Ivy style is enjoying something of a revival. But unlike its close aesthetic cousin, prep – which famously has a handbook – there’s something more arcane about the Ivy League look. The latter was incepted at elite American colleges in the early 20th century. And much like the dining clubs and secret societies that proliferated at the same intuitions, Ivy style became a fraternity unto itself, with membership communicated through subtle sartorial signals. For instance, a natural-shouldered blazer with a three-roll-two button stance, an Oxford-cloth shirt with a perfectly frayed collar or a necktie that quietly communicates insider status.

And just like that… the season of giving has arrived. Do you already see yourself rushing around, trying to pick out last-minute gifts come December? You’re not alone. Not to sound like a broken record but being prepared helps to make the weeks – or months, rather – in the lead up to the big day that little bit easier. You never know, you might even end up enjoying the process.

There comes a time in every man’s life when he must consider the turtleneck in relation to his wardrobe. Only a few centimetres of fabric separate it from the ubiquitous crew neck, yet there is something deep in our psyches that gives us pause. Is it the ghost of Andy Warhol, telling us we’re not arty enough to wear one? Is it hazy memories of 1990s Christmas movies? Or is it something else that stops us from sticking our necks out, metaphorically at least. What if you’re just not a turtleneck guy?

In life, the golden truth and learning often lies in the opposite of what we think is logical. Look to the psychologist Carl Rogers, who based his now-ubiquitous brand of empathic therapy on a simple yet startlingly counterintuitive idea.

Ivy style is enjoying something of a revival. But unlike its close aesthetic cousin, prep – which famously has a handbook – there’s something more arcane about the Ivy League look. The latter was incepted at elite American colleges in the early 20th century. And much like the dining clubs and secret societies that proliferated at the same intuitions, Ivy style became a fraternity unto itself, with membership communicated through subtle sartorial signals. For instance, a natural-shouldered blazer with a three-roll-two button stance, an Oxford-cloth shirt with a perfectly frayed collar or a necktie that quietly communicates insider status.

And just like that… the season of giving has arrived. Do you already see yourself rushing around, trying to pick out last-minute gifts come December? You’re not alone. Not to sound like a broken record but being prepared helps to make the weeks – or months, rather – in the lead up to the big day that little bit easier. You never know, you might even end up enjoying the process.