Ivy Style 101: A Beginner's Guide to Classic American Men's Fashion

The Ivy style, closely related to the preppy look, is a classic American fashion style that originated in the 1950s and has continued to influence men's fashion to this day. Characterized by its preppy, traditional aesthetic, the Ivy style has its roots in the elite East Coast colleges and universities known as the Ivy League.

The term "Ivy League" originally referred to a group of eight prestigious colleges and universities in the northeastern United States: Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, the University of Pennsylvania, and Yale. These institutions were known for their academic excellence and attracted students from wealthy, influential families.

During the 1950s, the Ivy League colleges became known for their distinctive style of dress, which was influenced by the British public school and country club traditions. This style, which came to be known as the Ivy style, featured tailored clothing made from high-quality materials, such as tweed, corduroy, and wool. Common elements of the Ivy style included button-down shirts, khaki pants, and blazers, often with a contrasting fabric under the collar.

The Ivy style was popularized by fashion icons such as Ralph Lauren, who drew inspiration from the Ivy League look to create his classic American style.

But before Ralph got ahold of this style it, the ivy look was pronounced dead until one of the key figures in the development  was Kensuke Ishizu, the founder of the Japanese fashion brand VAN Jacket. Ishizu was a pioneer of the Japanese Ivy style movement, and his company was instrumental in popularizing the Ivy look in Japan during the 1950s and 1960s.

Ishizu was inspired by the traditional Ivy style of dress, and he worked to create a line of clothing that captured the essence of the Ivy look while also incorporating Japanese design elements. He was known for his use of high-quality materials and attention to detail. To his dismay when he made it to the Sates to take images of this iconic style, it had disappeared. So Kensuke had to improvise staging images of kids in his clothing to help sell it back in Japan. From this trip he created the book TAKE IVY the ivy bible!

Thanks to Ishizu's efforts, the Ivy style became an important part of Japanese fashion culture, and it continues to influence men's fashion to this day. His legacy as a pioneer of the Japanese Ivy style movement lives on through the enduring popularity of the Ivy look and the continued success of VAN Jacket.

Today, the Ivy style remains a popular choice for men's fashion, and many custom men's clothing stores, including our own Pennsylvania-based store, offer a range of Ivy-inspired clothing and accessories.

One of the key elements of the Ivy style is its timeless, classic aesthetic. Unlike many other fashion trends, which come and go quickly, the Ivy style has endured for decades and continues to be a popular choice for men who want to look polished and put-together.

At our Pennsylvania-based custom men's clothing store, we offer a range of Ivy-style clothing and accessories, including button-down shirts, khaki pants, and blazers. We also offer custom tailoring services, so you can create a truly one-of-a-kind Ivy-inspired look that's tailored to your personal style and body type.

Whether you're looking for a casual, laid-back look or something more formal and refined, the Ivy style has something to offer. So if you're interested in incorporating this classic American fashion style into your wardrobe, be sure to visit our Pennsylvania-based custom men's clothing store to browse our selection of Ivy-inspired clothing and accessories.

I hope this blog post has given you a better understanding of the history and evolution of the Ivy style and how it continues to influence men's fashion today. For more information about our Ivy-style clothing and accessories, or to learn more about our custom tailoring services, please don't hesitate to contact us.