J. Press launched the Fall/Winter ’26 collection on Wednesday, September 9th with the third runway show since present and creative director Jack Carlson took the helm at the 124-year-old menswear house. The new collection focuses on American tailoring and British mills. It includes a Barbour collaboration and the brand’s first women’s capsule in fifty years. J. Press also shared a press release, which is excerpted here:
This season, on the eve of its 125th anniversary year and one year into American designer Jack Carlson’s tenure as Creative Director, J. Press celebrates its roots in the British Isles. Jacobi Press founded his namesake label on the Yale campus in 1902, and the style he pioneered, “Ivy style,” has become synonymous with classic American style and with New England. But much of it has its origins in old England (and Scotland, and Ireland).
“Jacobi Press came to America from Latvia and his family had planned for him to become a rabbi. He decided to go into menswear instead. He didn’t grow up with any of this British stuff. But he had a keen eye, impeccable taste, and uncompromising standards,” Carlson writes. “He was kind of the Ralph Lauren of his day, back in 1902. He created an idealized version of the world he imagined at Cambridge and Oxford, and on great British country estates. He created what we now know as American ‘Ivy style’ accordingly.”
J. Press is proud that many of its offerings are still made in the British Isles, from its famous Shaggy Dog sweaters which are made way up in the North Sea, in Shetland; to English neckwear and outerwear for city and country; to Irish Aran fisherman sweaters made in the windswept isles off the west coast of Ireland. From Scottish cashmeres and Harris Tweeds; to Cheviots and English flannels specially produced for J. Press by the likes of Fox Brothers and Marling & Evans, J. Press’ relationship with some of these mills goes back over a century.
I have perused the new arrivals from the J. Press website and present my favorite items in these 7 categories:
Suits
Tweed Jackets
Dress Shirts
Neckties
Sweaters
Rugby Shirts
Shoes
Suits
My three favorite suits are all made in America and feature classic styling. Every gentleman’s wardrobe should include suits in grey flannel, navy chalkstripe, and the iconic Prince of Wales check. These suits would look equally sharp in a boardroom or at a semiformal event.
Tweed jackets evokes the classic country squire look that J. Press is famous for. These three jackets are all made in America but are very British in heritage and materials. Dare I say that the look of these jackets is reminiscent of the very best from Ralph Lauren.
The club collar is a 1920s throwback and feels like it belongs in a scene from The Great Gatsby. Not everyone favors this retro look, but for those daring enough to give it a try, it provide an extra dash of elegance. It would look great paired with most regimental, repp, or club ties.
Traditional British regimental ties feature stripes that run from left to right (from the wearer’s left shoulder down to the right hip), while American-style repp ties run in the opposite direction. American repp stripes are still the gold standard for Ivy Style neckwear. These ties are made in the United Kingdom and inspired by schools, rowing clubs, and cricket clubs – but with the all-important reversal of stripe direction, making them acceptable for those unaffiliated.
The Shaggy Dog sweater is a J. Press classic. While l love the classic model and appreciate its elegant simplicity, the cable knit version looks especially stylish in this grey blue color. Lambswool is a nice alternative to Shetland wool. This pale blue cable knit crewneck is an attractive choice.
Summer is my favorite season, so it is always hard for me to begin packing away my beloved polo shirts. Fortunately, in autumn I get to bring out the rugby shirts. A collegiate classic, they are the perfect casual shirts for cooler weather. The shirts featured here are reminiscent of school colors – particularly the Big Three (Harvard, Yale, Princeton) of the Ivy League, the blue and gold of my undergraduate alma mater (Trinity), and fittingly the blue and grey of Jack Carlson’s alma mater (Georgetown).
I am a lifelong sailor and was introduced to Sperry Topsiders by my grandfather, the man who taught me how to sail. Like J. Press, Sperry is an American heritage brand that started in Connecticut. This classic and comfortable boat shoe looks great on boaters and landlubbers alike.
As always with runway shows, some of the looks are a bit contrived and over-the-top, but most of the individual pieces look great. I love the suits, and hope that men will start wearing them again in greater numbers. Outside of weddings and funerals, I am usually the only man in a suit. The guy wearing a gray POW suit, and carrying an umbrella looks especially natty.
The sport coats look great as well, although the Norfolk jacket may not be for everyone (particularly when paired with plus fours). And speaking of looks that are not everyone, I have a made-to-measure club collar shirt exactly like the one pictured. Like our former host Mr. Chensvold, I like it best with a simple gold collar pin, which I bought at J. Press some years ago.
I’m referring to the suits and sportcoats on mannequins, in the post and on the press website.
I did notice the photo of the kid with the umbrella. An unusually good looking picture of a slim man wearing a good looking suit.
His trousers are puddling sloppily at the cuff, because they’re too long and too narrow at the bottom, a holdover, 1980s-90s off-the-rack shopping-mall bicycle-pants look. They just can’t let that go.
On that one, I assumed they were aiming for a British field jacket look. So the waist got pinched a bit and the pockets became fuller (to accommodate one’s shotgun shells, flask, and burner phone). You might find the same thing at Cordings.
While the cloth puddle at the trouser hem is noticeable, it is better now than it has been over the last 20 years or so. For quite some time, the hem width at the cuff has had a very Westminister, MD look. Things are improving. Let’s keep it up without going overboard!
Holy cow! The Prince of Wales patterned suit and that first tweed jacket. Not that I “need” anything else on the ol’ wardrobe mind you, but man alive. Must. Be. Strong,
Matthew,
You likely know of this, but the September 14 issue of the New Yorker has a review article by Adam Gopnik entitled “American Sophistication.” It touches on a number of things that you and Ivy Style may find interesting. BTW, I managed Salve’s Historic Preservation Program for several years.
Charles,
Thank you for suggesting the article. I was pleased to find it: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/american-sophistication-ross-posnock-book-review
I am interested to learn more about your work at Salve. Are you still in the Newport area? I have been invited back to campus to present a dissertation writing workshop for graduate students on in October.
Matthew
Can someone please let me know how the jackets are shipped with respect to sleeve length? I assume unfinished sleeves but I can’t find anything regarding this on the J Press site. There’s only one length listed for all sizes. Would love to have them finished with two sleeve buttons.
Charlottesville and I share the stompin’ grounds — a culture where subtle, tasteful old school natural shoulder style remains alive and well in a certain few corners and crevices. The risk with the more flamboyant (including runway) renderings of this look is that it can too easily tend toward “trust fund dandy,” preppy cosplay (God help us), and, similarly yet worse, the Fauntleroy(ish). I feel sure sales and success will follow Onward is big because there are plenty of all the above markets in NYC/CT/ and environs, but maybe a word of caution is in good order. But then, what the hell do I know? — I figured we’d have Adler and ELJO’s forever.
The jacket styling and overall vibe recall Paul Stuart & TAS. That’s a firmly pressed low stance 2-button — with an added 3rd button. Not a criticism; just an observation.
J. Press jackets (and suit coats) need some minor alterations in most cases after they arrive. As do the pants/trousers to look their best. That might include, depending on one’s dimensions, sleeve length, inseam, waists, etc. Well worth the added minor expense and wait though. A decent tailor is worth his/her weight in gold.
As always with runway shows, some of the looks are a bit contrived and over-the-top, but most of the individual pieces look great. I love the suits, and hope that men will start wearing them again in greater numbers. Outside of weddings and funerals, I am usually the only man in a suit. The guy wearing a gray POW suit, and carrying an umbrella looks especially natty.
The sport coats look great as well, although the Norfolk jacket may not be for everyone (particularly when paired with plus fours). And speaking of looks that are not everyone, I have a made-to-measure club collar shirt exactly like the one pictured. Like our former host Mr. Chensvold, I like it best with a simple gold collar pin, which I bought at J. Press some years ago.
Why? Why hang a 3/2 Sack on a mannequin and then pin it back in the waist and hips to make look like an hourglass? 🤔
Which one are you discussing? The guy with an umbrella? To my eye, that suit looks perfectly fine on a model who has a very thin build.
I’m referring to the suits and sportcoats on mannequins, in the post and on the press website.
I did notice the photo of the kid with the umbrella. An unusually good looking picture of a slim man wearing a good looking suit.
His trousers are puddling sloppily at the cuff, because they’re too long and too narrow at the bottom, a holdover, 1980s-90s off-the-rack shopping-mall bicycle-pants look. They just can’t let that go.
The Norfolk jacket may be an exception. Doesn’t matter anywho as that would be occasional…worn with +4s 🙂
On that one, I assumed they were aiming for a British field jacket look. So the waist got pinched a bit and the pockets became fuller (to accommodate one’s shotgun shells, flask, and burner phone). You might find the same thing at Cordings.
While the cloth puddle at the trouser hem is noticeable, it is better now than it has been over the last 20 years or so. For quite some time, the hem width at the cuff has had a very Westminister, MD look. Things are improving. Let’s keep it up without going overboard!
Yes, WestMINSTER. Dang. Everything has to be a battle.
love the return of an old J Press staple the tweed reversible top coat/rain coat . a great all around coat
Holy cow! The Prince of Wales patterned suit and that first tweed jacket. Not that I “need” anything else on the ol’ wardrobe mind you, but man alive. Must. Be. Strong,
Kind Regards,
H-U
Matthew,
You likely know of this, but the September 14 issue of the New Yorker has a review article by Adam Gopnik entitled “American Sophistication.” It touches on a number of things that you and Ivy Style may find interesting. BTW, I managed Salve’s Historic Preservation Program for several years.
Charles,
Thank you for suggesting the article. I was pleased to find it:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2026/09/14/american-sophistication-ross-posnock-book-review
I am interested to learn more about your work at Salve. Are you still in the Newport area? I have been invited back to campus to present a dissertation writing workshop for graduate students on in October.
Matthew
Can someone please let me know how the jackets are shipped with respect to sleeve length? I assume unfinished sleeves but I can’t find anything regarding this on the J Press site. There’s only one length listed for all sizes. Would love to have them finished with two sleeve buttons.
Charlottesville and I share the stompin’ grounds — a culture where subtle, tasteful old school natural shoulder style remains alive and well in a certain few corners and crevices. The risk with the more flamboyant (including runway) renderings of this look is that it can too easily tend toward “trust fund dandy,” preppy cosplay (God help us), and, similarly yet worse, the Fauntleroy(ish). I feel sure sales and success will follow Onward is big because there are plenty of all the above markets in NYC/CT/ and environs, but maybe a word of caution is in good order. But then, what the hell do I know? — I figured we’d have Adler and ELJO’s forever.
* ‘Onward is big’ in parentheses
The jacket styling and overall vibe recall Paul Stuart & TAS. That’s a firmly pressed low stance 2-button — with an added 3rd button. Not a criticism; just an observation.
How do cuffs, no break fit in?
Matthew, can you send me an email address, please?
Charles, my email address is matthew.longcore@yale.edu
J. Press jackets (and suit coats) need some minor alterations in most cases after they arrive. As do the pants/trousers to look their best. That might include, depending on one’s dimensions, sleeve length, inseam, waists, etc. Well worth the added minor expense and wait though. A decent tailor is worth his/her weight in gold.
Kind Sunday Regards,
H-U