The Ivy Look

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The Upper East Side ‘it’ girls, Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) and Serena van der Woodsen (Blake Lively) bring preppy school girl fashion back to the streets of uptown New York. On the east side of Central Park, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste and J. Crew re-emerge as the style of “Gossip Girl”. Good girls go bad in the turbulent Manhatten social scene.

Traditionally the fashion of preparatory schools in the 60s and 70s, the Ivy look has been recreated by Gossip Girl’s leading ladies, Blair and Serena. The classic polo range walks all over the popularity of vintage dresses. The Flea Markets surrounding Greenwich Village and Soho need to take a new turn.

From Columbia, to NYU, the prestigious colleges and Ivy League Schools of Manhatten have unspoken social rules and a socially enforced preppy uniform. Nate Archibald and Dan Humphrey sport the tweed blazer, chinos, loafers, madras ties and of course the Ray-Ban wayfarers. While, the girls will only be seen in pin-striped blazers, plaid skirts, vests and silk tees on Madison Avenue.

Serena

Preppy fashion, previously excluded to American college life, has since ventured internationally. The Japanese have had a recent obsession with the style or “Ivy Look” as it is referred to. American designer Thom Browne said, “The Japanese get the whole perfect American thing better than Americans”. It is not unusual for a Japanese man to wear a blazer, plaid shorts and knee socks to work, once an unthinkable phenomenon. The Ivy League clothier, J. Press was bought by Japanese fashion giant, Onward Kashiyama and sells an astounding six times more clothes in Japan than they do in the USA.

The classic American apparel is the first American brand to be licensed in Japan. The refined neckties and scarves feature Ivy League symbols and motifs, including Yale’s Skull and Bones Society. The lambswool, cashmere and camel hair overcoats are complimented with velvet collars and high quality tweed jackets. Gossip Girl’s Chuck Bass sports his signature silk patchwork scarf from J. Press. The traditionally American Ivy Look is produced and loved by the fashionistas in Japan.

British high street fashion has also tapped into the international preppy phenomenon. Jack Wills is the English equivalent of Abercrombie & Fitch and Rugby by Ralph Lauren. The epitome of college or university apparel, most Jack Wills stores are located around uni towns, in old pubs or period buildings to ensure the British style and heritage is associated with the brand. The classic Jack Wills ‘look’ teams blazers, tweed jackets, hoodies, polos, knitwear, skirts, rugby shirts and underwear. Scarves and tees are often striped and inspired by the Oxbridge getup, the traditional colours and styles of British academic institutions.

Jack Wills markets a sports style, namely polo, rugby, golf, sailing, tennis and rowing. Similar to the Rugby by Ralph Lauren brand, Jack Wills promotes a preppy-rugby lifestyle apparel. From Madison Avenue in NYC, to Kings Road in London and every college in between, preppy fashion is back on the scene.

Is there such a thing as a preppy fragrance? Definitely. Anything from Ralph Lauren, to Tom Ford, Diesel, Jack Wills or Burberry would be right up your alley. The fresh, clean, sporty and subtle fragrance is a must have alongside your latest blazer/skirt combo.