fit to be (bow) tied.

Social Primer himself, K. Cooper Ray, graced us with his presence this past week (in his new Fall Camo Reversible Bow Tie) to kick off his Tailgate Tour at Brooks Brothers. Give me a live band, drinks, and good company, all in the name of bow ties and southern hospitality, and I’m there. It was a great night and a thrill to meet the mastermind behind one of my favorite websites. Between our Samford group and the two—count them—two buses that the Alabama IFC chartered from Tuscaloosa (can I get a roll tide to that?), the party was a roaring success. Thank you to Cooper for inviting us out for a great evening! Be sure to shop his phenomenal bow tie collection in stores and online, and don’t forget that his new book, Bill of Rites: The American Man, was just released.  If you missed the Birmingham event, check here for details on the Atlanta event later this week. Trust me, you’ll be glad you did. 

Photography by Shawn Sharp.

brooks blazing.

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Loved this photo from the Social Primer for Brooks Brothers Tennis Hall of Fame bow tie launch party.  Blazer+bow tie headband is so cute.  A good navy blazer is the number one piece I reeeeally want this Fall, and since it's such a classic, I'm thinking I might as well go all out and get a perfectly tailored one from Brooks. 

Photo via All Dressed in Argyle.

anyone for tennis?

Social Primer and Brooks Brothers are set to unveil their newest collaboration tomorrow night in Newport, Rhode Island-- a bow tie to commemorate the International Tennis Hall of Fame.  How fitting is this since the best sporting event of the year just wrapped up?  SP and BB "have created a special limited-edition bow tie featuring contrasting patterns of tennis balls and tennis racquets," that will be available by contacting the Newport store (401- 847-1950), or by visiting the Brooks Brothers website.

This collaboration begs the "age-old" question:  Anyone for Tennis?

Bow tie photo and information courtesy of Social Primer. 
Title: George Bernard Shaw, Monty Python, Cream.. take your pick on the actual origin. 

True Prep Move.

It's a whole new old world.  Photo courtesy of Patrick McMullan.

OPH and True Prep author Lisa Birnbach with Social
Primer author (and Auburn graduate) K. Cooper Ray.

With less than two weeks left of my Christmas break, I hereby rename it from “Stacks” to “Prepcation”..or maybe “Caddyshackation.” Whatever you want to call it, I’ve been even more immersed in preppiness than usual—rereading The Great Gatsby, scouring for Lilly, watching countless movies including "Making the Grade" and "Dead Poets Society," catching up on some of my favorite blogs (like Social Primer, Unabashedly Prep and Ivy Style), planning the next semester in my Lilly planner (using stickers of course), and drinking my fair share of Arnold Palmers out of my pink monogrammed Tervis (after my New Year's Resolutioned 2-3 liters of water per day, of course).  
   

I’m just one step short of tying a cable knit sweater over my tennis whites. After rereading True Prep, this time actually having the time to read it and not just scan and read picture captions, I have an even greater sense of love towards the Golden Fleece.* My strengthened love encompasses Black Fleece, the collaborative effort between Brooks and Thom Browne, but the classic is, well, a classic. I’ve talked about my love for the classic brand and my love for menswear before, but Spring has sprung in the fashion world, and Brooks Brothers debuted a few looks recently. The looks for women are equally classy and put together. Be sure to check out Brooks Brother’s Facebook page for the complete collection. 

Totally put together, totes Caddyshack worthy.

*I would also like to mention that Brooks Brothers used Trinity's uniform plaid when decorating their stores for Christmas and in their Black Fleece collection.  Imagine my surprise when I walked through the hallowed doors and found my school jumper remade into a hat box display. TPM.

Brooks Brothers photos courtesy of Brooks Brothers.

True Prep event photos courtesy of Patrick McMullan.