In cooperation with the F.I.T. Museum of Art in New York, "THE IVY STYLE EXHIBITION BY F.I.T.", an event featuring Ivy League fashion, kicked off on the 30th at the 7th floor event hall of the Isetan Shinjuku store. It runs until November 4th. The event centers around an exhibition of Ivy League fashion archives, and features exclusive models from brands with ties to the Ivy League, as well as trunk shows and talk sessions. The main venue, the 7th floor event hall, featured iconic Ivy League brands like Brooks Brothers and Regal, as well as many up-and-coming brands making waves in the fashion scene. Attending the event were particularly drawn to Alexander Olch and Thom Browne's diffusion line, Thom Grey. Both brands have been in short supply since the start of the fall season. Thom Grey maintains Thom Browne's signature compact sizing, stoic color palette, and subtle accents, all at an affordable price point. Alexander Olci, a New York-based tie brand, will offer a limited-edition Isetan Men's Set (73,500 yen) featuring five items in a wooden box: blackwatch-dyed suspenders, a bow tie, a tie, a handkerchief, and a memo cover, in addition to classic ties and handkerchiefs. Olci will also be hosting a trunk show where he will personally provide coordination advice and a shirt pattern-order event. Martin Greenfield, one of America's three largest suit factories, will also have a booth. While crafting suits for Obama and past presidents, the company also produces for cutting-edge brands like Band of Outsiders, which opened its first street-level store in October, and is renowned for its classic modern craftsmanship. "While based on Ivy League style elements such as natural shoulders and boxy silhouettes, the collection is characterized by updated styles with shorter lengths and slightly contoured waists," says master tailor Steve Fellig.
At the back of the venue, there is also a cafe corner from New York lifestyle store Freeman's Sporting Club Tokyo. Popular items include the caramel chiffon cake (630 yen) and apple ginger squash (1,050 yen). The squash, finished with homemade ginger water and lemon syrup, also has a refreshing sweetness.
Another highlight of this exhibition is an archive exhibition from the collection of the FIT Museum, run by the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York. The archive features 14 pieces, including wartime suits and formal wear, blazers from eight Eastern universities, and casual wear. "Ivy League is a timeless, ageless style. This is the first time that we've unveiled our archives outside of a museum, and outside of the country, but it was Japan that has once again shone the spotlight on this American style," said Patricia Mears, deputy director of the F.I.T. Museum of Art, who was visiting Japan.
As soon as the store opened, men and women of all ages dressed in traditional clothing flocked to the venue.
