New men fashion
Something fishy seems to be going on at Harvard: The university is trying to be hip, possibly even chic. How else to explain Harvard'son this week's episode of NYC Prep?
And its new men's fashion line, Harvard Yard? And by fashion line, we
don't mean maroon sweatshirts with crests on them. The university has
inked a ten-year licensing deal with clothing manufacturer Wearwolf
Group for a line of contemporary men's apparel. It's unclear if the line
is part of the university's attempt to stop Harvard Yard — a lawn we imagine makes a nice resting ground for
Harvard students to repair glasses, wipe down their pocket protectors,
and memorize an extra few digits of pi — inspired the spring collection.
The line includes "short-sleeve plaid shirts, Liberty print wovens,
seersucker shorts, regimental stripes, sporty knits, patterned jackets
and fancy pants — all in a contemporary, tapered fit," according to WWD.
The clothes won't be very Harvard-y in the literal sense.
"Harvard" only appears on the labels inside the garments, while the
university's signature crimson only appears in buttonholes, zipper
pulls, and other trimmings. Prices range from $165 for pants to $495 for
sport coats. The line's creative director, John Fowler, told WWD
that designers drew from photos of students lounging in Harvard Yard in
the sixties. “It’s a style that has become current again and not just
with the American consumer. We think Harvard Yard will have global
appeal.” So the fashion of Harvard could, one day, have the same reach
as Gucci or Prada or ... the Gap.
But will Harvard students go for it? The line is mostly targeted
to alums and "fans" of the university, which have no doubt multiplied
exponentially since the school's Bravo debut this week. But the line's
creators don't offer any solutions to Harvard Yard's inherent problem:
Fashion and Harvard just don't go together. Would you give a child an
Oreo and a glass of Dr Pepper to dip it in? Probably not. That said,
apparently a market exists in Massachusetts for the pink-whale foam hats
and sailboat belts by the epically preppy
so there is probably a market for this, too. And, terrifyingly, whoever
buys it will likely accessorize with the Vineyard Vines