Take Ivy

The Classicist: The Year's Best Luxe Books

Followers of The Classicist, the weekly column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance, are familiar with the fact that we take pains to search out every season's most luxurious books and bring you exclusive glimpses. 2010 was a particularly good year for top-drawer tomes; if you've any space left in your library we suggest you stock up on the following titles which we declare to be the best of the best from those that made our grade in 2010. Featuring our favorite subjects ranging from Savile Row to classic Louis Vuitton luggage, high equestrian style to high society, and classic architecture to the perfection that is is Porsche, this is a chance to catch up on the must-have volumes you might have missed.

Topping the list are our two favorites, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks (Abrams) and Bespoke: The Men's Style of Savile Row (Rizzoli), both dealing with icons of luxe style, the first a legendary French luggage firm, the second a street synonymous with the world's best men's tailoring. Can you imagine anything better than a suite of Vuitton trunks full of Savile Row suits? Didn't think so. While you're busy assembling a collection these books are the next best thing. Men's style also comes into play in two other titles on our can't-miss list, the bible of Ivy League style Take Ivy (powerHouse) and We Want Miles: Miles Davis vs. Jazz (Skira Rizzoli). They're more closely related than you might think; the jazz legend had a not-so-hidden passion for preppy finery in his early years, while Take Ivy's title is a reference to jazz.

Gallery: The Best Luxe Books of 2010

Tags: Abrams, architecture, books, coffee table books, equestrian, Flammarion, jazz, Louis Vuitton, luggage, mens style, Miles Davis, Paris, Porsche, Rizzoli, Savile Row, Scotland, Take Ivy, teNeues, The Classicist

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Jack Spade x K-Swiss 'Take Ivy' Special Edition

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Books, Men's Style

Last month we told you about Take Ivy, the coveted style tome showcasing snapshots of classic Ivy League style from the 1960s being re-issued for the first time ever in the U.S. Now style maven Jack Spade is offering the iconic volume equipped with a K-Swiss x Jack Spade collaboration package featuring an old-school sweatshirt with preppy elbow patches and a retro leather belt for $245. The sweatshirt is a heavy gauge crewneck – just like the retro gym sweatshirts from the '60s. For a preppy flair, the designers silk screened orange patches on to the elbows; on one of the patches is the K-Swiss 1966 shield and "Jack Spade/Warren Street/New York" to note the brands' heritage and the collaboration. The belt was designed to complete the retro look and is modeled after a custom bridle leather book strap, artfully cinched around the book.

Gallery: Take Ivy: Jack Spade x K-Swiss