Wednesday, April 13, 2011

The Ivy Standard: Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, Columbia, Cornell, Penn & Brown


Few collegiate conferences have had the sartorial influence that the Ivy League has. Well before the formal establishment of the Ivy League as an athletic conference in 1954, these 8 northeastern schools have been beacons of both higher education and a style all their own. Intellectual ability, ambition, and acumen of the highest standards fosters an environment of well-dressed and polished students.


The Ivy League aesthetic, as documented by Ivy Style, is a traditional look with nods to the past and to the future. The ubiquitous tartan, herringbone, and houndstooth patterns on Ivy campuses have been passed on for generations. Using traditionally subdued colors (charcoal, tan, and olive), the Ivy look projects an understated confidence all its own. Recently, these classic looks have been accessorized with bolder colored ties, belts and pocket squares.


The store most responsible for creating and maintaining this look is J.Press in New Haven, CT. Just minutes from Yale’s campus, J. Press has become synonymous with Ivy style. Opened in 1902, J. Press has become a staple for classic New England patterns and fabrics, demonstrating that style is not something created in an instant, but rather cultivated over generations.


While the Ivy League is deeply rooted in tradition, it has also embraced new brands that fit the aesthetic. When we first launched our collegiate line of needlepoint belts and accessories, the Ivies were some of the first schools in the collection. Luckily, the partnership has been a success and today you can find all 8 Ivies represented at J. Press or online at www.smathersandbranson.com.


Photo from Life Magazine