Motif): $45.00 @ Rush Wilson Limited, Greenville, SC.
Bean Boots from L.L. Bean: $89.00 ordered online.
Scalia straw fedora from Dorfman Pacific Company: $49.00 from vendor @ Glenwood Park, Middleburg, VA.
Total: $183.00

Preppies Protect Yourselves: Join PADL Today!!

anasazi — Wed, 09 May 2012 15:43:52 +0000

Lifetime Members of the Preppy Anti-Defamation Lague (L to R): John J. Balderdash III, Buffy Balderdash and John J. “Skip” Balderdash IV.

Now is the time to consider joining or renewing your annual membership with PADL: Preppy Anti-Defamation League. Memorial Day is just around the corner – the official beginning of summer or, as I like to call it, go-to-hell season. This is a time when Nantucket Reds, madras patchwork plaid and other clothes of blinding primary colors are worn to the consternation of the polyester clad general public. Other than a trust fund, your PADL membership is the best support mummy and daddy can give.

Brooks Brothers Sport Coat on eBay

anasazi — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 00:37:12 +0000

SOLD: ITEM NO LONGER AVAILABLE

Now available on my eBay store: Brooks Brothers 346 sport coat of 100% medium weight wool in a fine houndstooth pattern of maroon, navy and tan. This sport coat could be worn year round. It is a 48 Regular (chest measurement) and features a 2-button front, 2 exterior pockets with flaps and a pocket at the lapel. It also has four buttons on each sleeve, three interior pockets and a single center vent in back. This item is in excellent condition – gently worn, with no obvious signs of wear. Visit my eBay store for price.

Measurements

Length: 31.5 inches (Bottom of collar to bottom of jacket).

Shoulders: 20 inches

Chest: 48 inches (Measured side to side just under the arm pits – front and back. This was the measurement for the size of the sport coat).

Waist: 46 inches (At the top button).

Sleeves: 24 inches (Approximately 2 inches to let out).

Lapels: 3.5 inches at the widest point.

There’s Preppy – Then There’s Ridiculous

anasazi — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 23:32:16 +0000

Preppies like to have their belts and pants embroidered with various motifs. There are spouting whales and signal flags, lobsters and tennis racquets, ducks and sailboats. These are the classics. But have you ever imagined whales, for example, embroidered on a seersucker jacket? Well, J. Crew has, and I can tell you the result is neither preppy nor aesthetically pleasing, but something verging on the ridiculous and clownish. I came across these images on an eBay site. So I am not sure if J. Crew is offering anything like this for the summer of 2012.

Worn correctly, seersucker is an elegant statement – showing good taste and an understanding of seasonal traditions. It shows a practical side as well. Seersucker keeps you cool in the summer. But this? This is just fundamentally wrong! A seersucker jacket does not need gee gaws adorning it. Unfortunately, this is what happens when preppy goes mainstream, and a retailer like J. Crew fails to grasp the correct way to apply a much loved motif.

Overall, this is a colossal design failure. Although the jacket is a 3-button model with half lining and patch pockets, a very good start, there is no 3/2 roll to the lapels. J. Crew committed a further mistake by making the material darted in the front, rounding out the fiasco with the blue embroidered whales.

Now, what would a great seersucker jacket done correctly look like? Let’s try an example from J. Press – clean, simple and timeless.

On My eBay Store: Harris Tweed Sport Coat

anasazi — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 00:29:25 +0000

Beautiful Harris Tweed 2-button sport coat in a herringbone pattern of 100% pure Scottish wool for Bill Blass. Great to wear in the city or in the country. Predominant brown checks with very subtle fleks of rust, green, navy and yellow. This sport coat is a classic! Size: 42 Regular. For more photos, price, specific measurements and shipping information, please visit my eBay store.