Will Fall 2010 be remembered as the peak —and therefore beginning of the end — of the Preppy/Ivy/Trad/Americana trend, or will it mark the beginning of a much larger and longer influence on American style and culture?
Time will tell, and things are heating up in preparation.
In this weekend’s Sunday Styles section of the New York Times, there’s a big “Take Ivy” feature, and J. Crew is now selling the book, and will be offering a special edition.
According to Amazon, “Take Ivy” is scheduled for release on August 31 (J. Crew’s site says 8/24, the NY Times article says “next week,” and the powerHouse Books website does not have a date). On September 7, soon after the release of “Take Ivy,” Lisa Birnbach’s “True Prep” will be published.
With the double-shot of trad tomes on store shelves this fall, it will be interesting to see how the PITA trend plays out in the media — and society at large.
In the meantime, tune in on Monday for Ivy-Style’s interview with powerHouse Books publisher Wes Del Val about the process of acquiring the rights to “Take Ivy,” with plenty of arcane trivia about the book and its origins. — CC
I can’t help but thinking this trend is jumping the shark as we type. Take Ivy in the New York Times?
Thankfully, I’ll be comfortably out of fashion again in a year’s time.
Just like Rock ‘n Roll, Ivy | Preppy will never die. 🙂 Anticipating my book’s arrival – – – xoxo
“Preppy” has meant and will forever mean one thing: To have gone to a prepatory school.
“Preppy” originally meant and will forever have originally meant one thing: To have gone to a prepatory school.
Can’t see it taking off amongst the general population because it requires not dressing like a slob.
Also, I suspect J. Crew won’t be selling too many copies of the book; it’s one of those items they carry more for cachet than for sales, like those French sailor shirts and stupid Mr. Freedom belts.
“Trends” are of little or no interest to Trads.
Its a shame J.Crew is carrying it. That store has basically become urban outfitters with a preppy twist.
My guess is that we’re heading into a longer, broader trend back toward American cultural influence. Bring it on! We’re ready for some ‘comfort style’ given all the upheaval of the past few years.
Trends are of interest to trads once every 25 years, when trad becomes a trend.
‘Trad’ is a stupid internet trend in itself.
If ivy style feeds back into general popularity it can only be a good thing – i.e. more USA-made clothes and care about how people dress.
The links between clothes and going to prep school, as mentioned above, have no link for me.
I personally don’t think its the beginning of the end. Traditional wear is recognized a clean-looking clothing worn by people who care about themselves – and care about their children – I think the style will be given to children as they grow to adulthood – and guided by their concerned Dads, they’ll carry on the trad-ition. IMHO.
That’s because you reside outside the United States of America.
I find the term “Trad” a neutral one which eliminates the necessity of choosing between “Preppy” and “Ivy”.
By the way, I was an undergrad in the early 60s, and never once heard the term “Ivy”. It was “Ivy League” style/clothing.
Florida USA – Christian!
Er, right…
End? Trend? Who cares! I’ve been dressing like this since I was born, and I’m not about to stop because the trend is over. What else would I wear, hipster crap?
Who is suggesting you stop dressing your way, or that the only alternative is hipster crap?
Hey, there is another book published this Fall on the Prep/Ivy style called The Ivy Look, written I think by two Brits called Graham Marsh and JP Gaul. I know nothing about them but the cover is nice and this looks interesting and definitely part of the whole burst of interest we’re seeing in our style of dressing.
I agree that as a trend it will die, though I think it will influence the future of menswear. For those of us that have just grown up dressing this way, I think we’ll just go on dressing, without label, in the manner we have always done. Ivy/preppy/trad are just clothes to us that are familiar and what we’ve always worn. I found it annoying when I overheard some style queen in Soho the other day lean-in to his girlfriend and say, “Really? Weejuns? Aren’t we over those yet?” in reference to my footwear.