Unabashedly Prep

  • 28th Annual Harriman Cup

    Top Drawer | Culture | Sports  

    It's become my Labor Day, my summer's end, my last ditch effort to let it all hang out of my seersucker trousers—the annual Harriman Cup. Rain or shine, throngs descend upon the Meadowbrook Polo Club from Manhattan and surrounding bed and breakfasts. Sam, Shane, and I roll in off the LIRR in a blaze of vintage Lilly, Ralph Lauren, and Brooks Brothers—the usual suspects. Usually falling on or around the last week of summer, this alumni polo match between Yale and the University of Virginia is the tailgating event of the summer for the prep set (last year's Cup was a ball). Of course, awards are given out for such displays of leisurely grandeur. Best dressed, best hat, best tailgate, and so on. Max Sinsteden has just rolled out his generous tattered oriental rug under his champagne bucket stand and various hor d'oeuvres. It’s a nice spread. However, a neighboring goldenrod Land Rover with blonde hair, blue-eyed college alum promises to be stiff competition. Their snacks are nothing more than finger sandwiches and pretzels, standard fare. Turns out it's Sam's tailgate...and we discover we work together at Ralph Lauren. That's the nature of the Harriman Cup, you’re two degrees from anyone in a navy blazer.

    Vintage Lilly Pulitzer, patchwork madras, seersucker

    Van, Cooper, Max, and me

    Allegra stomping divots between chukkers

    Thanks to Town & Country, I spend most of my time in and out of the VIP tent this year, and frankly, I am quite spoiled with the experience. Booze, food (I go back for seconds on the pulled pork—shameless, I know), the deceptive feeling of self importance—all on the house thanks to the handful of sponsors like J.Mclaughlin, Knockaround, Vitamin Water, and many more. Seriously though, the best time to be had is mingling from tailgate to tailgate while only casually glancing at the match between cocktails.

    Sep 27, 2012 | Permalink (11) View/Leave Comments

    Evans19GRETCHEN left a comment on 1/10/2013 at 4:48 PM:

    Visit this Web page and you will come over reliable software development outsourcing company that will assist you to achieve your goals.


    Ashley left a comment on 12/8/2012 at 4:46 PM:

    Pretty photos - I love a day of polo! www.pinkjulepabroad.com


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/23/2012 at 6:53 PM:

    @Jake—We strive for diversity here.


    Jake left a comment on 11/23/2012 at 6:35 PM:

    How nice of you to have a single Black friend, trotted out at the very end.


    Gus left a comment on 11/21/2012 at 12:20 PM:

    Fred,

    As a Yale alum and frequent Harriman Cup attendee, I disagree.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/21/2012 at 11:45 AM:

    @Gus—I’d venture to guess more than half the crowd that shows up isn’t alum of either of the colleges.


    Gus left a comment on 11/21/2012 at 11:42 AM:

    Why would people who didn’t attend UVA or Yale make a Yale/UVA match a summer tradition?


    Max left a comment on 11/20/2012 at 5:08 PM:

    Max’s blazer is beyond awesome. Want.


    CHC left a comment on 11/20/2012 at 12:49 PM:

    Those Lily Pulitzer pants are sweet. How much does a pair like that cost?

    Thanks.


    Mike left a comment on 11/20/2012 at 12:14 AM:

    The gentleman in the green pants gets first prize.


    Desmond K left a comment on 11/19/2012 at 6:08 PM:

    Looks like you guys had a grand ole time. And VIP access makes an event like this that much better.

    Chinos & Cheesecake


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  • The Dangerous Book for Boys

    Music & Books  

    It was Albert Einstein who said, "A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. So is a lot." By definition, that would make the crasis of Conn and Hal Iggulden's book The Dangerous Book for Boys very dangerous. They unveil with reckless abandon a brief history of artillery, how to  make a bow and arrow, fireproof clothing, build a treehouse, and make a battery from a stack of quarters—enough to keep a boy dangerous from eight until eighty.

    The Brothers Iggulden do manage to temper the score of "dangerous" activities with more, yet necessary, civilized fair. Understanding grammar, coin tricks, first aid, the game of chess, essential Shakespeare quotes, a rough list of books every boy should read (of which my favorite fantasy fiction The Lord of the Rings is included), and more are covered to produce an incredibly well curated guide to being a boy and becoming a man. It has effectively captured the imaginations of my 9 and 11 year old sons, not to mention my very own.


    "In this age of video games and cell phones, there must still be a place for knots, tree houses, and stories of incredible courage."

    —Conn Iggulden and Hal Iggulden


    We often lament we seemed to have more time during childhood—summers would last forever! This book will help you recapture those Sunday afternoons and long summers —because they're still long if you know how to look at them.

    Sep 25, 2012 | Permalink (7) View/Leave Comments

    James left a comment on 10/25/2012 at 1:08 PM:

    @FEC - well, thank you sir. I’ll take it!


    Matt left a comment on 10/25/2012 at 9:52 AM:

    This was one of the very first things I bought when I found out I was going to have a son. It was an instant favorite. From as early as 1 he would stare for hours at the bugs and fishh detailed inside and now that he’s (along with his little brother) almost 6 he’s moved on to the pirates, guns and battles. I love the idea of passing on the “old-school” information contained here. Its a refreshing change of pace to the digital addictions we’re prone to. I wish I’d have had a book like this at that age. This is a must-have for anyone with little boys.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 10/20/2012 at 8:28 PM:

    @Nia—How gendered the title is? It’s a book for boys!!! There is a Darimg Book for Girls written by Andrea Buchanan and Miriam Peskowitz.


    Nia left a comment on 10/19/2012 at 2:41 PM:

    I don’t like how gendered the title is- but I’ve always been a Conn Iggulden fan and it is a marvellous book. It reminds me of going on camping trips during boarding school - always good to reminisce about those days!


    Peter left a comment on 10/19/2012 at 7:59 AM:

    Their ‘The Dangerous Book of Heroes’ (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dangerous-Book-Heroes-Conn-Iggulden/dp/000726092X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350651510&sr=8-1) is really worth reading too. It’s a wonderfully inspiring, moving book.


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 10/19/2012 at 12:08 AM:

    @James—You are the coolest dad in the world!


    James left a comment on 10/18/2012 at 12:16 PM:

    YES! Have this book, love this book, use it with my boys.
    They don’t know it, so they think that I am the coolest dad in the world!


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  • Cream of the Crop

    Top Drawer | Dress Code  

    Photographed in New York, NY by Tommy Ton

    Noteworthy: narrow end of tie longer than wide end, the fact that she is doing menswear better than 98% of the men.

    Sep 20, 2012 | Permalink (10) View/Leave Comments

    Ann left a comment on 12/29/2012 at 7:37 AM:

    Pretty sure that’s Lauren, I remember her from school. She does look very put together, lovely.


    Liz and Lo left a comment on 10/25/2012 at 3:57 PM:

    Just so chic and classic.  Thank you for sharing! 
    xox Liz and Lo {celesteandpearl.blogspot.com}


    Respoken Trurths left a comment on 10/22/2012 at 1:25 PM:

    Wonderful photo. Elegant, sophisticated, and classy.

    I started my own blog to inspire and inform individuals on achieving a timeless sense of men’s style. Check it out:
    http://respokentruths.tumblr.com/
    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Respoken-Truths/398039796934840


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 10/19/2012 at 10:00 AM:

    @LG—Nope, very straight. My fascination with androgyny is just that…a fascination with androgyny. Androgyny is kind of a thing in the preppy sub culture.


    LG left a comment on 10/19/2012 at 9:52 AM:

    Gotta ask, are you gay? You’re fascination with tomboys and women dressed as men is becoming a little…weird.


    Mike left a comment on 10/18/2012 at 9:29 PM:

    Noteworthy:  Great cheek bones!


    Diane left a comment on 10/18/2012 at 5:16 PM:

    Stunning!


    khordkutta left a comment on 10/18/2012 at 1:18 PM:

    WHOA


    Paul left a comment on 10/18/2012 at 9:13 AM:

    Another great photo. The pedestrian “walk” signal almost reads as her “thought bubble” as she ponders her outfit.


    Saturdays left a comment on 10/17/2012 at 11:22 PM:

    Lauren Remington Platt, if anyone was curious who she was.

    Was a big fan of her look last year, in case anyone was interested:

    http://citizencouture.com/2011/02/lauren-remington-platt-nyfwfw11/

    (hope its okay to link outside of your blog Fred, but I think your readers would enjoy last years f/w look just as much as this one)


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  • The Eagle and Child

    Culture  

    The British have a way with names…many pubs are outright compelling enough to lure you in for a pint on curiosity of name alone. The Lamb and Flag, The Bear, The Eagle and Child—and those are just pubs in the small town of Oxford. In the 1940s and 1950s, a small group of Oxford academics met on Tuesdays at The Eagle and Child to read and discuss members' unfinished works. This venerable group, of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien fame, called themselves "The Inklings." Technically, it was neither a club nor a literary society, though it partook of the nature of both, according to member (and elder brother of C.S. Lewis) Warren Lewis.

    Familiarly and alliteratively known in the Oxford community as The Bird and Baby, the pub nurtured discussions that contributed to the final form of both Lewis' Narnia books and Tolkien's Lord of the Rings series. Needless to say, my crossing the threshold for a pint was as if setting foot on literary holy ground. The warmly lit stool-laden maze of rooms are reminiscent of a pub right out of Hobbiton...fitting, actually. And though the name is sure to lure you in, The Eagle and Child's rich history will inspire you to settle in for a pint, if not two.

    Sep 18, 2012 | Permalink (4) View/Leave Comments

    Mary left a comment on 10/28/2012 at 9:36 AM:

    this was one of my favorite stops during a 2 week trek through Scotland and England a couple of summers ago. walking through the door felt a little magical. glad you were able to enjoy it!


    David Bloom left a comment on 10/17/2012 at 4:21 PM:

    The pics and posts from England are great-keep em coming!


    emjkmj left a comment on 10/17/2012 at 8:21 AM:

    I am sure these exterior shots evoke fond memories of your trip, but as a reader they are a little boring.  How about some interior shots so we can see the hobbit-like rooms…


    Desmond Kinlaw left a comment on 10/17/2012 at 7:58 AM:

    I appreciate you highlighting notable spots in NY and abroad. My Google Map is full of starred locations I’ve learned about from this site. Could be another coffee table book idea…I’d buy it.

    Chinos & Cheesecake


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  • Eton Colours: An Essential Illustrated Aide Memoire

    Music & Books  

    While recently in England, I picked up this cool handbook of sorts, Eton Colours: An Essential Illustrated Aide Memoire. Eton College is arguably the most famous public school in the world and is steeped in tradition to boot. It has a unique system of sporting and House colors that has evolved over some 150 years. In 1937 there were already 47 colors, including those of the Houses. Today, there are 94 official colors in use. These colors stand at the heart of British tradition in sartorial and sporting prowess.

    One shop, New & Lingwood, has been outfitting the scholars of Eton College with all their formal and sporting attire since 1865. It's the college's official outfitter at 118 High Street, Eton, fitting out in many cases five generations of the same family. Caps, rowing zephyrs, boating and house blazers, house scarves, game socks...they stock it all.

    Lachlan Campbell’s delightfully illustrated book is not only essential for current Eton boys, the guidance of Beaks (members of the teaching staff), the interest of parents, and to remind Old Etonians of former glories, it is required reading for anyone interested in the history and tradition of British sport and style. Its quirky hand drawn plates and short form one-pagers bring a marvelous tradition of one of the world's greatest schools to life. You can pick up a copy at etoncolours.com. Just email them to have it shipped outside the UK. The book is priced at £9.99 and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each copy goes to the school.

    Sep 13, 2012 | Permalink (6) View/Leave Comments

    s.david left a comment on 11/12/2012 at 3:28 PM:

    R.Par.D.F, our party.  my house is number 6, hawtrey


    A. N. Etonian left a comment on 11/8/2012 at 9:08 AM:

    To Makaga - Eton goes from 13 years, before which one goes to a prep (preparatory) school


    Mike left a comment on 10/9/2012 at 10:16 PM:

    What a great find.  Thanks for highlighting this book.


    Andrew Eastman left a comment on 10/8/2012 at 5:02 PM:

    Just a note - Eton, though what the English call a “public” school, is private. They don’t mean quite the same thing Americans do when referring to “public schools.”


    F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 10/8/2012 at 8:38 AM:

    @Makaga—This aide was written by an Old Etonian with an intense love for his alma mater and the desire to share with future Etonians the rich and colorful history of this great school.


    Makaga left a comment on 10/8/2012 at 8:25 AM:

    Very neat book; thank you for the headsup.  My friend went to Eton (from age 6-18?) and I am curious what he will think of this book.


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