Castle Hill and Newport Style

What is Newport style? Is it any combination of pink, blue and white? What about green? It certainly made a good showing this past summer, in bright shades of turquoise and emerald – paired with white or navy blue of course.

Photo Credit: www.belgiandandy.blogspot.co.uk (left) and www.glamradar.com (right)

 

Is Newport style different from Martha’s Vineyard or Hamptons style? Well, certainly. MV is casual all the way, whereas in Newport, one must be ready to dash off to a gala any night of the week; and in the Hamptons, one can’t go wrong dressed in white from head to toe – in Newport that is usually reserved for the grass courts of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, which is housed in the Newport Casino, where lawn tennis has been practiced for over a hundred years.

Photo Credit: Library of Congress – Bain Collection

 

It does seem that every man suddenly has a pair of pale pink shorts to wear when it is time to stroll the streets of Newport, almost unfailingly paired with a blue polo or t-shirt. It is a good look, sanctioned by LL Bean and other purveyors of New England seaside style.

For evening and cooler days there are, of course, pink (ahem…this is a blog post about style, let’s call them coral) pants, in which case the blue shirt is often exchanged for a white one and a blue blazer is added (preferably with gold buttons). For the less sartorially daring, khaki pants may be easily substituted. This is what my friend, Abby, from Marc Allen Fine Clothiers, calls the Newport Uniform.

Photo Credit: www.looktastic.com

 

Photo Credit: www.menstyle1.com

 

Her daily professional goal is to educate her clients on how to break away from the norm and enhance their personal style with a few distinguishing details. It is a matter of confidence, she says, to make a statement with your clothes. She and I agree that all men look good in a pink shirt, regardless of their age or skin tone, but, she explains, some lack the confidence to pull it off. I have to confess that I don’t own a pink shirt, so I must need some of that clothes confidence myself.

Photo Credit: www.mnswrmagazine.tumblr.com

 

Recently, when Abby and I were enjoying a drink at the Terrace Bar at Castle Hill, I noticed a man in the pinkest of shirts. I asked Abby what she thought of that and she said, “Now that’s a guy who really knows how to have fun”. We also noticed a lady who was having dinner on the patio of our Lawn Restaurant with her family, who wore an Asian inspired blue and white top. As the sun began to dip towards the horizon, she pulled a white shawl over her shoulders that looked as if it had been hand painted with all the colors of a peacock’s feathers – she was our Style Queen for the evening. Just two examples of how to make the Newport style into your very own.

But seriously, don’t fret too much over your threads. When enjoying the Lawn at Castle Hill, the most important accessory will be your sunglasses.

Shea C Nelson