Welcome to The Ivy League Look

This blog presents a historical view through articles, photographs, reminiscences, and advertisements, of an American style of men's fashion of the mid-20th century known as "The Ivy League Look" or "The Ivy Look."

This blog will not present modern-day iterations of this "look"; it will be shown in its original context as an American style worn during this specific era. Author commentary will be kept to a minimum.

This is not a commercial site and links to commercial sites will not be posted.

November 10, 2009

Ralph Nader (was not an Ivy fan)


"Nader was considered by many of his classmates to be a "grind" at Princeton. Not only did he study hard and do well on his assigned courses, but he also audited extra classes just because he loved to learn. This did not endear him to his classmates, but, then again, he was not very happy with them, either. He thought that many of them were too content with the "Gentleman's C" grade average and too preoccupied with what clothes they wore, what cars they drove, and who their friends were. Some of his peers thought his reluctance to join in conversations about such interests meant that he was shy. He wasn't shy, he just didn't care to waste his time talking about matters that were of no importance to him. His friends knew that if he started talking about politics or social issues, he could go on endlessly.

Most of the young men on campus dressed the same way: tweed jackets, white shirts, khaki pants, and white buckskin shoes. This bothered Nader, who thought that this conformity showed a lack of individuality - just the opposite of the "think for yourself" way in which he was raised. One day, to protest the sheep-like dress code, Nader went to class in a bathrobe and slippers."

Source:

Ralph Nader: Man With a Mission, by Nancy Bowen


[It must be mentioned that every time I've seen Nader he's been dressed in a rather conservative suit, button-down or forward point shirt and a rep or foulard tie; he must have relented later in life].

5 comments:

gantman said...

I always follow a dress for success code, it makes perfect sense that he did well wearing a fashion jacket!

Anonymous said...

gantman, I don't understand your comment.

Richard M said...

Now, wearing a tweed jacket and chinos would mark one as non-conformist, when students wear bathrobes and slippers to class.

Andrew So said...

HAHAHA Richard M, that is by far the best remark I've heard concerning the dress of modern-day University students. However, here at UNC Chapel Hill, I do see quite a bit of both.

Anonymous said...

Has Ralph Nader ever been about about or ever enjoyed ANYTHING?