What is Black Ivy, and why you've never heard of it (2024)

Really loved this video Drew, as a South African, black ivy was a key element during the struggle against apartheid. If you Look closely at pictures of Nelson Mandela during the struggle, he wore the ‘oppressors’ clothing, he knew that’s what he needed to do to get his message across, once liberation was achieved, he went back to wearing African clothes. I don’t think it was a coincidence, it was a conscious choice.

I’m literally doing a project on this omg, he just sat made it easier.

This is one of your best videos yet drew.

I’m also a black person who didn’t fit the mold growing up. Being told I sound white, being seen as a model black, people denying my Caribbean heritage because I wasn’t their idea of a black Caribbean American. I’ve become thankful I don’t fit what others want me to be because it really gives me the space, the detachment to be myself.
With this video I realized I’ve dappled in the black ivy without even knowing it. My father was sharp dresser always wearing suits no matter the occasion and I grew an appreciation for the style and I feel like he knew what he was doing haha.
Now, I work at a school and like doing too much some days just like my father, ya know? It has come from a place of wanting to be opposing, it’s the same reason I lean into punk styles. I want to push the envelope I want people to be confused and challenged by appearance because black can be so many different things.
In short, thank you for the context Drew ! I may start wearing sunglasses at night/on the train more confidently I love the reason black ivy men were doing it : )

I am Indonesian and this Black Ivy resonates with me. Indonesin lives under colonialism and segregation too for a long time, and the same happen when some of our founding father got education during specific period. The style change into more western with local swag and local garment mix into the style as well. And our first president Soekarno become the fashion icon

Really great episode Drew.. I have ordered "Black Ivy A Revolt In Style" I'm excited to read this book when it arrives this week. I haven't heard of the term "Black Ivy" until this episode.. 😎✌🏾

The pics of my African American southern black ivy dad from the late 50’s-60’s are amazing. Black and white, super cool preppy photos. I wish so much that I had some of his “Perry Como” wool or cashmere/wool blend sweaters. The stove pipe pants, button down or collared shirt, Perry Como sweater, black tie and wayfarer sunglasses. My mom in adorable A-line dresses or boucle suit/ suit dress 🔥 Thanks Drew for this video and the great memories. Gotta get this book.

Just wanted to say thanks for making this video. I've been following everything you've done for about a year now, and I've loved how you intertwine your personality with really in-depth critiques on society. I even got my first pair of selvedge denim because of you! Anyway, this point really stood out to me: The struggle of finding our own identity in a society that has such predisposed perceptions on who we are based on our skin color and outward appearance. I'm Cambodian, born and raised in America, and I never felt like I fit in to the traditional mold of everyone else stylistically, personality-wise, or even culturally. I've always used clothes as a way to stand out and to bring about my individuality, and as I'm getting into my late 20s, also living in NYC, I've never been happier with how what I wear represents who I am as a person.
You've been a huge part of my development not only in style but also as a peson, and I love that we have a uniquely individual voice like yours to voice what it's like to discover ourselves. Keep doing you. Can't wait for the next one.

"Grace...while looking damn good." Did not know about Black Ivy as a particular style, however I certainly dig how Black America conveyed themselves in the 5os and 60s...makes me smile when I see the photos. Photos of people in Harlem during that time...they looked spectacular. Happened upon your vid here through Huckberry, a fantastic mens haberdashery/lifestyle bazaar. They represent great classic style clothiers like Taylor Stitch, Relwen, Kellen, Wills and Flint and Tinder. Saw those photos of you looking stylish at the end of this video wearing clothing similar to William Ellory and such. Thank you for this dive into Black Ivy, really enjoyed it! The book you highlight looks very well done. I will seek it out to purchase.

Idk if you consider your style Black Ivy, but I personally gravitated to your videos becuz you had the aura and attention to detail to pieces that give that Black Ivy vibe. Also just how you break things down in fashion from your view as a black men and knowledge in general def give that vibe. You def show the power of fashion just being you which is inspiring!

I would love to see a feature length documentary on this topic. I loved the book

i remember i got black ivy about two years ago, absolutely loved it (especially Thelonious Monk and Gordon Parks's sections). love love love seeing you discuss black ivy recently, even getting jason jules on the podcast. black ivy was super influential to my style, I'm glad you're informing the people about it and giving your take ❤

Pvv: I’ve never heard of Black Ivy before until you mentioned it. I think this video is a great introduction into the style. I hope to see more stuff like this.

I really don’t enjoy your videos on tik tok. in fact i blocked you, but this video is so good. I almost never see videos of this tier recently. big ups plus sub’d

Excellent essay as always, I can definitely relate to the "you don't sound black" thing. I've never understood why we're supposed, expected to act a certain way, as if we're function people or something. Merci pour tout Drew, tu n'as pas idée à quel point tes vidéos sont importantes pour moi, même si je l'avoue je passe en dilettante.
Fistbump from Paris to NY

I knew about black ivy before. This just reminded me that I never remembered to put it back in my Amazon cart to purchase from years ago. Thank you!

This video is amazingly well researched, and I loved watching it. You blend history, fashion and personal experience so well in your videos, that is an incredible talent. Please continue the good work!

Holy sh*t I was wondering when Drew would get on this topic! I’m in a style revolution of my own and one thing I’ve been tapping into lately is “Black Ivy” - this couldn’t have come at a better time 🙌

Drew! Your content is so amazing bruh. The comment about feeling out of place within your own Identity hit home. My early years were exactly like that. PVV: I have heard of black Ivy recently but honestly I was dressing this way before I really knew what it was called but only on the top. We were just calling it a preppy look.

Drew, this is the first video of yours that I watched and sir, you just earned yourself another subscriber.

Thank you for making this video. I'm not sure how I came across your channel, but the algorithm got it right! I can relate to a lot of what you described in your experience as a black man, especially when I was younger. After seeing this, I'm now realizing that my style is probably most similar to black ivy. This has been very educational and enlightening. Great job!

my brother got me this book a year or two ago for my birthday. til this day its one of my favorite gifts ive ever gotten

What it do Drew Happy BHM

Thank you for making this video. I own this book and loved reading it. Inspired me to see your video follow it up properly. Thinking I should elevate my style to black ivy now.

Great video. I guess this reminds me once again of how so much in fashion reminds me of the Jorge Luis Borges story "Pierre Menard, Author of the Quixote" where the word for word re-writing of Don Quixote in 1939 gives us an entirely different book than what was written earlier. A suit worn by Miles Davis has an entirely different conotation and substance than when worn by an English aristocrat. This is something like when Travis Scott wears a Nirvana vintage shirt, that he's very much a Black man but he also loves this band, that his range of interests is larger than what a segregated country grants him. But this is not exclusively racial: a photo of someone in Texas wearing traditional Western boots and stressed jeans, but also a Type O Negative sweatshirt and eyeshadow has this quality as well - we expect these goth elements in London or NYC, but not here.

Black Ivy looks amazing and timeless. All the guys shown in the pictures here look very stylish and classy. Also it’s a style that could easily be worn today due to the timeless pieces they are wearing.

This is the content I watch and love your videos for! 👑 diving deeper and introducing us to some influencial niches in fashion and educates in how fashion can be used in so many ways, and this particulary being very important culturally and historically. More videos like this please, I would never get tired of these! 🫶🏻

I thoroughly enjoyed the segment and will look for this fabulous coffee table book. Thank you 👊🏽

I cannot over express how excited I was when I saw this posted earlier today. The Black Ivy style is something I’ve always aimed to reflect in my own personal style since becoming aware of it some years ago. Thank you for shining light on this subject, as it can be a bit elusive in explaining and understanding. It truly separates itself from American Ivy, but at the same time enriches it greatly. I hope to see more on the subject and other fascinating fashion topics like this. Wonderful video, and thank you!

excellent work. glad this piece is out there because I think not enough people know this perspective/aspect of fashion history.

One of your best videos yet. Really informative and the philosophy behind the ideas was sound. Impressed that you even had criticisms of black ivy to make us aware of that side of the coin. Extremely well done

I had no idea of black ivy until today watching your video. So cool to know

Drew what it do, what a wonderful video!! 🤌😮‍💨😎🤞

Phenomenal video that resonated with me on a very personal level. Well done !

I'm heavy into fashion and so I did hear about Black Ivy before the book came out. There has actually been several resurgances of this style most notably in the early 2000s with brands like the Brooklyn Circus, artists like Mos Def and Andre3000, and the la sape fashion movement. I love the way there is these cool ease that AA and Africans as a whole bring to the traditional prep style. Anyway loved this video and can't wait for the next deep dive.

Pvv heard about Black Ivy because of the AOI podcast, and I love hearing your take on it and what it means to you! 🫶🏻 excited for more ivy content, I think the Japanese selling it back to Americans is so fascinating. I realized I was nearly dressing in Ivy style when I listened to AOI so I’ve been leaning in since then. It does feel a little subversive at this time in fashion history, especially if you’re not a cis het white man with money. My favorite look in Black Ivy is the man with red socks- 🔥 🔥

Good work. Kudos! Black ivy and prep is still in effect in the South! Bow ties Seersucker and white polo shirts are still in style. Salute Sir.

You should definitely turn this into a reoccurring series covering different styles and aesthetics.

pvv definitely did not hear the term black ivy (ivy ) before (European here haha)… actually a few months ago I started getting into jazz (especially blues, bop ,Miles Davis, Coltrane, … ), and as I looked at the pictures of the artists I was really impressed by their style and wanted to know more about it, few weeks later drew posted a snippet of the video on instagram haha, been following and thinking about it ever since
Imo it’s a very interesting topic.
Thanks for the amazing and interesting vid 💯

luv this piece, i think this could be your main lane. thanks for the introduction

Great work as always

I had no idea "Black Ivy" was actually a thing, but it's THE style I've gravitated toward since growing up going to private schools and needing to make the dress code "mine."

I saw this book at The Strand a few weeks ago. Thank you for encouraging me to buy it

Thank you for this!

Thank you for this video, Drew. I grew up in a mostly white town with a small black population I spent most of my time around. I was never black enough and I am still not as you described. I too am very drawn to this style, and I think part of that may be a desire I have always felt as a result of not being able to establish my own identity as a black person, to push the boundaries on what was acceptable for black men. I made style choices growing up that were radical for black men, but I always kept the aspects of “black” style that I liked. I feel like that is on some level what the men in the book accomplished. They like all style icons, took elements from many styles and inevitably gave it a uniquely black flare; because after all, no matter how much your blackness is questioned, your experience in the western world can only be uniquely black. Who we are is built into us, even if like me, you love Incubus as much as you love Jadakiss, and Black Thought. Our blackness is our essence, and it shows in our artistic and fashion range. This was an excellent video essay, well done!

I learn a lot on your channel, thank you. à bientôt☺

What an incredible video. I’ve always loved this trend and am so happy to learn more about it. Just purchased the book too. Love that the author is a fellow Brit 😊❤

Did not know about the concept or the name, before your video / podcast. However, for someone who is from South Africa it also provided me with an ah ha moment, because we saw this growing up, in our communities and society, but now to be able to put a name to it, sort of makes it full circle. Next step..get a copy of the book. Thanks for the knowledge..

Amazing episode, so happy for you

Does Black Ivy Apply to Black Women as well? Would love to hear your perspective on Black Ivy Fashion for Black women as well! ❤

Loved learning about this.

Thank you so much for creating this video Drew! It's incredibly insightful.

one of my fav vids of urs so far, thx drew

This is incredible work Drew. Super excited to see you explore this content style

Drew what a do thank you. This video was absolutely AMAZING!!! I feel so grateful for this information and so grateful that smart talented people such as yourself are using their platforms to educate others about creative and important things like this.

I loved this video drew, thank you for all this knowledge

This was really amazing.Keep posting such videos.Very inspiring 💯💯💯

#PVV hi drew, thank you for such a lovely and informative video! it was truly a joy to learn about black ivy and to listen to your thoughts, feelings, and experiences related to the black ivy fashion movement. with that being said, this is my first time hearing about black ivy technically but you had introduced me to black ivy in your brief mentions of it in previous videos. i hope you’re doing well and thank you again for sharing your knowledge as well as for continuously spreading positivity!

Truly an amazing video drew. It really opened my eyes but at the same time validated some thoughts on fashion.

I'm just learning about this thru the Newark Rennaissance Ride. This year's theme is the Black Ivy Ride.

Excellent, excellent episode. I was just saying the other day, I wish my friends shared the same fashion expressional style as I, I was beginning to think I was all alone over here. LOL. The value I bring to others around me is their opportunity to have and express an opinion of what I happen to be wearing at that particular time on their particular journey. Whether good or bad, they had an opinion.

I knew from the short you posted that if you did a video on this in full you'd knock it out the park. And thus...you did. 5 stars.

such a good topic and the way you can talk is genius!

Bloody nice video drew

Thanks for this very informative and helpful video! Great piece.

i think this is my favorite video of yours
pvv: i had never heard of the term black ivy, but i had kinda subconsciously picked up on the phenomenon

such a fantastic video, I learned sm. thank you💘

What it do your name is Drew thanks for the content you provide, bless

Loved this content on Black Ivy style, Miles Davis's style in the '50s and early '60s was a great influence on my style today because it continues to be timeless, You did a great job covering this topic.

I remember asking you to do some fashion history content a while back. Thank you!

Great content well told and important relevations about a very important subject. I was aware of this topic and it’s influence.

One of the best vids you’ve done. Thanks for bringing something new to the RUclips fashion bubble and taking on unique topics. These guys knew how to dress

yo teacher here! you taught me so much i appreciate this episode so so much keep doing great things

amazing work.

why did i only find out about it now, really cool topic! 444

Great video!!! Thanks for kicking knowledge. I think you found your lane with this educational, fashion content. It’s suits you. No puns

drew i been hating on your content lately but this is immaculate

Thanks for this video and book recommendation

Really good episode friend, could you make a video about Latin roots in fashion.
You have a fan from Colombia.

I’m a prepster. Low middle class rural white male, Catholic, loving the casual style. Need the book. Musics great too.

Love you Drew

Beautiful Video

Well done vid. Hitting that subscribe, keep it up.

Wow this is the earliest I’ve ever been

I love this! Can you make more content like this?

Quality content !

This video rulez, great job man

Great content 🎉🎉🎉

Thanks for this I'm bout to look into the book

Even though I’m not Black (Filipino-American) the jazz musicians from that bop era truly influenced my style, especially being a musician myself. In more modern times, Roy Hargrove (RIP) was a huge influence as his style combined both Black Ivy stylings and hip hop streetwear, and he was such an icon for this look on top of being one of the greatest trumpeters to ever live. He’d have a full three-piece suit, bow tie, and a pair of hi top SB Dunks. Or some oversized overalls, a dress shirt, a fancy fedora, then some Jordans. There’s simply NOBODY outdressing Roy when he was alive. Roy was definitely a chip off Miles’s block!

I remember in the ’80s the Black Ivy look was reintroduced in the “Preppy” look: Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Izod Lacoste. Then came FUBU, Spike’s Joint and Sean John.

Love your videos I’ve definitely been called a “white black person” growing up and it pissed me off blackness isn’t just one thing. keep creating dope content 🤜🏾🤛🏾

Than you so much for the education, Drew. I had never heard of the term until today. However, it completely feels understood.
Black folks in America have been subverting a number of cultural vibes to make them their own -in order to forge an identity of authenticity and dignity.
It would be interesting to discuss how the majority population have then been influenced by Black Ivy. Young male whites, in particular, consistently make fashion choices based on Black aesthetics especially in the areas of music and sports.
Again, kudos to you for enlightening, enriching and entertaining us all✔️

Wonderful vid. Thanks for sharing. #pvv I’d never heard of black ivy before. Really enjoyed this! Very inspirational to all of us ❤

ayo. This one was great drew! Great breakdown.

This 📹 vlog is excellent young man.

Drew good podcast on Black Ivy. I own this book and highly recommend the book. I first heard about this book from Ray Miah of Oree of Nyc. Since your in fashion and now living in NYC you should meet him if possible. From an ex NYC NJ person living in the ATL

Keep up with the history of fashion❤

The likes and views on this important video is evident how the contribution of black history is ignored and not pushed by You Tube algorithm, saying this as an Indian. I hope we can do better as a society someday! 🙌🏼👏🏼

I never previously thought about it, but found this video to be informative and captivating! I see Black Ivy as being essentially the same as White Ivy in most cases, but sometimes with an extra bit of nuance that made/makes it stand either subtly or markedly apart from White Ivy. To me, most often it is/was striving for equality, and occasionally, attention. PS, Great book photography, and I'm currently going down the Gordon Parks rabbit hole.