The Power of Nostalgia in the J. Press Holiday Collection
December 13, 2025
By Matthew Longcore
If you are anything like me, you don’t just watch movies – you watch people wearing clothes in movies.
I made this realization about myself a long time ago. I was in high school when Dead Poets Society (1989) made its debut on the silver screen. The navy blazers, grey flannels, repp ties, Shetland sweaters, and duffle coats worn by the students at Welton Academy made an indelible impression on me.
Welton Academy in Dead Poets Society (1989)
One year later, a very different movie became a Hollywood blockbuster. Home Alone (1990) is remembered more for its slapstick comedy than for its sartorial splendor. Nevertheless, the beautiful Georgian style red brick home and its inhabitants, the well-dressed McCallister family, caught my attention.
The McCallister family in Home Alone (1990)
I am not alone (pun intended). Kiel James Patrick, creator of the eponymous brand bearing his name, is also a fan. KJP offers a McCallister Sweater, a perennial bestseller, in their holiday season lineup.
Kiel James Patrick and Sarah Vickers Patrick in the McCallister Sweater from KJP
Recently Kiel posted a humorous question on Instagram:
The older I get, the more I wonder what Kevin McCallister’s dad did to afford this house and a vacation to Paris for 9 people.
According to the New York Times this has become a legitimate question for economists, too. The power of movies to inspire consumer interest should never be underestimated.
Kevin’s dad’s Peter McCallister in a Burberry duffle coat
Holiday movies from Hallmark and the like continue to feature attractive people in attractive settings wearing attractive clothing. Recently I watched Oh. What. Fun. – a new movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Denis Leary.
Oh. What. Fun. (2025) starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Denis Leary
The movie is campy frivolous fun, but I loved some of the clothes. Claire Clauster, played by Michelle Pfeiffer, wears a lovely Fair Isle cardigan.
Michelle Pfeiffer as Claire Clauster and wearing a dark green Fair Isle cardigan from Alex Mill
The Clauster grandchild, Ben, wears a tartan “fun shirt” – a throwback to the 1980s.
The Clauster family in Oh. What. Fun. (2025)
Once I saw this shirt, all I could think was “I need to get one” – evidence of the subliminal power of product placement in motion pictures.
Much like the world of movies, the recently announced J. Press Holiday Collection is all about storytelling. In fact, the collection includes the very item that I have added to my must-have list for the holiday season.
Made-In-USA Flannel Tartan Fun Shirt from J. Press
The press release from J. Press provides more details about the holiday collection:
This season features Scottish knitwear, including Fair Isle sweaters, new striped Shaggy Dog beanies, sweaters, cardigans, and a full offering of Harris Tweed styles. J. Press continues its Norwegian tradition with classic fisherman knits made using time-honored techniques. From England comes a range of collaborations and outerwear, including pieces with Gloverall and a “Bah Humbug” Duke-of-Devonshire sweater created with Fund Knitwear. The brand’s American tailoring includes 100% cashmere and camel hair sportcoats, plus dress outerwear such as a Chesterfield coat, Cheviot Tweed balmacaan, and camel hair polo coat. The collection also introduces a limited Crescent Down Works capsule made in Seattle, as well as a special Adam Jones Studio collaboration of sweater-vests crafted in England from authentic vintage pub towels.
Nordic Style Ski Sweater from J. Press
The vintage pub towels are a bit of nostalgia for Jack Carlson, who studied at Oxford University:
“I’ve been following Adam and his work for several years, and we’ve always been looking for a way to work together. I lived in England for a long time, and the pub tradition there is something I sorely miss. These beer towels, which you used to see in every pub in Britain, hold a lot of nostalgia for me: they remind me of the weekly pub quiz I used to do with a lot of fellow grad students at Oxford. I love the way Adam’s work plays on British culture and kitsch: there’s a sense of humor and warmth. And the sweater vests look great with J. Press tweeds and outerwear.” – Jack Carlson, Creative Director and President of J. Press.
Made-In-Scotland Green Fair Isle Crew Neck Sweater from J. Press
The holiday collection evokes nostalgia for me too. It is available now at select J. Press stores and at jpressonline.com.
If one were to produce a movie today, a documentary, about the Ivy Style during the heyday, ~1953~1966, could an expert, big-budget, wardrobe department staff find a firm or firms willing and able to reproduce and provide that wardrobe, to the highest standard of attention to detail?
What prompts my question? Welton Academy (1989). In 1989 I could have found all-wool, cadet grey trousers for the whole school. Not doable today. And proper shoes? (I would prefer black and/or brown PTBs) No way. Did the Director intentionally ensure that the boys collars are just a bit awkward?
Brogues are not plain toe. And brogues are for the style conscious adult. I believe at the time, 1950s-1967, brogues were “rockabilly”. I really didn’t take note of what everybody else was wearing in ‘67, and that’s the point of uniforms. If there was variance it was because kids grow fast and parents buy practicality, and hold on to them for hand-me downs if possible. I’m remembering elementary school uniforms in the late 60s. Now that I think about it, girls wore saddle-shoes. Plain toe bluchers are the simplest and most versatile design for uniformity’s sake, and the polish up easily. And lace up shoes are more supportive for growing boys, prevents future problems, and they don’t slip like loafers. As for style, they work with everything. I do seem to remember wearing an apron front, or a split toe for awhile. Out grew them fast! That was back in the day when we had shoe stores, not brand specific, and not in the mall. The adult equivalent was the department store’s shoe department 🙂
Sorry, I meant to say bluchers. Never encountered those either, except perhaps in the very early elementary years. I did encounter brogues. A crazed track coach insisted on his runners wearing lace up shoes at least several days a week. So they wore longwings rather than Weejuns. Yuck. However, nice commentary on the errant term. Thanks.
This is a fun spread, and it prompted me to go to the Press website and view the whole collection. It really is outstanding (and large), but a couple of items require comment. I think beer towel inspired anything (other than beer towels or beer) is questionable. I love all the Fair Isles (except, perhaps, the cotton one). Sweaters with slogans knit into them are just a bad idea, almost as dumb as Ralph’s teddy bear sweaters. I hail the return of the chesterfield, even though I am more of a camel polo sort. All in all it was enjoyable nostalgia. Lastly, the Paraboot hiking boots were a delightful surprise, although I would have preferred Galibiers or Danners.
I think the slogan sweaters are aimed at younger customers who like the irreverence. I’d also point that Ralph has sold tons of those dumb bear sweaters. I don’t like them, but somebody does.
I have too many pairs of long-wings. I like them, but enough is enough. I’m not a minimalist for the sake of minimalism, I’m just aiming to make life a little easier. I’m noticing that my older friends are making simple/comfortable/versatile, look really smart.
Yes to minimalism! Two pairs of LHS, one of them snuff suede, and a pair of tassel loafers, minimal though that might seem to some, is plenty of dress shoes, augmented in summer by white bucks.
This year in watching Home Alone, my wife and I realized it is not Kevin’s dad footing the bill, but Kevin’s uncle. Mrs. McAllister explains it to the bandit impersonating a policeman early in the film.
Sorry to be the one to say it, but the Home Alone Christmas look is horrifyingly tacky. The houses of actually classy people who adhere to a traditional aesthetic look nothing like that red and green monstrosity.
If one were to produce a movie today, a documentary, about the Ivy Style during the heyday, ~1953~1966, could an expert, big-budget, wardrobe department staff find a firm or firms willing and able to reproduce and provide that wardrobe, to the highest standard of attention to detail?
What prompts my question? Welton Academy (1989). In 1989 I could have found all-wool, cadet grey trousers for the whole school. Not doable today. And proper shoes? (I would prefer black and/or brown PTBs) No way. Did the Director intentionally ensure that the boys collars are just a bit awkward?
I confess ignorance. “vintage pub towels”?
Did students wear plain toe brogues circa 1989. In my own prep school experience spanning 1955-1967 I do not recall any.
Brogues are not plain toe. And brogues are for the style conscious adult. I believe at the time, 1950s-1967, brogues were “rockabilly”. I really didn’t take note of what everybody else was wearing in ‘67, and that’s the point of uniforms. If there was variance it was because kids grow fast and parents buy practicality, and hold on to them for hand-me downs if possible. I’m remembering elementary school uniforms in the late 60s. Now that I think about it, girls wore saddle-shoes. Plain toe bluchers are the simplest and most versatile design for uniformity’s sake, and the polish up easily. And lace up shoes are more supportive for growing boys, prevents future problems, and they don’t slip like loafers. As for style, they work with everything. I do seem to remember wearing an apron front, or a split toe for awhile. Out grew them fast! That was back in the day when we had shoe stores, not brand specific, and not in the mall. The adult equivalent was the department store’s shoe department 🙂
Check out styles here: https://vcleat.com/
Nerdly cool, Mr. Trustworthy in my opinion here:
https://vcleat.com/florsheim-imperial-black-split-toe/
I could see Matthew wearing those. Totally versatile. I need a pair or two. We all do.
To answer your question, in 1989 most guys were wearing inexpensive “running” shoes. Blah.
Sorry, I meant to say bluchers. Never encountered those either, except perhaps in the very early elementary years. I did encounter brogues. A crazed track coach insisted on his runners wearing lace up shoes at least several days a week. So they wore longwings rather than Weejuns. Yuck. However, nice commentary on the errant term. Thanks.
Dead Poets Society is a movie from 1989 but the story takes place 40 years earlier in 1959.
Re: big budget documentary…Uh, yeah? One such firm’s Holiday Collection is the subject of this article.
This is a fun spread, and it prompted me to go to the Press website and view the whole collection. It really is outstanding (and large), but a couple of items require comment. I think beer towel inspired anything (other than beer towels or beer) is questionable. I love all the Fair Isles (except, perhaps, the cotton one). Sweaters with slogans knit into them are just a bad idea, almost as dumb as Ralph’s teddy bear sweaters. I hail the return of the chesterfield, even though I am more of a camel polo sort. All in all it was enjoyable nostalgia. Lastly, the Paraboot hiking boots were a delightful surprise, although I would have preferred Galibiers or Danners.
I think the slogan sweaters are aimed at younger customers who like the irreverence. I’d also point that Ralph has sold tons of those dumb bear sweaters. I don’t like them, but somebody does.
This is how Adam Jones styled his vintage pub towel vests – https://www.adamjones.studio/collections/04 – more suited to Thom Browne than J Press.
Ok, that explains it. 😆
I have too many pairs of long-wings. I like them, but enough is enough. I’m not a minimalist for the sake of minimalism, I’m just aiming to make life a little easier. I’m noticing that my older friends are making simple/comfortable/versatile, look really smart.
In reply to Tim, 08:59 14 DEC.
Yes to minimalism! Two pairs of LHS, one of them snuff suede, and a pair of tassel loafers, minimal though that might seem to some, is plenty of dress shoes, augmented in summer by white bucks.
This year in watching Home Alone, my wife and I realized it is not Kevin’s dad footing the bill, but Kevin’s uncle. Mrs. McAllister explains it to the bandit impersonating a policeman early in the film.
Sorry to be the one to say it, but the Home Alone Christmas look is horrifyingly tacky. The houses of actually classy people who adhere to a traditional aesthetic look nothing like that red and green monstrosity.
No idea if I am classy or not, but I have three poinsettias AND a nutcracker. I just made three fruitcakes. I am done.
Matthew Longcore.”Dead Poets Society is a movie from 1989 but the story takes place 40 years earlier in 1959.”
1959! Eveidently the botton down hadn’t been invented.
Or the TI-30 🫢
Somebody’s been testing the eggnog 🙂