Admission: I’m slightly obsessive compulsive. What can I say, I like organising things. I was the kid that always put his colouring pencils back in the correct order. I grew up to become a graphic designer, so I suppose ordering information is essentially my job.

I’ve always collected graphic ephemera and packaging, I have piles of old Brooks Brothers and LL Bean catalogues, but how often can I sift through it all, or find that one piece I happen to be looking for?

These days with the seemingly infinite amount of inspiration available at your fingertips on the web, it can sometimes seem a daunting task to try and organise and make sense of it all.

I used to keep inspiration folders on my computer as reference, but more and more I need access wherever I am.

Enter Pinterest. I’ve been using it as a place to create boards both for my photography and layouts for Preposity and also as inspiration too. I’ve been noticing people ‘pinning’ my images more and more too which is always rewarding. It’s good to know that there are other people out there with the same tastes as me.

I think one of the things the internet does best is join those with similar interests, no matter who niche they might seem. Never be surprised to find that more than a few other people share your taste for bicycle polo or yarn bombing.

So it’s good to know that there are plenty of people inspired by the same East Coast/Ivy League/Preppy style that I love.
Curating is the first step to true creativity. Organising others’ work and learning what inspires you then leads to creating yourself.
With all of that in mind, I got involved with Pinterest’s UK launch and their ‘Pin it Forward’ campaign – a kind of Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon way to pass on and share eachother’s Pinterest boards.

Pinterest asked me to introduce you to two great Pinners (if that’s the correct phrase):

Threads TV and Peter Evans of ‘Send A Raven’ both great menswear/style-themed boards.

So if you feel like getting pinning, you can sign up using the link below, and as a bonus, you’ll automatically be subscribed to my ‘preppy’ board. Just click on the link below:

http://pinterest.com/join?username=preposity&boardname=preppy

Made famous by J. Press, the Shaggy Dog sweater is made of Shetland wool whose surface has been heavily brushed to give a fluffy cloud-like texture. Not only are these sweaters extremely warm (the air trapped between the fuzzy texture is a great insulator) but they are generally rarely seen on the street, so may act as a little nod to those ‘walking their dog’

Shaggy Dogs are best worn with an Oxford Cloth button-down, J. Press’s current incarnation come up rather roomy so it’s worth knowing that until they close for business in February, Rugby Ralph Lauren make a slimmer-fitting brushed sweater with leather elbow patches. Ensure the fit allows enough room for a shirt comfortably underneath.

The joy of a Shaggy Dog is the range of colours in which they are available, owning one isn’t enough. Opt for muted colours to begin, I always think of autumnal colours like a mossy green or rusty red, until you’re brave enough to go for some of the bolder, brighter hues for which J. Press is famous, like this Kelly Green example

As with the best quality clothing, they age well. Over time your Shaggy Dog will start to pill – usually something of a nuisance – but it adds character to the fabric and shows it’s been well worn.

A small caution: these sweaters are extremely warm, so be prepared. Layered up on top of an OCBD you’ll be as warm as a shaggy dog laying by the fire on a cold winter’s day.

The famous J. Press ‘Shaggy Dog’ logo

This time last year I was in New York, making my way through the crowded streets of SoHo for FNO, so it was nice to be home in London for a slightly more subdued night.

I popped in to Rugby Ralph Lauren’s Covent Garden store which was buzzing with an in-house DJ and a crowd of boys and girls in full prep mode – bow-ties all round. Rugby’s autumn offerings were also on full display.

Spotted on the street in London, clearly a fan of Rugby Ralph Lauren, dressed for a cloudy and rainy July summers day.

Here in the UK, utter the word ‘Madras’ to most people and they’ll assume you’re talking about a rather spicy curry dish. Madras is the old colonial name for the Indian city of Chennai. But we’re not talking about food, we’re talking about that other Indian export, the lightweight checked cotton fabric also know as Madras.

Like so many things we prize in the West, the fabric was an export from the days of the British Empire. It is sometimes said that the distinctive checked patterns of Madras fabric were copied from the tartan plaids of the Scottish regiments that occupied southern India in the 1800’s.

Given the hot temperatures in India, it makes perfect sense that they’d develop cool lightweight fabrics to wear. These fabrics made perfect summer clothing for us in the West and have been worn ever since.

In the 50′s and 60′s it was popular to wear madras fabric whose colours had not been fixed. This caused the dyes to fade each time they were washed. This became known as ‘bleeding madras’. This may be the reason that most madras print fabric available is somewhat muted in tone and hue, referencing the washed-out look so popular in the 60s. It’s worth remembering though, that originally madras came in a wide range of colours usually bright and colourful. It is these colours that differentiate madras checks from the richer more subdued tones of heavier tartan fabrics.

Sometimes various madras fabrics are sewn into a patchwork of small 3 inch squares and used to make jackets, trousers and shirts and shorts.
Given the number of colours and alternating patterns on these garments they make quite a statement and can be seen as an exponent of the ‘go-to-hell’ look for the summer.

Bill Murray’s character in Wes Anderson’s recent movie Moonrise Kingdom can be seen sporting a range of patchwork madras clothing – the film being set on the East Coast of the US during the 1960s.

If you don’t want to go for such a bold statement, using madras as an accent or accessory may work better for you, such as a tie or even a subtle lining fabric inside a jacket.

Sperry even line some of their boat shoes with madras.

Jamie Murray

The greatest mens double pair of all time – the Bryan twins, Mike & Bob

Preppy accessories brand and friend of Preposity, Smart Turnout currently have a pop-up shop in Selfridges here in London for the next 4 weeks. Until now the only way to buy Smart Turnout products was via their website, so for the first time you’ll be able to sample their wares in person.

I popped down to have a look. They have a great range of accessories on display, all with their signature authentic military regimental stripes, from surcingle belts and wallets to watches and braces.

Read our previous interview with Smart Turnout founder Philip Turner

http://www.smartturnout.co.uk/

As ever the Tweed Runners were immaculately turned out in plus fours in all varieties of tweed, and a fair few moustaches to boot.

There are even more photos of the event on the Preposity Tumblr here

Rugby Ralph Lauren hosted an event in partnership with Yacht Week to showcase their summer collection.
Here in London we’ve experienced the wettest April on record, and May looks set to be somewhat of a washout, so I can but hope that we’ll eventually see some sun, especially given how great Rugby’s summer looks.

As you’d expect from a company that prides itself on its preppy credentials, light weight fabrics such as seersucker and madras were ever-present. Something that seems to set Rugby apart from their preppy counterparts is their attention to the wash of their garments. Everything looks and feels worn-in, but not in an artificially distressed way, simply a ‘lived-in’ look – as if you’d already been wearing the garment for a few years. The madras prints are slightly desaturated, as if bleached by the summer sun.

This can be seen in the concept of Nantucket Red trousers – which are famed for their faded look, appearing a warm pink having been bleached by sun and salt air from their original red dye. Rugby have obviously been inspired by Nantucket Reds with their ‘Salt Chino Short’ whose colour feels authentically sun-bleached.

Also on display were many pieces embroidered with Rugby’s skull & crossbones motif, evidently inspired by Yale’s Skull and Bones society.

This motif has become more and more ubiquitous for Rugby, now appearing on the chest their polo shirts where Ralph Lauren’s polo pony would usually sit.

One place I think it does feel more out of place is on the Oxford Buttondowns I saw, where it seems superfluous. I’d rather a shirt with no logo.

One other noticeable theme was that of Boy Scouts. Rugby shirts with scout merit badges, backpacks and more rustic summer khakis. Maybe this was inspired by Wes Anderson’s upcoming movie Moonrise Kingdom, which is centred around a young Scout and was filmed in Rhode Island.

After drinks and Rugby RL branded cupcakes, I left inspired and praying for the start of English summer.

More photos on Tumblr

A few months ago I worked with preppy London-based accessories brand Smart Turnout to design their lookbook for Autumn/Winter 2012.

The process began with a meeting to discuss a format and select images, and then moved into design development, leading to the finished layout.

The imagery was all shot on location at Kings College School, a prep school in Wimbledon, London.

The collection sees Smart Turnout expand their range from the military-inspired accessories for which they’ve become well known, to include sweaters, suits and jackets. But fear not, the military stripes are still present, with a choice of linings hidden away inside the suit jackets.

Image selection meeting

Finalised layout in InDesign


The finished lookbook cover

Read our interview with Smart Turnout founder Philip Turner here