February 2009
101 posts
Billie Holiday, “What a Little Moonlight...
Newsweek: 'Haute Americana'
In which AMR dons the skimpy veil of “journalism” to self-analyze his own obsession interest in authentic—or authentic-ish—American attire and the recent revival thereof:
Until recently, men like Leung would’ve skipped the Woolrich for a skinny Dior suit. But in recent years a number of tastemakers, many foreign, have dedicated themselves to reviving iconic American clothing...
January 2009
71 posts
The '660 Baltic' Manhattan
3 oz:
1.5 oz.:
3 dashes:
1981: 'Engineers Now Predict the Day Will Come...
‘… but that’s a few years off.’
No wonder we never saw it coming.
The Tippler-in-Chief
Dickerson:
Barack Obama had a drinks party at the White House on Wednesday night. He invited congressional leaders of both parties for cocktails at 7:30. In his relentless push for his stimulus plan, he’s apparently not going to let them out of his sight…
This is a notable departure from Obama’s predecessor, whose relationship with Congress was notoriously chilly and whose...
Watchkurtsoller:
There are two kinds of people: those who will think the above is terrifying. And those who, after watching it, will hunger for pork.
Put me down for option #2.
Princeton Dance, c. 1960
The girls are imported. Obs.
Breeches Are Back
Then:
Now:
Hollister Hovey reports:
Norton & Sons’ Patrick Grant has revived the old sporting and military tailor that dressed the Duke of Windsor, Churchill and America’s pre-war elite with a new line of highly traditional, high-quality ready-to-wear menswear - all sourced from tiny traditional artisans around the U.K. Knitwear from Shetland, Hawick and southern Wales; a...
Jose Ferrer and Rosemary Clooney, 1954
'One Sketch After Another of People'
John McPhee, 1978.
Peggy Lee, ‘Mean to Me’
'I Go to Pieces,' Peter and Gordon (1965)
Written by Del Shannon, who also wrote (and performed) this:
One man. Two perfect pop songs. Not bad.
Style Icon: Woody Allen
No joke.
1966:
1982:
Timeless.
The Beach Boys, 1961
Photo courtesy of Gerry Beckley. Via South Willard.
There Goes the Neighborhood
Via Lost City:
Eater reports today that it received notice of a dining deal from the “21” Club, which included this line: “…we have (somewhat) relaxed our dress code in the lounge and bar areas, as well as the dining rooms. Ties are still preferred and greatly appreciated, but they are no longer a must.” …
“21” was the last restaurant in New...
Media Bailout?
The dream will never die:
PARIS (AP) — The French state will help provide free newspaper subscriptions to teenagers for their 18th birthdays, President Nicolas Sarkozy announced Friday. But the bigger gift is for France’s ailing print media.
Sarkozy also announced a ninefold rise in the state’s support for newspaper deliveries and a doubling of its annual print advertising outlay...
Lykke Li and Bon Iver, 'Dance Dance Dance'
Even better than the studio version—which, incidentally, was one of my favorite recordings of 2008. The others, in convenient iMix format:
Sofia Achaval and Thibault de Montaigu
The owners of this library…
… look like this:
… and live here:
… in Paris. Damn you, the Selby. Damn you.
Unopened Film, 1958
From JMR:
More here.
Woolrich Woolen Mills, F/W 2009
Gentleman's Library Sale, Bonham's
Hollister Hovey:
The sale included a collection of animal skeletons, fossils, human skulls, butterflies, tusks and other curiosities amassed by Southwold archaeologist and anthropologist, Hubert Dennis Collings.
Ian Collins:
Southwold’s reputation as the home of eccentric adventurers has rested on the likes of the late Dennis Collings, whose modest terrace house in Station Road...
'Old School'
The Kids Are Alright
My take here.
Morrill Hall Font
Lincoln, Nebraska. Via Hollister Hovey.
Thom Browne at Pitti Uomo
From men.style:
The location—the Istituto di Scienze Militari Aeronautiche—was an oblique clue, the set itself more of a giveaway. An impressively high-ceilinged space in the International Style was filled with serried ranks of desks, each topped by a manual typewriter and accompanied by a coat stand from which hung Browne’s signature gray cardigan. Something uniform was promised, and...
Bitter Pill
Via the Selby.
I Want to Go to There
From the Times archives:
On any pilgrimage of Scotch divinity, the Sistine Chapel would be the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, a private club with several locations, the most inviting being a Georgian town house on tony Queen Street in Edinburgh. Spread over three floors are tables of wool-clad connoisseurs beside groups of young merrymakers downing local ales. For about $170, anyone can join, but...
The Holdens, British Columbia
William and Brenda at the (inaptly named) Malibu Club in 1949:
Photos by Allan Grant for LIFE Magazine.
Hosfords Vacation Home, Maine
Impractical Dream Car #1
BMW 2002.
Vitti + Delon
L’eclisse. Antonioni. 1962. (H/t Exit Lines.)
Frank and Peggy, 1962
The Boat House (Lambertville, N.J.)
Who says Jersey isn’t classy? A favorite watering hole:
Photos via La Reina, aturkus and lakewentworth.
The Obamas, 1996
On May 26, 1996, Mariana Cook visited Barack and Michelle Obama in Hyde Park as part of a photography project on couples in America. What follows is from her interviews with them, via the New Yorker:
BARACK OBAMA: Michelle is a tremendously strong person, and has a strong sense of herself and who she is and where she comes from. But I also think in her eyes you can see a trace of vulnerability...