Hello readers! With summer in full swing, I have thankfully been able to compose posts much more often than during the semester. Ironically, this post is going to be about the one thing that prevents me from making them: college.
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A Brief History of SU
In August, I will be beginning my sophomore year at Salisbury University, a division three Maryland state school in the town it bares the name of. Founded in 1925 as Salisbury State Normal School as a two year school for elementary teachers, the institution grew over time into Maryland State Teachers College in 1935, Salisbury State College in '63, Salisbury State University in '88, and finally Salisbury University (or SU) in 2001.
For those who can't see the caption on the photo: "Students typing in class, circa 1930". Spot the full suits, blazers, and sweaters. (Picture property of Salisbury University library)
The Ivy League look in full swing at a state teachers college. (Picture property of Salisbury University library)
SU students during a chem lab in 1968. As you can see with this gentleman's groovy yellow shirt, the Ivy League look is already giving way. (picture from DelmarvaNow.com)
Fast forward 50 years, and we now have our official mascot Sammy Seagull.
The university is still known for producing high numbers of teachers, as well as nurses and future doctors in its renowned nursing and biology programs, respectively. We also produce our fair share of business students from our Perdue School of Business (endowed by the chicken company you've probably seen at the supermarket, because its based here in the 'Bury). Meanwhile, I am studying history with hopes of law school after graduating. While there is a Greek presence at SU, we lack on-campus housing for them due to some kind of regulations (and because everyone moves off campus after freshman year anyways). Because of this, their parties take place off campus along with all others. Salisbury's main claim to fame is our lacrosse team, twelve time NCAA D3 champions. After all, it is a Maryland sport! One of Salisbury's few traditions is the annual War on the Shore lacrosse game against nearby Washington College (WAC) for the Charles B. Clark Cup, which we win a good percentage of the time. Oddly enough, WAC used to be the lax powerhouse around these parts. Oh, the times have changed! Salisbury's rugby team is also highly esteemed, having also won the national championship various times. While I am proud to claim these teams as my school's, I cannot say I play for either of them. And that's pretty much SU in a nutshell. Not a Public Ivy, but still pretty good at what we do.
The College Cap
In all, I would not call SU a well dressed school (students and professors alike). While Sperrys can be spotted on any given day on campus, skater and running shoes are much more common. Loafers are a rarity. While one may seen an occasional OCBD (from Vineyard Vines/Polo, brah) or Patagonia fleece, this is about as nice as it gets on a regular basis. Joggers, sweats, lax shorts, and pajamas are much more common. I have seen Barbour on only one other guy than myself, and you better bet that made for a conversation. Frat guys tend to adopt either the style of everyone else, or of their lax-bro counter parts. Come formal season however, they tend to clean up nice. Same with anyone in the business school due to its dress code for events. But for the most part, compared to other colleges, SU is generally poorly dressed. Just compare an SU tailgate to an SEC one and you'll see. Instead of a bunch of well dressed drunks, we just have regularly (and trashily) dressed drunks. But beside the point, SU does have one neat little tradition that has been going on for a while, and that is the college cap. On the first day of Orientation 102, each freshman is given a drawstring backpack containing a maroon and gold t-shirt and a white SU baseball cap. The next day, the freshman class is told to wear the hat for a massive group photo taking place after convocation. After that, the hats and shirts will be seen around campus for years to come.
Despite getting Sammy during the 1970s, SU has been the Sea Gulls since 1963, and before then the "Golden Gulls".
After receiving the hat, I was initially bitter, due to having bought a nearly identical SU hat about two months before, and Mason having done the same a mere hour before (albeit a black one by Under Armour). Because of this, I swiftly retired this free hat in favor of its purchased cousin. However, a few weeks into my freshman year took me up to the fourth floor of SU's "Academic Commons" (aka a library), where there are several pictures of the college in years past on display. Naturally, I scoured for at least one picture from the 1960s, and came upon this wonderful Animal House-esque still from the quad.
Now hosting childish ice breakers and "foam parties", the quad at SU during the 60s was a lot different. The drinking age was still 18, so parties could be held in the open with minimal interference. While the caption says circa 1960, the actual date of the picture is probably at least 1965 judging by the sideburns on the gents in the photo (and a full beard on one to the far left). Heck, it could be as late as the early 1970s. Regardless, elements of Ivy League style are still present. OCBDs, chinos/wheat jeans, penny loafers, Jack Purcells, etc. (Picture property of Salisbury University Library)
As you can see, 80% of the students (coeds included) are wearing identical caps. Which leads me to believe the presentation of a free cap to incoming freshman has been a tradition at the college for years. And more pictures on the fourth floor have also suggested this.
SU memorabilia from over the years. The cap on top is likely the same one worn by the students in the 1960s picture above. The cap below is likely pre-1963 judging by the STC (Salisbury Teacher's College) lettering. (Property of Salisbury University Library)
After seeing this, I shelved my purchased look-alike hat and reintroduced my college supplied one to the world! Essentially, while SU may not be the best dressed school compared to the likes of the Ivy League, SEC, and plenty of others, its college cap tradition strikes a chord sentimentally. After all, you all know I'm a traditional guy!
After a nearly two month hiatus, I am back! I have been extra busy this semester, and have had little time to blog. So today I will be changing up things a bit and giving my first ever product review on the blog. However, here are some posts to look forward to in the next coming weeks and months: Easter festivities, a trip to Providence, RI, beach bonfire on Assateague Island, Kentucky Derby Spring Formal, and hopefully, a week in Avon, NC with the boys.
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Cleanliness is key. Your collection of sweaters, oxford shirts, and chinos will do you no good without it. A well dressed but foul smelling man just might as well be wearing rags. However, if you are reading this blog, the chance you need to hear this very slim. You already know it. However, I will still point out that there is a difference between not smelling bad and smelling good. Today's post is about the latter. Most guys want to smell good, and have wanted to since they were tweens. Remember the days of Axe body spray after gym class or before your 8th grade dance? You wanted to smell good then too, and wanted to prove it by dousing yourself in cheap chemicals that are probably now burning a hole in the Ozone layer. Well, now that your body spray days are (hopefully) over, it is time to select a scent of moderation and maturity. I will be giving four reviews of products ranging from inexpensive to premium makers.
Old Spice Classic Cologne & Aftershave
Confession time: yours truly was of the body spray crowd too when he was in middle school. However, Axe was never my go-to. Old Spice put out their own collection of sprays as well, which I was enamored with. After doing my fair share of atmospheric damage with the numerous cans bought over the course of my middle school days, I one day decided that my spraying days were over, and switched over to designer cologne for a few months (Aramis & Drakkar Noir). However, my allegiances soon returned to Old Spice after discovering that they too had a cologne that was much more inexpensive.
Old Spice cologne comes with a spraying function. Meanwhile, aftershave (above) is to be dabbed or splashed on.
The great thing about Old Spice is its price and availability. While the cologne is harder to find (but not by much), the aftershave can be found in just about any drugstore, and for slightly over $10. Probably the most Ivy of my favorite fragrances. Combine with the scents Brylcreem and cigarette smoke for the smell of just about any 1960s college campus. Madison Avenue made this the scent of the alpha male back then, and continues to today (for other products).
Chesapeake Bay Spyce
We now shift to another spice, or rather "spyce". Chesapeake Bay Spyce is a local company based in Easton, MD (see my post). However, I have found the cologne in men stores as far South as Williamsburg, VA. I received a bottle as a Christmas gift, and it is now my go-to every day scent that doesn't clash at all with my Old Spice aftershave. Just like Brylcreem, a little dab 'll do ya. This stuff is strong! For all my Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia readers (on and off the Peninsula), I especially recommend this for you. Look in local men stores, pharmacies, and gift shops. I got my bottle from the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury. And if you happen to live somewhere else, such as the landlocked Midwest, and want the smell of the Bay, I won't accuse you of cultural appropriation. You can get Chesapeake Spyce on Amazon for the same price as in stores!
A 4 oz. bottle of CB Spyce sells for about $30 for those who are wondering.
Showcasing the Delmarva Peninsula on the back of the box.
It wouldn't be a Chesapeake Bay cologne without something involving the Blue Crab.
Caswell-Massey Sandalwood Cologne
The oldest American fragrance company (so old, it used to be British) puts out the next fragrance on our list. I bought a bottle three years ago before my summer class at William & Mary. While a haze of Axe hung over the rooms of many of my other dorm mates, the room I shared always had the smell of Sandalwood. For these reasons, I always associate this sweet smelling fragrance with the school and the wonderful people I met there. After a year of almost daily use of Sandalwood, I made the move back to Old Spice during my senior year of high school, only using the C-M for special occasions.
With a thin layer covering the bottom of the bottle, my bottle of Sandalwood has lasted me nearly three years. Oddly enough, the price has gone up from the time I bought it. Being $35 in 2015 and now $45 in 2018.
St. Johns Bay Rum
Highest on the price spectrum of my recommended fragrances is this bad boy. Imported from the Virgin Islands and costing $50 for a bottle, Bay Rum can be found in local men stores and giants such as Brooks Brothers alike. I am always sure to take a sample spritz when shopping at the stores that carry it. After I finish my bottle of Chesapeake Bay Spyce, I will likely move on to Bay Rum before deciding which scent to actually stick with.
Ivy-Style.com coins Bay Rum as the "scent of Madison Avenue". Want to smell like Don Draper (minus the stench of cigarettes)? Then this is the cologne for you! (picture property of ivy-style.com)
Honorable and Dishonorable Mentions
The scents endorsed above are certainly not the only ones that will do. While I typically recommend against them, some clothing companies do produce a decent cologne for a decent price. Brooks Brothers and Polo are examples of this. Do not bother with Tommy Hilfiger or Nautica's lines of fragrances. The biggest NO I give is Fierce by A&F, and I'm not even going to explain why. Even colognes from high fashion houses such as Gucci, Armani, etc. I recommend against. Their specialty is clothes, so buy from someone whose specialty is fragrances. Then again, as I said before, exceptions can always be made. In the end, once you have found a scent you like, wear it proudly and stick with it.
