What could be more intense than a sibling rivalry? In the end, what, too, could be more futile...
J.Press navy blazer, $7.49; Polo Ralph Lauren lavender university stripe oxford, $2.99; Gant necktie, $1.99; J.Crew khakis, $5.49; Walkover 'Worthmore' white bucks, $1.99; no-name silk square, argyle socks from Target, $14 haircut.
Big Brother is something of the house bully. He likes to go on about how he was there "in the old days", how he did everything "before it was cool". He likes to complain about how lame the younger kids are, especially his kid brothers, but he hates it even more when they behave a little too much like him. Mother tries to tell him that he can't have it both ways, and that his energy would be better spent in encouraging the young'uns, but mostly he doesn't want to hear it.
Middle Brother frequently finds himself at a loss. He's old enough now that Big Brother pretty much leaves him alone, but secretly he sympathises with Baby Brother. After all, it wasn't all that long ago that Big Brother and his friends were treating him like some presumptuous good-for-nothing punk. Mother knows full well that he's the peacemaker of the family, even if he doesn't fully realize it just yet.
Baby Brother's heart is probably in the right place, mostly, though he can be misdirected at times. Tired of Big Brother's constant complaining offset by Middle Brother's tacit agreement, he chooses to scream his presence, if a bit to his detriment. True, he does mostly copy Big Brother puppy dog fashion, but after all, ain't that want what Baby Brothers do best? Mother knows that he'd be better off to just calm down a bit, but he's young yet and still impetuous.
But they are, after all, brothers. And when they can stop screaming long enough, they do, in fact, play quite well together.
Even the cousins agree.
J.Press navy blazer, $7.49; Polo Ralph Lauren lavender university stripe oxford, $2.99; Gant necktie, $1.99; J.Crew khakis, $5.49; Walkover 'Worthmore' white bucks, $1.99; no-name silk square, argyle socks from Target, $14 haircut.
Big Brother is something of the house bully. He likes to go on about how he was there "in the old days", how he did everything "before it was cool". He likes to complain about how lame the younger kids are, especially his kid brothers, but he hates it even more when they behave a little too much like him. Mother tries to tell him that he can't have it both ways, and that his energy would be better spent in encouraging the young'uns, but mostly he doesn't want to hear it.
Middle Brother frequently finds himself at a loss. He's old enough now that Big Brother pretty much leaves him alone, but secretly he sympathises with Baby Brother. After all, it wasn't all that long ago that Big Brother and his friends were treating him like some presumptuous good-for-nothing punk. Mother knows full well that he's the peacemaker of the family, even if he doesn't fully realize it just yet.
Baby Brother's heart is probably in the right place, mostly, though he can be misdirected at times. Tired of Big Brother's constant complaining offset by Middle Brother's tacit agreement, he chooses to scream his presence, if a bit to his detriment. True, he does mostly copy Big Brother puppy dog fashion, but after all, ain't that want what Baby Brothers do best? Mother knows that he'd be better off to just calm down a bit, but he's young yet and still impetuous.
But they are, after all, brothers. And when they can stop screaming long enough, they do, in fact, play quite well together. 
Even the cousins agree.
PEFECT!
ReplyDeleteThis was a brilliant idea for a post and well written, to boot. All that was missing was a shot of an Abercrombie (ca. 21st century) or American Eagle button up (or perhaps better, a t-shirt) as the unwanted stepchild. "They all had to admit that there was a familial resemblance, but to acknowledge it publicly would have damaged the reputation of the entire lineage."
ReplyDeleteI love this look...the white bucks are my favorite.
ReplyDelete~M
And maybe one of those Ed Hardy shirts as an example of "kids I don't want you hanging around with?"
ReplyDeleteJeez! Where do you buy that stuff so cheap???
ReplyDeleteLooks and fits great, by the way!
Hilarious. I would be interested to see where JCrew and Lands End fit into this family tree.
ReplyDeleteLands End is Ralph's red-headed stepchild, loathe as he may be to admit it.
ReplyDeleteJ Crew is the wannabe from the wrong side of the tracks.
Don't be caught below the Mason-Dixon Line wearing white bucks with anything other than tan socks, if you insist on wearing socks at all. You will be tarred, weathered, and run out of town on a rail.
ReplyDeletea sign that you went to architecture school: the copy of giedion's classic "mechanization takes command" on the shelf... nice!
ReplyDeletespeaking of architecture, as an historian living in cambridge and reading your blog regularly, i'd love to hear your take on architects' sartorial inclinations, past and present. a reading suggestion, perhaps: mark wigley's "white walls, designer dresses" (mit press). if you're interested, i think i saw a used copy half price at rodney's closing sale in central sq.
all too often, people refer to the kind of clothes you discuss as "trad" --- but to me, they are profoundly "modern". i mean, just look at people like adolf loos, walter gropius, le corbusier, and so many others. they may not have worn things with lobsters or skulls on them, but they did sport some snazzy outfits not totally unlike some of the things you blog about (precise cuts, textured materials --- in a sense, very similar to their buildings).
granted, the whole debate about labels is rather pointless, in history as in fashion, but i can't help but feel slightly annoyed when people label things as "ivy" or "preppy" (or even worst, "WASP") when, in fact, you look at most design schools in western europe during the middle decades of the century (for instance, in france or in germany), and quite a few were wearing tweed jackets, button downs, wool sweaters, bow ties, v necks, etc. --- without the whole charade about belonging to some elite old money circle. they are just simple clothes that age well, and that defy triviality. it was true then, and is true now.
what do you think?
Very witty!
ReplyDelete