J. Press Spring/Summer 2026: A Return to Its Roots with “Take Ivy”

On February 16, J. Press presented its Spring/Summer 2026 collection at New York Fashion Week.

This season’s endeavor was not a mere reinterpretation of the archives. Drawing from the 1965 Japanese photo book Take Ivy, the collection reexamined the “real” campus style once seen across Ivy League universities and reconstructed it through a contemporary lens. What emerged was not a replication of form, but a continuation of spirit.

The show unfolded in a classical setting lined with wooden bookshelves, evoking the quiet grandeur of an East Coast university library. Within this restrained atmosphere, models moved with measured steps. There was no staged nostalgia—only an effortless authenticity. What was presented was a living Ivy style, one that remains undiminished by time.

Redefining Tailoring

At the core of the collection was tailoring—the suits and blazers that form the foundation of J. Press.

The opening look set the tone: a dark green blazer paired with a regimental tie and pale green trousers. Structured yet understated, the silhouette avoided both excessive boxiness and overt slimness. It enveloped the body without dominating it, striking a delicate balance between tradition and modernity.

A windowpane jacket styled with salmon-pink trousers introduced a softer chromatic sensibility to the Ivy canon. By preserving traditional structure while allowing space for color play, the brand infused lightness into a historically rigid vocabulary. That sense of ease proved central to the season.

Meanwhile, a double-breasted navy pinstripe suit, accented with a straw boater hat, distilled the essence of American traditionalism. Within its formality lay wit—discipline tempered by playfulness. In that equilibrium, one sensed the quiet maturity of the house.

Sport and Campus Culture

Equally present was the casual campus spirit that defines Take Ivy.

A “1966” numbered knit, a vivid orange “T A K E I V Y” T-shirt, and a classic letterman cardigan appeared throughout the lineup. These were not simple reproductions of vintage references, but carefully edited pieces recalibrated for a contemporary wardrobe. Rather than faithfully reenacting the past, they translated it for the present body.

Shorts also made a strong impression. A navy cut-sew top worn barefoot; ivory shorts layered with a red rugby shirt. At one moment, a model wheeled a bicycle down the runway, evoking the spontaneity of campus life and adding warmth and motion to the show. Ivy, here, was not a formal code but an extension of daily life.

Madras and the Legacy of Patchwork

The longevity of a style lies not only in silhouette, but in the memory embedded within its materials.

Patchwork madras trousers demonstrated this clearly. Though composed of multiple colors, the effect was never chaotic. Controlled composition and clean lines elevated a heritage textile into a contemporary expression.

Brown tartan jackets and a belted, military-inspired jacket further expanded the narrative. By weaving in subtle British nuances and safari elements, the brand moved beyond a singular definition of Ivy. Tradition, in this context, was not static but elastic—capable of growth without losing its core.

Icons Across Generations

Notably, the casting reflected a wide range of ages. Alongside youthful collegiate figures, a white-bearded model in a trench coat and checked jacket quietly dismantled the notion that Ivy belongs only to the young.

What the collection ultimately proposed was a wardrobe that evolves alongside life itself. Ivy is not a fleeting trend, but a style that settles into the body over time. That message resonated clearly throughout the runway.

Updating Tradition

Founded in 1902, J. Press is often perceived as a house of preservation. This season suggested otherwise. By returning to its origins, the brand projected forward.

Take Ivy is not an exercise in nostalgia, but a point of departure—a way of reconsidering why this style continues to endure. As long as authenticity, practicality, and refinement remain intact, Ivy style will continue to evolve.

All looks from the J. Press Spring/Summer 2026 collection can be viewed in the gallery below.

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

JPRESS, Spring 2026, New York City, February 16 2026

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