Back to School Cool

The hip preppy look, or Ivy League with an edge, is always a cool choice, especially for heading back to school. I have always been a fan of this look, and what’s nice about this style of dressing is that it can be worked by both men and women. If you’re a fan of this look and happen to be heading off to school, a cool brand to check out is Jack Willis.

Jack Willis is a British clothing brand geared for the college-age group with, as they put it in the May issue of GQ, “a mission to infiltrate a new generation of young American prepsters.” I hate to admit I am actually new to this brand. It was founded in 1999 by Peter Williams and Robert Shaw and named for Peter’s grandfather, Jack, but I found it and like they say, better late than never.

While I was thumbing through an old GQ magazine and thought the ad was cool, I didn’t recognize the name, so after reading I looked up the website.

 The line also carries women’s clothing, so although it’s a bummer to find out there is a cool clothing line I didn’t know about, the fact that Jack Willis also carries accessories and home goods made up for lost time.

If you’re a big fan of the more traditional Ivy League look, you are going to be in love with this line. It’s definitely geared to that style, but if that’s not you, don’t pass on at least checking this line out. My guess is you will find something. Most of the pieces can be paired with items from other lines that have a funkier vibe, or simply worn with a funkier attitude. The brand has a distinctive look of its own, but it also reminds me of J. Crew, Banana Republic, or a young J. Peterman Co. Like the companies I mentioned, Jack Willis provides outfit ideas just in case you need a little styling help or inspiration.

I expected the prices to be higher than they are and was pleasantly surprised. The styles are geared for the college-bound, but older fashionistas are sure to find things that would work for them. I came across several summer sale items that would be great buys to wear right now or simply get tucked away for next year. I believe you can never go wrong with a great basic or something you really love. I found two pairs of women’s brogue shoes on sale. They are both in white, but since I don’t follow that Labor Day rule, I may have to go back and see if they have my size.

Even if you don’t make a purchase now or even later, you may just find a new style inspiration. It’s actually an interesting company and there is a lot to look at on the site. Social media fans could have a ball. I also thought it was very cool that the company had posted an ad early in the year for a summer internship that seemed like it would be more like a summer vacation than a summer job.