From varsity jackets to cable-knit sweaters and button-down oxfords, Ivy League style is making a strong return in 2025—this time with a contemporary twist. Originating from the American Northeast’s elite academic institutions, the aesthetic has long stood for refinement, tradition, and structure. Now, Canadian retailers are embracing the trend and reshaping it for a new generation.
This revival isn’t just nostalgic. It’s part of a broader consumer desire for timelessness, stability, and heritage-driven fashion—especially in a climate where ultra-fast trends often burn out as quickly as they emerge.
What Defines Ivy League Style in 2025
At its core, Ivy League style remains rooted in tailored, clean-cut classics. Think navy blazers with brass buttons, argyle sweaters, pleated khakis, and loafers worn without socks. In recent seasons, this look has evolved to include more relaxed silhouettes and gender-neutral interpretations, but the fundamentals remain recognizable.
According to Vogue Business, the style’s popularity has surged in part due to TikTok creators documenting “old money” and “academic core” aesthetics. The look is no longer tied strictly to prep schools and East Coast campuses—it has gone global.
From Harvard to Holt Renfrew: The Retail Comeback
Canadian retailers are taking note. From high-end department stores like Holt Renfrew to more accessible chains like RW&CO. and Simons, spring collections are leaning heavily on the preppy palette. Plaid skirts, rugby shirts, monogrammed tote bags, and varsity-style knitwear are all part of the mix.
Luxury resale platforms and second-hand marketplaces such as Vestiaire Collective are also reporting increased demand for vintage Ralph Lauren and Thom Browne pieces—designers whose brands are historically steeped in Ivy League aesthetics.
Retailers in Canada are curating capsule collections that signal prestige and comfort simultaneously. The blending of athleticwear and formalwear, a hallmark of ivy league style, is now showing up in work-leisure lines and back-to-campus promotions.
How Canadian Brands Are Tapping Into the Preppy Revival
Homegrown Canadian labels are also getting in on the action. Brands like Frank And Oak and Club Monaco are highlighting vintage collegiate themes in their 2025 spring/summer campaigns, featuring crest-embroidered cardigans and structured blazers in neutral tones.
The appeal of Ivy League style is its balance between effortlessness and aspiration. For Canadian brands, it provides a storytelling opportunity—one that merges classic sensibility with sustainable fabrics and inclusive fits.
Fashion-focused retailers are pairing these pieces with digital campaigns evoking academic themes: libraries, stone buildings, and heritage campus environments—all reimagined for Instagram and TikTok.
Top-Selling Ivy League-Inspired Pieces
Among the bestsellers in this category:
- Oxford button-downs in pastel shades
- Letterman-style jackets and cardigans
- Loafers and moccasins with modern soles
- Cable-knit sweaters in earthy tones
- Monogrammed accessories and caps
Shoppers are blending these items into modern wardrobes, mixing Ivy League staples with denim, sneakers, and minimal accessories to create a more fluid look.
The Role of Social Media in the Style Resurgence
The trend’s momentum has largely been driven by TikTok and Pinterest, where hashtags like #IvyLeagueStyle, #PreppyFashion, and #OldMoneyAesthetic have generated millions of views. Influencers and stylists alike are highlighting how to make preppy looks more inclusive and globally relevant.
This online influence directly impacts what consumers search for and buy. The keyword “ivy league style” currently generates over 500 monthly searches in Canada, according to Google Keyword Planner, and is showing consistent year-over-year growth.
Seasonal Merchandising and Campus Influence
Retailers are timing their Ivy League drops around seasonal markers: spring launch campaigns, back-to-school sales, and even Father’s Day. The alignment with university admissions season—March through August—gives the style cyclical energy, especially among younger consumers and those leaning into curated nostalgia.
With private school uniforms and collegiate sportswear being reinterpreted through luxury, streetwear, and even gender-neutral filters, Ivy League style is no longer just a trend—it’s becoming a permanent fixture in the modern Canadian wardrobe.
