scenes from the life of one of history's great men

You know what I would do right now if I were Mickey Drexler? I'd get the "design team" started on a line of red-white-blue athletic and sports wear, sourced in the US, made in the US, quality tested in the US. I'd get it into production ASAP. I'd dribble out an item or two every season, and I'd keep the Fords ones that sell well in production. The line, especially the Crewcuts pieces, would have a Military Famiiy Discount. Someone else can think of the slogans and the rhythmic commercials. I'd concentrate on growing JC Red White'nBlues. So that the line would be ready well in time for the next Olympics.


Will this happen? Well, I don't think it's impossible. Dear Leader is renowned for an assertive brand of creativity. Last fall, CNN aired an adulatory mini-special, which you can find described over here, at JCrewAficionada. I was inspired to conjecture a few of the creative moments in the life of Dear Leader, and I hope Alexis won't mind if I repeat them here, as a prologue to the latest great step forward in retail inspiration.

Dear Leader invents the stripe: Look, there's a mark across that shirt. Hey, what if we put another one under it? And then another one under that? And another. And another.

Dear Leader invents the folkloric look:
--Sir, General Petraeus is on the phone. He has those native Afghan embroidery samples for you, and he's taught an elite unit of Rangers to embellish.
--Tell him to hold, I'm inventing the stripe.

Dear Leader invents the shoe:
These socks are filthy. Why do the bottoms of the socks get so dirty? Attention. Sock bottoms are dirty! Wait, what if we put something over the part that touches the floor. Great! Order 40,000 gross, broken sizes, standard colors, all plastic. Can anyone say plastic in Italian?

Dear Leader invents the inventory system:
OK, all together, a-one, a-two, a-three, a-four....

I once read that when Leonardo was considering taking on an apprentice, he'd have the young hopeful draw a circle freehand. I tried it, and believe me this is not easy, especially if you have no talent. It was a great test for Leonardo to use, because it was a quick way of weeding out the no-hopers. So between that and tales of early historical sun worship, I just assumed that round shapes had been around for a long time. No! They are a recent invention, and here is the proof:


Imagine, a whole team of future Ralphs and Calvins chained to their drawing tables creating circles. And putting those circles on clothing? Who thought that up? See, not only is Dear Leader himself more inventive than Edison, he inspires creativity in the young. I am in awe.

Serious about those RWBs, though.