Take Ivy….Please

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Take Ivy by T.Hayashida is back…yet again.

If you are a regular reader of all the various style blogs out there, there is no way you’ve overlooked the upcoming re-release of the Japanese style-bible Take Ivy. Even the New York Times has recently written an article about it. This new edition is sure to get all the fashion folks worked up – with its translated English text, brand new photo reproductions, and most of all…its super low price tag.

I’ve written about this cryptically named book before – vintage copies of the tome are very hard to find, and often sell at auction for thousands of dollars. As an owner of a vintage copy (bought back in the good old days when there was such things as expense accounts..what?) it will be interesting to see how the new edition affects the price of the rare vintage copies. Luckily I got my original copy for a song. Newly listed on Amazon, the book will sell for $14.97 when it gets released on August 31st.

The small photo book takes an outsiders look at life inside the private, wealthy world of the American Ivy League – photographs of students back in sixties when the prep styles of the men’s clothes were really only worn by the entitled, privileged classes. Fashion designers, editors, and stylists worship the book – it’s a rare snapshot into this unique period of time and has influenced many fashion magazine stories, and countless menswear collections.

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