• Home
  • About Black Watch

Black Watch

BOLD – IRREVERANT – PREPPY

Feeds:
Posts
Comments
« Belstaff Sheep M.C. Jacket
Sir Michael Caine – A pint of bitter… in a thin glass. »

TARTAN – Romancing the Plaid | Jeffrey Banks

January 5, 2009 by JP

TARTAN Romancing the Plaid by Jeffrey Banks & Doria De La Chapelle

*

Tartan makes me feel like no other fabric.  I can’t say it any better than the book, a must read- “Whenever the word tartan is mentioned, scores of exuberant images abound.  Like a flag, tartan evokes the Scottish nation and its colorful kilted clans.  It resonates with the wail of bagpipes.  It snaps to attention with its smart, symmetrical design.

But tartan is more than a design, it is a sign; and while it signifies kinship (real or imagined), country, and celebration of the Scots, its subtext is dignity, distinctiveness. and a sense of belonging- qualities that possess universal appeal. That is perhaps the reason why tartan, a textile indigenous to the Highlands, has evolved into one of the world’s most popular fabrics, beloved by just about everyone. Scot or not.”

*

The impeccable Jeffrey Banks

*

Knowing Jeffrey Banks, I can tell you that writing this book was a passionate labor of love for him.  An avid collector of all things tartan, particularly Black Watch, Jeffrey is the tartan authority and owns some of the greatest pieces I’ve seen– apparel, accessories, home furnishings, tartanware– you name it.  Jeffrey- I want that Black Watch toggle coat when you die!  No hurry, chap.

*

Jeffrey Banks’ personal collection of tartanware. Photo by Thom Gilbert.

*

Jeffrey Banks is one of those guys that seems to have been born with impeccable style.  As a high-schooler working at the legendary shop Britches, he was tapped by Ralph to come work for him.  Ralph became very fond of Jeffrey– he even lent him his own personal tuxedo and pumps for his Senior Prom.  Polo was a small company back then, so he worked directly with Ralph as his design assistant, and they are still close today.

Jeffrey, passionate about design, made the decision to leave Polo and finish his studies at Pratt Institute and Parsons.  Jeffrey later designed for Calvin, and Merona Sportswear, among others.  He launched his own menswear collection in 1977 to much acclaim, and is among the “who’s who” of fashion.  Jeffrey is one of the most dapper guys going, and a two-time winner of the Coty American Fashion Critics award.

I have a great story for you about Jeffrey in a kilt- but that’s for another time.

*

*

Share this:

  • Share
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Reddit
  • Twitter

Like this:

Like Loading...

Related

Posted in American, books, British, designers, fashion, history, Icons, lifestyle, style, tartan | Tagged American, apparel, board, Designer, dressed to kilt, fashion, heritage, history, Jeffrey Banks, kilt, legend, Polo, Ralph Lauren, romancing the plaid, Scotland, Scottish, tartan, tartanware, vintage | 2 Comments

2 Responses

  1. on January 5, 2009 at 5:52 pm James

    One of my favorite books. Great photo of Jeffrey. I have to admit, he is the reason that I now pay close attention to all things tartan. His passion is contagious.


  2. on January 7, 2009 at 4:19 am Jose

    I got this a christmas gift and it is one of my favorite books – I LOVE TARTAN.



Comments are closed.

  • Subscribe

    Subscribe to Black Watch by Email
  • Follow via Twiiter

    • Can’t take my eyes off those sick seaweed flames on that scoot. instagram.com/p/CKG6kd4llTg/… 15 hours ago
    • Worse things have happened... @ United States of America instagram.com/p/CKCgpnZlEG7/… 2 days ago
    • Just posted a photo instagram.com/p/CKAcZ0jFypE/… 3 days ago
    • Lee Remick, 1960. @ Hollywood instagram.com/p/CJ_QUWYF3eE/… 3 days ago
    • “Everybody always wants to know, ‘How long does it take to do your hair?’ How should I know? I’m never there.” ~Dol… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 4 days ago
  • January 2009
    M T W T F S S
     1234
    567891011
    12131415161718
    19202122232425
    262728293031  
        Feb »
  • Archives

    • May 2011
    • March 2011
    • September 2010
    • August 2010
    • July 2010
    • February 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • September 2009
    • July 2009
    • June 2009
    • May 2009
    • April 2009
    • March 2009
    • February 2009
    • January 2009
  • Top Posts

    • The Duke of Windsor's Sartorial Style
    • Vintage Esquire Spread | Proper Footwear for the Gent.
    • Howard Hughes | Wings of Desire
    • The Duke of Windsor's Sartorial Style | Formalwear
    • The Duke of Windsor's Sartorial Style | Country
    • Le Corbusier | The Father of "International Style" Design
    • Steve McQueen | What'll it be today... Jaguar XKSS or AC Cobra
    • Classic Clash Style | Rock 'n' Roll, Style & Soul
    • Rugby by Ralph Lauren.
    • The Duke of Windsor's Sartorial Style | Suitings
  • Steve McQueen Reviews 1966 GTs

  • Vintage Bo Diddley Plaid Rocker

  • A Properly Plaid Party Natty & Trad

  • Mad for Plaid | 1973

  • Mad for Color | GQ

  • Hats Off to Palm Beach Style

  • Clothes Make the Man Proper Menswear

  • Era of Menswear Illustrations | Apparel Arts & Esquire

  • Puttin’ on the Ritz Laurence Fellows

  • Vintage Paper Dolls

  • David, Prince of Wales

  • Duke of Windsor Sartorial Style~ Formal

  • Duke Of Windsor Sartorial Style~ Intro

  • Duke Of Windsor Sartorial Style ~ Day

  • Duke of Windsor Sartorial Style~ Sport

  • The Original Mr. “T” Esquire 1950

  • Short Attention Span Esquire 1956

  • Short Pattern of Excellence | 1953

  • Smokin’ Style | Hollywood Retrospective

  • Le Corbusier | Father of Intl. Design

  • James Coburn | 1970s Style Animal

  • Romancing the Plaid Jeffrey Banks

  • A Vested Interest in Plaid

  • A 1950 Plaid Cap Adventure

  • A Formal Introduction to Plaid

  • What a Gentleman Knows About Dressy with Style

  • Illustrated History of Overcoats, Pt. I

  • Illustrated History of Overcoats, Pt. II

  • Vintage Esquire Footwear

  • Raccoon-tuer | Legend of the Coonskin Coat

  • Vintage Golf Style | Bobby Jones

  • Mad Max Bubeck | Hell on Wheels

  • Live Fast, Die Free | Rollie Free’s Record

  • Barbour Legendary Motorcycle Gear

  • Love Affair with Speed Steve McQueen

  • Categories

    • accessories
    • American
    • apparel
    • Apparel Arts
    • architecture
    • Art
    • Auto
    • autos
    • books
    • British
    • design
    • designers
    • fashion
    • films
    • footwear
    • furniture
    • German
    • grooming
    • history
    • Icons
    • LIFE archive
    • lifestyle
    • motorcycle
    • music
    • pop culture
    • Preppy
    • sports
    • store
    • style
    • tartan
    • Uncategorized
    • vintage
  • 1920s 1930S 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s American apparel Apparel Arts Art Auto Belstaff bespoke best British car celebrity classic Daytona design Duke of Windsor English Esquire fashion film footwear formalwear GQ hand heritage history Hollywood icon illustration Illustrations ivy league jacket Jeffrey Banks legend LIFE London Los Angeles made magazine maker menswear motorcycle movie movies music NYC overcoat Palm Beach photo photography photos picture plaid Polo quality racing Ralph Lauren royal shearling Shelby Cobra shoe Slim Aarons speed record steve mcqueen store style suit tartan triumph vintage
  • Blogroll

    • 13th & Wolf
    • A Continuous Lean.
    • A Suitable Wardrobe
    • Best of TSY
    • English Cut
    • Heavy Tweed Jacket
    • Hollister Hovey
    • Ivy Style
    • Properly Askew
    • The Houndstooth Kid
    • The Moment
    • The Sartorialist via Men.Style.com
    • The Selvedge Yard
    • The Trad
  • My Other Blog

    • Best of TSY
    • The Selvedge Yard
  • Shopping

    • Bamford & Sons
    • Barbour
    • Barker Black
    • Belstaff
    • Cordings
    • Dunhill
    • Etro
    • F. M. Allen
    • Hackett
    • Holland and Holland
    • John Lobb
    • Lochcarron of Scotland
    • Paul Smith
    • Paul Stuart
    • Rugby
    • Stubbs and Wootton
    • Turnbull & Asser
  • Meta

    • Register
    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.com

Create a free website or blog at WordPress.com.

WPThemes.


loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: