The other evening at The National Arts Club I had a wonderful time attending a FashionSpeak Friday event on Rowing Blazers.
Author Jack Carlson (as shown below) is the world’s foremost expert on the history, design and traditions behind the rowing blazer whether it be striped, trimmed or badged as was shared in his very imformative presentation.
As a member of the US national rowing team, Jack represented the US at two World Championships and won the Henley Royal Regatta, the Royal Canadian Regatta and the Head of the Charles Regatta.
Jack felt that since no one had yet written a book on Rowing Blazers that he was the guy!
Jack shared with his audience the origins of the blazer in the sporting kit of Oxford and Cambridge where the very first blazers were created in bold colors for the college rowing clubs. Then he discussed how the blazer evolved after that and how the colors where chosen and how other various traditions prevailed whether it be at a rowing club at Harvard or a rowing club in the Netherlands.
In addition to Jack’s presentation, Matt Fox and Enrique Crame III who launched Fine and Dandy in 2009(specialists in dandy-inspired men’s accessories) outfitted many young men in some great rowing outfits as seen below.
And let’s not leave out Elias Marte who has his own blog www.staycrispymyfriends.blogspot.com which covers menswear and womenswear “everything” preppy.
So if you want to treat yourself to a great coffee table book which is extremely well done and informative then visit Amazon.com and buy a copy of Rowing Blazers today!
What a fascinating and unusual subject. My son rows at Abingdon School, near Oxford. The 1st eight team have wonderful blazers in pink and white stripes. There are some pictures here http://www.abingdon.org.uk/hall_of_fame_2001-2002/.
wow Margarita-Thanks so much for sharing! Very cool photos. You must be one proud Mom!