Death to Argyle: Golfers Gone Wild
A moment of sisterly teasing gave twins Cassie and Willow Wayne the idea for Death to Argyle, a line of golf attire that turns golf’s stodgy classic style on its head.
“I had just come back from golfing and was wearing this ridiculous polo shirt. I had to wear it. It was part of the club’s dress code. She laughed at me,” Willow Wayne said, referring to her twin sister.
Avid golfers, the Santa Barbara, Calif.–based duo were tired of wearing the conservative pieces required by the country clubs they frequented. So the Waynes created Death to Argyle, a line of golf attire influenced by rock ’n’ roll and the twins’ own retro style. “We had been looking for a way to combine our skills,” Willow Wayne said. At the time, Cassie Wayne was the merchandising manager for boutique chain Blue Bee. Willow Wayne studied fashion design at the Academy of Art San Francisco.
Launched for the Spring 2007 season, the line meets all golf club dress-code rules but is stylish enough to be worn off the course. The brand’s tag line, “Because we love the game of golf but wouldn’t be caught dead in the clothes,” sums up the company’s ethos.
Death’s polo shirts feature a feminine cut with puffed sleeves, color-banded collars and sleeves, and a wide waistband to keep tops from riding up on the green or in a bar. Embroidered with lucky horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, golf tees, lucky charms and the queen of clubs, the line’s polo shirts are kitschy. A track jacket made of a poly knit wicks away moisture, and custom pockets zipper shut. Shorts feature a relaxed fit, contrast piping on the pockets and a “crossed fingers” patch for good luck. Pants are inspired by California’s skate culture and feature a relaxed fit and hook-and-eye waistband.
Guys get polo shirts with devil- and golf-inspired designs. Inside jokes abound, with the underside of the brand’s polo shirt collars screen-printed with the phrase “mandatory collar.” Pretty pastels are eschewed for an edgy palette of red, black and green. Fall 2008 will see the addition of long-sleeve polo shirts, knits and expanded sizing.
So far, the line has landed in both pro shops and boutiques that have nothing to do with golf. That’s fine with the Wayne sisters, who hope to see their collection on the golf course and in the streets. The line, which is produced in Oakland, Calif., and overseas, wholesales for $25 to $60.
For more information, visit www.deathtoargyle.com or call (805) 845-6686. —Erin Barajas
