Articles by Matthew Longcore

J. Pressing Onward

By Matthew Longcore Corduroy and Press – my goals for New York Fashion Week – turned unexpectedly into Covid and Paxlovid, causing me to miss the much anticipated J. Press Fall/Winter Runway Show on Thursday, September 11. The show took place at the Explorers Club on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. As an architectural historian, I …


The 6:09 to New Canaan

By Dan Covell In 2016, my spouse and I moved to New Canaan in Fairfield County, Connecticut, and we lived there until 2022. During that time, I reconnected with some friends living in and around New York City, and some or all of the group would convene regularly for amiable “gentlemen’s lunches” in Manhattan. It …



The Harriman Cup, A Stylish Event

The Harriman Cup is one of the most stylish events on the social calendar. This year J. Press is the Title Sponsor of the 41st Annual Harriman Cup — the oldest alumni polo match in the U.S., where Yale University takes on the University of Virginia in a timeless battle of sport and school spirit. …


Brooks Brothers Blazers At Tennis Hall Of Fame

By Matthew Longcore Each summer Brooks Brothers has the honor of presenting custom designed blazers to the inductees at the International Tennis Hall of Fame in Newport, Rhode Island. My wife and I were invited by our friends from Brooks Brothers to attend this event last year and we were delighted to attend again this …



Ivy Style Reader Interview: Ryan Kirk

By Matthew Longcore In May of 2024, I had the opportunity to visit the beautiful campus of St. George’s School in Middletown, Rhode Island for a tour of the historic chapel designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram. The event took place over Alumni Weekend and was scheduled in celebration of 100 years of the chapel. …


Ivy Style in Europe

By Matthew Longcore I am very much enjoying a three-week stay in Poland, the country where my wife grew up. We visit her family here every two years. So much of this place inspires me – the architecture, the food, the music, the history. I consider myself fortunate to have married a European woman who …


J. Press and The Harriman Cup

J. Press will be the official sponsor of The Harriman Cup — the annual polo match between Yale and the University of Virginia. This year’s match will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025 at Bethpage Polo at the Park. For four decades, The Harriman Cup has commemorated the life of diplomat, polo player, former …


On Horse-Bit Loafers

By James H. Grant Horse-bit loafers, also known as brass-bit or snaffle loafers, have been around for many years. Not being a horseman myself, I had no clue what a “snaffle” was, so I had to look it up. The original shoe was introduced by Gucci of Florence, Italy, in 1953. Consequently, the style is …


This Week in Connecticut: Preppy Handbook turns 45

The Official Preppy Handbook was first published in 1980. It defined fashion at the time and still impacts style today. Dennis House, Chief Political Anchor and Host of “This Week In Connecticut” on WTNH News 8, an ABC affiliate, chatted with Matthew Longcore, the founder of the Preppy Handbook Fan Club and the publisher and …


Bespoke Needlepoint From Fish Creek

By Matthew Longcore Last summer I had the opportunity to attend the Newport International Boat Show. For those unfamiliar, this is an annual event in the coastal city of Newport, Rhode Island. It is one of the largest and most prestigious boat shows in the United States. In addition to showcasing sailboats and motor yachts …


The Andover Shop and Constantine Valhouli: Interview Part 2

Interview Part 2 with Constantine Valhouli, author of Miles, Chet, Ralph & Charlie: An oral history of The Andover Shop Back in February, Ivy Style editor Matthew Longcore had the opportunity to interview Constantine Valhouli, author of a book about The Andover Shop. Here is Part 1. We reconnected recently to continue our conversation. This …


Sartorial Splendor at Henley Royal Regatta

Henley Royal Regatta was established on March 26, 1839. The international rowing event is held annually on the River Thames in the town of Henley-on-Thames, England. The regatta lasts for six days, beginning on a Tuesday and ending on a Sunday in the first weekend of July. Henley regularly attracts some of the finest crews …


Alfargo’s Marketplace and New York’s Menswear Revival

By Ebrima Santos Sanneh Ebrima is a reporter at American Banker who covers government regulation of the financial industry primarily at the Treasury, FDIC, and the OCC.  He also moonlights at classic clothier J. Press, where he helps clients, from senators to students, find their footing in classic American style. This article was originally published …


Musings on Pearls for the Ivy Style Woman

By Isobel Harte “There’s nothing more flattering than pearls,” says Andreas Kronthaler, creative director of [fashion designer] Vivienne Westwood. “They play with the whites of your eyes and teeth; pearls really talk to you. And they work on everybody, from young to old… You can wear them all the time—it’s one of the few things …


Another OCBD Conspiracy Theory

By James H. Grant​​​​​​​​​ [Warning: The following article will probably cause considerable controversy and disquietude – perhaps even some gnashing of teeth. Proceed with caution. – JHG] In the late summer of 1961, I embarked upon a venture to change my wardrobe from the non-descript blue jeans, plaid shirts, and black loafers I had worn …


Lessons from The Dig

By Matthew Longcore I hold a M.A. in Archaeological Studies from Yale University and work for the Human Relations Area Files (HRAF), an anthropological research organization based at Yale. HRAF produces an archaeological database used by scholars around the world. I also teach a course titled Great Discoveries in Archaeology at the University of Connecticut. …


The Navy Blue Blazer: A Preppy and Ivy Classic

By Matthew Longcore “Navy blue. The new neutral, it is the automatic first choice for shoes, purses, suits, sweaters. It serves as the perfect foil for colors that do not exist in nature – shocking pink, poison green, brilliant yellow, Windex blue. Purple is not Preppy.” – The Official Preppy Handbook (1980) If there is …