Have you checked out our Original Penguin menswear sale yet? As you browse the iconic, retro-chic styles, take a closer look at the logo, because there’s rather an intriguing story behind it…
Back in 1955, Abbot Pederson, an ambitious salesman for Munsingwear underwear factory in Minnesota, was on a business trip in New York. Having time to kill before his flight home, he wiled away the hours drinking whisky in a local bar before stumbling out to find a taxi stand. However, he took a wrong turn down a Manhattan street and ended up outside a taxidermist’s shop with a display of stuffed penguins in the window. Pederson couldn’t resist buying one, which he named Pete and then took back home with him on the plane. After a few midflight cocktails, Pederson accidentally knocked off Pete’s head and a friendly air stewardess helped Pederson to use his tie to re-secure Pete’s head – joking that the smart penguin deserved to be immortalised.
Once back on his home turf, Pederson, who was a keen golfer, created the Munsingwear golf shirt and used Pete on the logo. Casual and comfortable, the shirt was an instant hit on and off the golf course and was worn by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Clint Eastwood. Original Penguin became a true American classic and Pete became a star.
In 2003, Original Penguin’s archive of mid- 20th-century cult classics were relaunched and reworked to reflect today’s casual lifestyle, whilst staying true to the brand’s heritage and craftsmanship. To see how Original Penguin’s laidback-chic style works for everyday guys in the UK, we invited guest blogger, Lewis Taylor (@TheLewisTaylor) to review our menswear sale.
Over to you, Lewis…
“Hey, dude, did you see that guy? Didn’t he look great?”
Have you ever asked a guy mate if he thinks another guy is good looking? If you have, you’re probably familiar with that fast-pace response of disassociation in order to cement some manliness.
“I could not possibly tell – I’m a man!”
Well, I personally think it’s this same thought process that makes menswear a bit of a no-go area for the everyday bloke.
As a pretty normal everyday guy myself, what do I want to be associated with? Looking like Vince Kidd, Rylan from X Factor or a male fashion blogger? Absolutely NOT! I’d be much happier turning heads because I looked effortless, up-to-date and cool.
But what is dressing effortlessly, casual and chic for the everyday bloke? Is the word ‘chic’ even in his vocabulary? How to find out?
Well, the perfect opportunity to find out presented itself when BrandAlley asked me to test-drive a selection of pieces from their current Original Penguin sale. Penguin, as it’s known, creates casual and comfortable vintage-inspired apparel, which includes stylish polos and knits that are easy to layer at this time of year.
I decided to pick out four pieces from Original Penguin clothing that were all pretty wearable for ANYONE, making it a really accessible look. I deliberately selected pieces that I wouldn’t naturally go for, pieces I could see suiting, well, anyone!
Here I am, looking slightly like an off-duty footballer. But by association, for the everyday bloke, I’m sure that’s not a bad thing. This brand oozes ‘casual’, with weathered, yet high quality fabrics. This shirt, for example, is so well-fitted but the colour and fabric make it look like ‘something I just picked up’. Girls get away with the, “Oh, this old thing?” line when they’ve actually taken hours on their appearance, and that’s just the mantra we can now have. Go and check out the sale now at BrandAlley and try a few of their shirts or jersey tops to see just how easy it is to ‘go casual chic’.
Thanks Lewis.
So, don’t miss out! Head over to our Original Penguin sale now to save yourself up to 60% off these retro-chic polos, tees, knits, outerwear and casual shoes!
