I've been writing a series for PBS about men whose style I admire. This week's entry is George Plimpton, arguably the last American to dress in that old patrician style that has been replaced by tech titan outfits. www.pbs.org/wnet/america... - ThreadSky

dieworkwear.bsky.social • 27 days ago

I've been writing a series for PBS about men whose style I admire. This week's entry is George Plimpton, arguably the last American to dress in that old patrician style that has been replaced by tech titan outfits.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/george-plimptons-style-represented-a-different-america/33206/

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Comments

rrrvvvwww.bsky.social•20 days ago

Given the shifting of the times, and our society’s waning ability to interpret and contextualize the past, I’d call this “literate” style. You at least look like you’ve read a book and know how to talk about it.

briween.bsky.social•27 days ago

as much as i detest the guy i feel a similar respect for william f. buckley's style

actually it's one of the only things i respect about him

yellowstoneten.bsky.social•27 days ago

have you heard the Jonathan Coulton song about him?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDRLghVxqX0

antaeusrising.bsky.social•27 days ago

I thought that was about Washington.

antaeusrising.bsky.social•27 days ago

Apparently, I'm incorrect.

https://wiki.jonathancoulton.com/A_Talk_with_George

nicholasadams.bsky.social•27 days ago

I don't think Washington ever went three rounds with Archie Moore...

aetherograph.bsky.social•26 days ago

ahhh!!! Plimpton was also one of the last Great American Voices!!!!! His American RP was so GORGEOUS!!!

cfcasper.bsky.social•27 days ago

rosemmason.bsky.social•2 days ago

📌

jaymoschella.bsky.social•27 days ago

Vivid memory: a slim rumply-looking tuxedoed figure approaching from way up a road outside Harvard Sq. While he was still too far away to recognize I said to whoever I was with, "Ha, that guy looks just like George Plimpton." It was George Plimpton. Could clock the silhouette alone from a mile away

jahnji.bsky.social•17 days ago

I want a PBS men’s wear documentary ASAP.

flightyhandful.bsky.social•14 days ago

Same!

stealmyposts.bsky.social•27 days ago

the white shorts ...

reggieh.bsky.social•21 days ago

I'm looking forward to this series very much!

zerodrip.bsky.social•27 days ago

Thanks for sharing! I had no idea

thomtillisistoast.bsky.social•8 days ago

Buckley?

brennick.bsky.social•27 days ago

Is that Peter Cook in the black and white photo?

isaacbradshaw.bsky.social•27 days ago

Yes, and that looks like Peter Sellers to Cook’s immediate right.

happybusman.bsky.social•27 days ago

According to the Getty page, the guy on the left is Mark Rudd, leader of the Students for a Democratic Society.

isaacbradshaw.bsky.social•27 days ago

Fascinating dinner party.

isaacbradshaw.bsky.social•27 days ago

Well his left, our right.

peabodyesq.bsky.social•26 days ago

Classics are classics for a reason. Take this black hat...

curiousdan60.bsky.social•27 days ago

Preppy before preppy?

clemskelton.bsky.social•27 days ago

Where preppy got it's ideas...

ntok.bsky.social•27 days ago

I wrote a piece about the Paris Review's office in which Plimpton figured pretty heavily:

https://nyra.nyc/articles/the-paris-review?gift=b4d36911c1ef7f0358c12258b0c5e8fd0b23d337&from=y45w16wT

(As for most of its history the PR office = Plimpton's home)

runthrufuckerface.bsky.social•27 days ago

Proud Detroit Lion!

deyasi.bsky.social•26 days ago

Excellent essays, Derek. You write beautifully. I’m especially taken by your essay on Baldwin.

carolsott.bsky.social•27 days ago

An excellent choice!

raskolnikola.bsky.social•26 days ago

He is a person whose voice and cadence matched his style. I know that’s not a thing, but with him it was.

lenappleman.bsky.social•26 days ago

I was lucky to meet him at a party at his NYC apt when I was in high school in the late '80s. He was very gracious.

redclayramble.bsky.social•26 days ago

Great stuff, Derek! 💙

patsybaloney.bsky.social•27 days ago

Congrats! Looking forward to seeing this.

laineballou.bsky.social•27 days ago

Women sports reporters' dress codes have certainly changed since the 1970s.

ne63.bsky.social•26 days ago

Natty.

theupside.bsky.social•27 days ago

“Tech titan outfits”? You mean hoodies & sweatpants?

phantomcorsair.bsky.social•26 days ago

Who's the woman in the first picture? Getty reckons it's Diane (sic) Vreeland!

willpunctuate.bsky.social•27 days ago

I miss that guy…

deetee213.bsky.social•26 days ago

Plimpton always seemed so comfortable in his clothes.

tymcbray.bsky.social•27 days ago

Nice!

vincentwriter.bsky.social•26 days ago

As a kid, I loved his books. I had no idea what his background was. I still read Sidd Finch every once in a while.

emiliog.bsky.social•27 days ago

absolutely; i thought Plimpton was British until i heard him speak, mostly because of his clothes.

sirpurp.bsky.social•27 days ago

He has that old, *old*, *OLD* New York society accent.

emiliog.bsky.social•27 days ago

probably hard to find nowadays outside of an amateur golf tournament on Martha's Vineyard

electromotive645.bsky.social•25 days ago

Plimpton got to show off sartorially a few times more in later age as an occasional member of the repertory company for A&E's _Nero Wolfe Mysteries_ series - virtually always either as a business bigwig, or as Wolfe's tweedy lawyer.

(Bar one bizarre episode that cast him as a chef in Chinese garb.)

nielanell.bsky.social•27 days ago

That looks like a nice brushed Shetland jumper in the last photo.

We're based in Hoswick (village in the south mainland of Shetland) and our neighbours, Shetland Woollen Co, still make them.

They have a hundred-year-old or so teasel machine to do the brushing.

https://shetlandwoollen.co/collections/brushed-jumpers-1

suziek.bsky.social•27 days ago

The color he’s wearing is one of my favorites

nielanell.bsky.social•27 days ago

Lovely, isn't it! Shetland Woollen Co still make similar colours. This one is called confetti.

suziek.bsky.social•27 days ago

Beautiful and bookmarked for my winter wishlist 💙

nielanell.bsky.social•27 days ago

🥰 if you have a look at the site there are a few other styles. Lovely, traditional knitwear!

terencefox.bsky.social•27 days ago

The aspect of the tech titan outfit that has been driving me nuts for years is the CEO Jacket. Every tech guy wears a Little Jacket when they are presenting. It’s usually a Harrington or a varsity jacket, or a leather jacket if they’re really edgy. Please someone explain this phenomenon