Unabashedly Prep

  • Wardrobe X

    Style | Dress Code  

    Since moving to New York a couple of months ago, imagine my disappointment of no longer enjoying the luxury of an in-home photography studio. Photographing layouts of complete outfits requires the kind of real estate typically reserved for a Manhattan bedroom—sans furniture. However, the cramped quarters compel you, and every other New Yorker, to get creative. While these vignettes are not designed to showcase an entire outfit for any given day, they capture the spirit of it through carefully considered details and accessories.

    1. vintage Omega Seamaster wrist watch w/Smart Turnout strap
    2. Allen Edmonds wingtips
    3. Ralph Lauren sterling silver engine turn buckle and leather strap
    4. Rugby university stripe oxford cloth button down shirt

    May 15, 2012 | Permalink (10) View/Leave Comments

    PSP left a comment on 6/23/2012 at 3:58 PM:

    I liked your Seamaster so much, I picked one up. Understated, amazing, and relatively inexpensive.  Prep with Sean Connery as Bond thrown in.  The LL Bean hamilton is also one my favorites since college.


    MagnaKart64 left a comment on 6/10/2012 at 5:03 PM:

    +1 on the Hamilton Khaki suggestion. I got one and love mine.


    JAH left a comment on 6/6/2012 at 8:51 AM:

    Well said, PSP.  My thoughts exactly.  You should also check out Seiko dive watches.  They are very affordable, keep decent time, and are indestructible.


    PSP left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 9:28 PM:

    Greeneggsandkus, Try a Hamilton Kacki or Vintage Omega Seamaster, about 100 sold last year at auction for aprox $300.  PSP


    Greeneggsandkush left a comment on 6/4/2012 at 9:35 PM:

    What is a good preepy watch at a modest price?


    PSP left a comment on 6/4/2012 at 7:49 PM:

    Also, hats off to Ralph Lauren and Rugby.  They are one of few retailers that ship to US Servicemen and Women in a combat zone.  They sent new a wallet in Iraq, in about a week.  Really brightened my day.


    PSP left a comment on 6/4/2012 at 7:45 PM:

    Superb watch.  Vintage is truly green. No packaging and lasts a lifetime.


    Makaga left a comment on 6/4/2012 at 8:21 AM:

    Welcome to NYC.  Hope to run into you sometime.


    Desmond K left a comment on 6/3/2012 at 8:51 PM:

    In love with the layout. Perfect color coordination with the background as well.

    http://chinosandcheesecake.blogspot.com


    Zachary left a comment on 6/3/2012 at 4:23 PM:

    Beautiful shots, Fred. It looks like you’re getting along fine in NYC. What did you use to make the collage? I like the grid layout.


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  • The American Dream

    Miscellany  

    May 10, 2012 | Permalink (1) View/Leave Comments

    Joena left a comment on 5/30/2012 at 11:01 AM:

    love


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  • The Ivy League

    Music & Books  

    Last week I popped into the Gant Rugger shop on Prince Street to visit with some old friends and new while Daniel Cappello signed copies of his new book The Ivy League. While I had not formerly met Cappello until he was scrawling his name inside my cloth-bound copy, we discovered I had photographed him on the street earlier this year. He’s feeling daring tonight in royal blue slim cargo pants sobered up by a navy blazer and open button down collar. It's a good look.

    “Harvard was one of the breeding grounds of classic Ivy style: that utterly effortless, nonchalant fashion affected by floppy-haired Andover and Exeter alums coming of age in a mix of relaxed athletic sportswear, crest-bearing navy blazers, khaki chinos, and striped repp ties.”

    —Daniel Cappello

    Many precedent books on the Ivy League were born out of admiration from the outside looking in, but Cappello’s homage is birthed from within a 375 year-old crimson crucible. Despite it being a beautiful coffee table book, it’s just not Ivy style eye candy. Cappello actually goes to great lengths to dust off obscure traditions—from all eight Ivies, not just his own Harvard—and share the unique character of each campus. The fact that he acknowledges the Ivy style of dress and yet presses deeper into the richness of these institutions of higher learning is fresher than a breath of Dartmouth air.

    A drawing of the “Sweaters of the Ivy League” depicts letterman sweaters from the various Ivy League schools while poking fun at the so-called gentleman’s C, which many of the them issued in lieu of failing students from influential families.

    May 8, 2012 | Permalink (2) View/Leave Comments

    Brandon S left a comment on 6/23/2012 at 6:33 PM:

    Cappello may have gone to Harvard, but the cover is the gate to Branford Courtyard at Yale!


    Desmond K left a comment on 6/14/2012 at 8:50 PM:

    I heard about the release of this one a few weeks ago. I haven’t gotten the chance to get my hands on it yet though. Eagerly looking forward to it…

    http://chinosandcheesecake.blogspot.com


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  • Ocean Washed

    Dress Code  

    Photographed in New York, NY by Sara Kerens

    Noteworthy: made in Maine leather boat shoe, made in New England university striped oxford cloth button down.

    Rig:
    • Ray-Ban Wayfarers
    • Rugby custom university striped oxford cloth button down (monogrammed)
    • Smart Turnout nylon watch strap
    • vintage Omega Seamaster wrist watch
    • Rugby grosgrain ribbon belt
    • Rugby salt chino short
    • Ralph Lauren boat shoe

    May 3, 2012 | Permalink (16) View/Leave Comments

    Shawn (Virilitas) left a comment on 7/5/2012 at 10:55 PM:

    Pre-distressed or not, the shorts are a great traditional color that are well-matched, in the photograph. Thanks for sharing.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 3:47 PM:

    @SFR—I don’t see this as desperate at all. Washes are a bit of a science in the fashion industry. It’s about experiencing the look and feel of a beloved piece the moment you pick it up and touch it in the store. I don’t really care to spend the first half of my summer breaking in my summer chino shorts (given I even make it to the water 3 weekends a month). You don’t like washes on your chinos, to each his own.


    SFR left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 3:41 PM:

    @Fred - thanks for your reply. Jeans may start our dark and stiff, but after wearing them in they break in, get soft, develop character, etc. More specifically, the shorts you’ve pictured are faux-weathered to appear “salt” worn….as if they’ve been worn on a boat, on the beach, in the sun for years, etc. Are standard cotton shorts uncomfortable? Why not wear your shorts to the beach/on a boat and let them wear in naturally?


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 3:32 PM:

    @C.L. Young—Thank you. I’m glad to have provided some sartorial nostalgia for you. Your vintage Wayfarers sound really great. You do realize that Wayfarers presently, taking into account inflation since 1988, are only approximately $12 more in 1988 dollars. The price for Ray-Bans is fair…the free market (and there is plenty of competition in the sunglasses market to qualify it as a free market) determines what is fair.

    @SFR—Sometimes I just want to pick up a pair of shorts, or jeans, or chinos that just feel really good…that feel like we’ve already been friends for for awhile. Do I want my Barbour feeling like that? Not necessarily (but if I do, eBay is a good start). So, if you wear jeans, you don’t want any wash to them at all? You just want dark indigo, stiff denim? Not the most comfortable thing in the spring or summer.

    @Cam—This boat shoe by Ralph Lauren is the best boat shoe I’ve ever come across. The silhouette and details are classic yet the craftsmanship is taken to another level by the factory in Maine. This shoe retails for $300 (almost 4x times as much as Sperrys, but they feel 4x times better crafted).

    @Matt—I am not sure of what manufacturer makes this boat shoe, but my best educated guess would be Rancourt & Co.


    C.L. Young left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 1:41 PM:

    Awesome look! I especially like the Wayfarers! I have a pair (B&L 5022) that I bought back in 1988 from some optical company that advertised from the back of GQ Magazine for the grand sum of under $40.00. Looking at the price you paid (or not) for yours gives me a new perspective on how the “Classic” things I love from MY era are now inflated in price.
    It’s ashamed that quality is hard to be gotten at a fair and reasonable price for all! Especially products (such as my “vintage” Ray Bans) for a fair price! I love the boat shoes as well…brings back alot of 1980’s memories and makes me feel “Classic”. Well done, F.E.!!


    SFR left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 12:02 PM:

    I too am curious about your take on fake-vintage, pseudo pre-worn items….I’ve always just worn my own clothes in naturally…wearing faux worn stuff has always struck me as phony….and, ironically, counter to much of the ethos you attempt to channel on here. Thoughts?


    Stephen left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 9:23 AM:

    @Cam - I own a pair of white Telfords and they’re amazing. Check out ebay, as that is where I got mine, and I’m pretty sure there are a few floating around for far less than retail.


    R. L. H. left a comment on 5/31/2012 at 4:09 PM:

    Well done FEC. Legitimately dig the look.


    DaveT left a comment on 5/30/2012 at 7:16 PM:

    That is a really nice photo with, I’m guessing, the early evening lighting.


    emjkmj left a comment on 5/30/2012 at 6:25 PM:

    @CAM—I would guess these guys are doing the manufacturing.  Rancourt, Eastland still makes shoes in Ma.  www.rancourtandcompany.com


    cam left a comment on 5/30/2012 at 5:56 PM:

    @F.E.—Overall rating of the RL boat shoe? I was thinking about getting these the other day esp since they are on sale.


    Felix left a comment on 5/30/2012 at 5:22 PM:

    I have the same RL boat shoes.  Top notch quality and Made in USA.


    Matt left a comment on 5/30/2012 at 12:58 PM:

    Who makes the boat shoe for RL?


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 5/29/2012 at 10:58 PM:

    @emjkmj—While I can’t speak on behalf of J.Crew, this particular day I simply wanted to shorten the inseam a little.


    emjkmj left a comment on 5/29/2012 at 10:53 PM:

    Looking good!  Question though, What’s with the up-turned shorts?  Seen it in JCrew this winter, is it to shorten the rise or to make it looked cuffed?


    Matthew left a comment on 5/29/2012 at 9:24 PM:

    Why, yes, yes this is pretty much the perfect outfit! Head to toe, I could live life in this.


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  • May 2012 Playlist

    Music & Books  

    Listen on Spotify

    May 1, 2012 | Permalink (6) View/Leave Comments

    Doug left a comment on 6/26/2012 at 4:05 PM:

    Have always loved your playlists but I just plain refuse to join Facebook, which Spotify seems to demand.


    Kate left a comment on 6/1/2012 at 8:55 PM:

    Wish the playlist was consistently downloadable…spoitify doesn’t work up here in Canada. I got a zip of April just fine but it doesn’t look like there is one for may.


    Scotland jerseys left a comment on 5/29/2012 at 1:48 AM:

    New zeland jerseys 

    Northern ireland jerseys 

    Paraguay jerseys


    PS left a comment on 5/23/2012 at 8:38 PM:

    I’ve listened to over a year’s worth of your playlists, this one might be the best. Thanks!


    AK left a comment on 5/22/2012 at 12:14 PM:

    Brilliant stuff as usual. Thanks for sharing.


    NJGlenn left a comment on 5/21/2012 at 8:36 AM:

    You rock Fred! Thanks for taking the time.


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