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#41 ·
dpihl said:
Why some of you think safari style is intrinsically pretentious, I don't know.
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Actual safari clothing is made for the jungle and other hot-climate expeditions where thorns, vines, moisture, heat, and insects are out to get you. Clothing in the style of actual safari clothing, or safari style, is intrinsically pretentious as it is made to cop the look without the function.

One can argue that anything made "in the style of" is pretentious, but to many members here nothing looks quite as silly these days as safari style things. This could be for many reasons, however, I think it's because going to Africa on a safari is still something people know most folks are not doing despite the proliferation of tours for anyone with the coin. See a man in boat shoes, sockless, with chinos and he just might be on his way to sailing, have learned to like those shoes while sailing or is perhaps accustomed to them from old experience on oceans or lakes. But unless you're a big game hunter, a Roosevelt of the Teddy side or another genuine adventurer into the jungle the safari style is simply silly and pretentious looking.

That being said, I'm all for anyone wearing anything they like. Goodness knows I'm sure I drew a snicker from the younger Wilkes Bashford crowd today when I walked down the street in a BB University blazer, pink OCBD, repp tie and Bill's khakis all atop plain toe oxford shoes.

"Look, Stash! There goes a fellow thinking he's in some old movie about East Coast boarding schools!"

Matters not. The point now, though, is that it seems sad for BB to be advertising something so pretentious. They could have done better by looking at W&G catalogs of years past instead of hazy Banana Republic ads.

Just my coppers.

Cordially,
A.Q.
 
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#42 · (Edited)
But why all the angst over "authenticity" or where someone picked up their taste in shoes--getting caught up in that sort of anxiety kind of kills the fun of just loving clothes, doesn't it?

The BB safari stuff is obviously not meant to be taken for actual appropriate African safari togs. They're city and suburban spots coats and and liesure wear done in a style inspired by the beautiful, classic lines of iconic safari wear that mesh very pleasingly, I think, with the trad/Ivy look--when done sparingly.

Only a maniac would actually dress up like any of the models in that add. The ad is an image designed to showcase a bunch of pieces with a coherent theme, not to act as a guide for dressing in real life, whether you're in the Congo or Long Island.
 
#44 ·
Brownshoe said:
But why all the angst over "authenticity" or where someone picked up their taste in shoes--getting caught up in that sort of anxiety kind of kills the fun of just loving clothes, doesn't it?

The BB safari stuff is obviously not meant to be taken for actual appropriate African safari togs. They're city and suburban spots coats and and liesure wear done in a style inspired by the beautiful, classic lines of iconic safari wear that mesh very pleasingly, I think, with the trad/Ivy look--when done sparingly.

Only a maniac would actually dress up like any of the models in that add. The ad is an image designed to showcase a bunch of pieces with a coherent theme, not to act as a guide for dressing in real life, whether you're in the Congo or Long Island.
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Oh heed the wise words of he who is Brown of Shoe.
 
#45 ·
Quay said:
Actual safari clothing is made for the jungle and other hot-climate expeditions where thorns, vines, moisture, heat, and insects are out to get you. Clothing in the style of actual safari clothing, or safari style, is intrinsically pretentious as it is made to cop the look without the function.
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For the record, I agree with everything in your post Mr. Quay. The safari look without the functionality of good safari clothing is indeed pretentious.

Incidentally, I just got a chance to view the Brooks Photos on a computer with decent resolution (My video card is on the blink and only displays 6 colors right now).

Yecchhhh! Brooks is capable of much better than this. Also, the gurkha- style pants are the worst imitation I've ever seen.
 
#46 ·
Brownshoe said:
But why all the angst over "authenticity" or where someone picked up their taste in shoes--getting caught up in that sort of anxiety kind of kills the fun of just loving clothes, doesn't it?

The BB safari stuff is obviously not meant to be taken for actual appropriate African safari togs. They're city and suburban spots coats and and liesure wear done in a style inspired by the beautiful, classic lines of iconic safari wear that mesh very pleasingly, I think, with the trad/Ivy look--when done sparingly.

Only a maniac would actually dress up like any of the models in that add. The ad is an image designed to showcase a bunch of pieces with a coherent theme, not to act as a guide for dressing in real life, whether you're in the Congo or Long Island.
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Another 5 star rated response!
 
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#47 ·
Having spent most of the last thirty years in places like Pakistan, Somalia, Central Africa, Botswana in and out of the bush, the only people I've seen in those sort of clothing are Italian and French tourists. Though usually they complement them with scarves or kaffiyahs. Your South African hunting guide will be most likely wearing short shorts and a work shirt on the job. When I'm in the field I wear old khakis, my frayed OCBDs in muted colors and approach boots. I like pith helmets but would never wear one in public out of fear of fending the natives. No epaulets, either.
 
#48 ·
I got a good laugh when I opened the latest B2 catalog. Those safari clothes look silly, and a few are downright ugly. My wife thought the dresses were particularly hideous. Of course, that's just me...I don't like to go around looking like a cross between Hemingway and Charlton Heston from "Earthquake!".:icon_smile_big:

Thus far, their spring offerings are pretty uninspiring IMHO.
 
#49 ·
I certainly don't see any "angst" in any posts here -- quite a strong word to use. This is, as far as I can tell, a forum for discussion Trad clothing. That seems to be what is going on right now. There are a variety of opinions on the latest BB offering -- as it should be.

Nice to hear from someone with actual safari experience, too, which seems to put the BB offerings squarely in the pretentious-poseur-tourist category.

I hope everyone is enjoying this thread as much as I am and that no one is having any undue problems with something that will fade into the sales bins by fall.

Cordially,
A.Q.
 
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#50 ·
xcubbies said:
Having spent most of the last thirty years in places like Pakistan, Somalia, Central Africa, Botswana in and out of the bush, the only people I've seen in those sort of clothing are Italian and French tourists. Though usually they complement them with scarves or kaffiyahs. Your South African hunting guide will be most likely wearing short shorts and a work shirt on the job. When I'm in the field I wear old khakis, my frayed OCBDs in muted colors and approach boots. I like pith helmets but would never wear one in public out of fear of fending the natives. No epaulets, either.
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What? The British no longer go on safari's in the safari outfits. I thought they were the ones who came up with the look. I always had these pictures in my mind of British noblemen (and entourage) on safari's across the empire in their outfits with large caliber rifles. I wonder if Prince Phillip sported one when he and the Queen were in Africa in the 52.

I think its a fantastic look, but only if you're on safari. And I plan to wear one when I finally get around to going on safari in Africa. I don't plan on breaking out the BB version when I go on "safari" in Disney's Animal Kingdom. Although my parents did go thru an American safari drive thru 20 or 30 years ago and the car got torn apart by a pack of lions or something. Dad should have busted out the BB outfit & a magnum and gone safari on them. It was grandpa's car after all. :icon_smile_big:
 
#51 ·
When I went on a safari, we didn't shower for 5 days, the gash on my buddy's foot turned gangrenous, and everyone's explosive gastrointestinal problems were made more hilarious only by the lack of water to rehydrate and lack of toilet paper at the squat-style toilets, necessitating use of the local technique known as "the left hand". Still one of the best times of my life. I wish BB could have incorporated that into the catalog.
 
#52 ·
Quay said:
I certainly don't see any "angst" in any posts here -- quite a strong word to use. This is, as far as I can tell, a forum for discussion Trad clothing. That seems to be what is going on right now. There are a variety of opinions on the latest BB offering -- as it should be.

Nice to hear from someone with actual safari experience, too, which seems to put the BB offerings squarely in the pretentious-poseur-tourist category.

I hope everyone is enjoying this thread as much as I am and that no one is having any undue problems with something that will fade into the sales bins by fall.

Cordially,
A.Q.
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My point was just that they are not safari clothes--they are smart/casual pieces inspired by safari clothes. Of course they would be ridiculous and pretentious to wear on a real safari, but that's not the point.

Safari-style jackets, ghurkas, and the rest have been worn as casual gear for decades by many, many people who wouldn't dream of murdering tigers or whatever in a real jungle. It's entirely fair to say you just don't like the look, but criticizism based on inauthenticity or "pretentiousness" just seems misguided to me.

It also bears repeating that, in real life, you're not supposed to wear all the stuff in the ad together.

Rugby shirts, polo shirts, pea coats, army jackets, desert boots, tennis shoes, boat shoes, hacking jackets, chinos, denim jeans, duffel coats, bomber jackets, diving watches, watch caps, aviator sunglasses...all worn divorced from their original function more often than not. So what?
 
#54 ·
Brownshoe said:
(...) It's entirely fair to say you just don't like the look, but criticizism based on inauthenticity or "pretentiousness" just seems misguided to me. (....)
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Thank you for your comments. I would like to understand more behind your remarks as I genuinely am puzzled by them and think it is germane to this thread. Based on those two noted qualities, how is such a criticism led or prompted by wrong or inappropriate motives or ideals? (Which is of course what misguided means.) Is thinking something pretentious a bad ideal? Or is the oft-used and misused quality of "authentic" not applicable here?

Here to learn,
A.Q.
 
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#55 ·
Quay said:
is the oft-used and misused quality of "authentic" not applicable here?
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That's an interesting question. I'm looking for a good trench coat, but haven't previously, nor plan in the future to partake in trench warfare. As mentioned previously by Navalgent, topsiders and peacoats are worn freely now, whether or not one is a Navy veteran or sail boater.

Blue jeans were developed for miners
Trucker hats for truckers
"work shirts" for auto mechanics et al.
etc. etc.

However, those items of clothing have been accepted into the mainstream, and most people no longer associate them with their original function. So I gues that brings up the question, has safari-style clothing been accepted into main stream?

In any event, I can't imagine any of it could be considered Trad!
 
#56 ·
It looks to me like someone at Banana Republic was turned loose on the Brooks catalogue. I half expected to turn the page in the spring book and see Papa Hemingway! I wouldn't wear it myself, but my wife said she likes the women's clothes.
 
#58 · (Edited)
Brownshoe said:
My point was just that they are not safari clothes--they are smart/casual pieces inspired by safari clothes. Of course they would be ridiculous and pretentious to wear on a real safari, but that's not the point.

Safari-style jackets, ghurkas, and the rest have been worn as casual gear for decades by many, many people who wouldn't dream of murdering tigers or whatever in a real jungle. It's entirely fair to say you just don't like the look, but criticizism based on inauthenticity or "pretentiousness" just seems misguided to me.

It also bears repeating that, in real life, you're not supposed to wear all the stuff in the ad together.

Rugby shirts, polo shirts, pea coats, army jackets, desert boots, tennis shoes, boat shoes, hacking jackets, chinos, denim jeans, duffel coats, bomber jackets, diving watches, watch caps, aviator sunglasses...all worn divorced from their original function more often than not. So what?
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Again I say excellent response.

I spent about 25 years of my life in the continent of Africa and the only people I saw wearing the so called authentic safari attire were on TV shows which were either movies depicting the explorers of ages past or tourists who are trying to look like explorers in Africa.

The Safari suit was originally a military attire worn in the hot and humid parts of the world which evolved and became an apparel for gallivanting through the jungle and as far back as in the late 50s had become a fashionable attire as was modeled in the Vogue (UK edition) of July 1959. I wouldn't consider it to be trad in the sense of how trad is defined around here but if anyone deems it fit to wear it, that is their perogative.
 
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#60 ·
I love her look!

...well, ok, i just love her.

I'd be damned to get into any of those monkey outfits, though. Cheeze has a new realm at BB.
 
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