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What is Preppy Style?

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

It's true American Style, as the term was coined from "American Prep School". I don't know anything about American prep schools, so I think that my idea of "Preppy" might be different to what others perceive as true Preppy style.

Diana started a great discussion in one of her threads about Preppy Style. And when she explained it, I didn't fancy the description of the look: khakis, pearls, polo shirts, sash belts and boat shoes.

I think of J.Crew and Rugby as Preppy style - which is not the above. Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger too. Is that correct?

I LOVE J.Crew and Ralph Lauren preppy style - are they preppy?

Dressing

46 replies

Latest reply was from milehighstyle (Linda)

Anonymous

Angie, you should nab a copy of the Official Preppy Handbook. It came out in the 1980's. I'm no expert, but I think there is a modern version of prep-inspired style now that is not so literal. I'd say Ralph Lauren for sure, and probably J.Crew, Hilfiger as well.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

When I think of preppy, I picture: blazers, blazers with elbow patches or piping, sweater vests, argyle. plaid, cashmere cardigans, tweed, and button down shirts. I think J Crew definitely has preppy style and Ralph Lauren as well, but less so. Gap also has a preppy influence at times IMO.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

That's what I thought might be the case, Claire. Perhaps there is Original Preppy and Modern Preppy?

harmonica

Veteran

Great post! I was wondering about that myself. My idea of preppy is vague, but I think of polished, a bit ladylike, pearls, scarves, top notch quality, well fitted and classic items. A bit of the Kennedys and the movie Clueless, as well as Ralph Lauren and Polo.

I'm curious about what others say

ETA: What's the difference between preppy and classic? Modern preppy and modern classic?

rae

(website)

Veteran

Many ladies chimed into a thread of mine with great definitions, too:
http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....the-preppy

I think the overarching theme was that preppy is an offshoot of Classic that is a little more casual and rugged. Classics to play golf or polo in. Brands mentioned were LL Bean, J. Crew, Ralph Lauren, Lilly Pulitzer. Many also agreed that the masculine preppy items seemed more appealing than the feminine/prim preppy items.

Beth

Veteran

Well, there's preppy as mindset and preppy as fashion. I don't really consider JCrew or RL to be preppy; they just borrow the aesthetic.

I'm not going to explain this very well, but in my mind, Mindset Preppy is the very reverse of fashion. Clothes are chosen for their natural fibers, durability and functionality. Wearing boat shoes around town because they happen to be comfortable and broken-in after years of dock use is Mindset Preppy. Wearing shiny new boat shoes to the mall because they're popular is Fashion Preppy.

I like and wear preppy in both iterations, but you all knew that already:)

jayne

Veteran

I feel I am wearing preppy style today. I have a light blue pin stripe shirt. A white blazer. Pearls, Chinos and loafers, gold in this case. This morning I saw a woman in a cotton skirt, cotton sweater and brown loafers. So I think there is a look but there is also a material choice . Cotton and Jersey, silk, wool. Quality cuts, big bold sporty and playful colors

jayne

Veteran

blazers with emblems, ie school emblems

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Okay! Fab comments here! Thanks so much. There is great division amongst your descriptions already.

More clearly now: I like "Modern Tomboy Preppy-esque" looks. Like J.Crew. Whether it's true Preppy, fake Preppy or borrowed Preppy makes little difference to me. That's the type of style I like to wear.

Beth, I hope I haven't given you a preppy apoplexy

I'm off to see a client.

rae

(website)

Veteran

I just wrote this in Harmonica's thread - sports seem to figure strongly in my vision of prep:

To me, preppy is like "sporty classic." Something you could wear to prep school... youthful, sporty, comfy. Preppy evokes images of rugby, cricket, polo, crew rowing. Not as refined and grown up as classic.

Beth

Veteran

Ha Angie! My heart is holding steady:) I hope I didn't give the impression that there is fake Preppy. It's all just different facets of the same thing, maybe?

All Preppy is good in my eyes!

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think Beth's distinction is extremely valuable. J. Crew and even Ralph Lauren take the preppy look and make it into a kind of mythology or story - slightly different in each case. That's fashion preppy.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Nice one, Rae!

I am relieved, Beth. *wipes off beads of perspiration*. Wouldn't want to upset our Queen of Preppy Delight. (Hope that you, hubs and all your animals are fab).

Suz, I like Fashion Preppy

Diana

Veteran

I think classic old-school preppy (or what I call "Boston preppy" because it is a very new england look) is sort of functional/casual yet polished. Like, I am going to go sailing but my makeup will be perfect (although understated!) and not a hair will be out of place. Sporty but ladylike. It's kind of like you want to look low-maintenance and natural but also extremely well put-together if that makes sense. I think preppy here in New England is whole different beast than preppy elsewhere in the country!

This store is the epitome of Boston preppy to me: http://www.vineyardvines.com/

To me, stores like J crew definitely have preppy influences but there are also a lot of other diverse influences (some california casual, a little boho, a little more luxe) than Boston preppy. It's more RATE preppy, like I said in Rae's thread. Jeans instead of chinos, that kind of thing.

I also see a difference between British and American preppy - to me, British preppy is a little more RATE and maybe with a little more punk influence.

harmonica

Veteran

Well said Diana: "Sporty, but ladylike" and "low-maintenance and natural but also extremely well put-together"

Irene

Veteran

I think of Gossip Girl's Blair Waldorf, especially in the first two seasons. In girls that translates into ballet flats, tartan skirts, shirts, ties, oxford shoes or brogues, polka dots, peter pan collars, and anything that's a-bit-innocent-yet-a-bit-youkonow-that. Also elegant and polished, very thoughtful.

Of course the stylist goes overboard with the character -just like everything else in the series- but you get the idea.

To me is more European than American, actually.

PS: I do NOT own a collection ofLeighton Meester's photos, I collected them only for the post lol

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goldenpig

(website)

Veteran

Oooh thank you Lemonade for the Leighton Meester visuals--I love those pics! I was wondering if there was a Girly or Ladylike Preppy, because I don't think I can pull off the Tomboy Preppy look. Punk preppy sounds cool though. In my mind preppy is East Coast Martha's Vineyard style, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, J Crew. Elements of nautical and polo as well. I don't think of my style as preppy at all but I may have to look into Lilly Pulitzer as well given my love of matchy matchy and prints.

Sheila

Veteran

For my taste, preppy should always have some reference to menswear, however indirect...the leather watchband, pinstriped shirts, traditional plaids, khaki, etc. I just can't see the Girly-Preppy as true preppy. You should be able to assemble your preppy wardrobe at all price points, moving from Lands End all the way to Ralph Lauren and into the stratosphere. The iconic movie "Love Story" with Ryan O'Neal and Ali MacGraw was my introduction to this perspective on Preppy Style, and I think over the years Ali MacGraw has developed her own fashion look to incorporate the style used for that film. Of course she also includes Southwestern style to a great degree nowadays, but essentially I think she's still a Preppy. Just my opinion.

Sarah A

Veteran

Interesting read. DH went to prep school and his authentic version of prep is very much more refined (did i mention he hadnt owned jeans is 15 years until i bought him a pair? he still isnt sure he needs them!) than my j crew prep inspired stuff. And Southern Preppy is different than Boston Preppy for sure. I think it is a lot about a youthful fun optimism, focus on fit and quality, as well as an attitude (for girls at least) to be cheerful and polite (i.e. "well bred"). Like Dianna said, grooming is impeccable and as such a lack of perfection in the hair dept will always out me as a preppy imposter!

ETA: Authenticity strikes me as a huge part of prep too. MIL has a saying about your busom can be fake but your pearls better be real. LOL.

rachylou

Veteran

So happens I actually went to prep school. But California prep school; very very different. On the other hand, my peeps on my mom's side are from back East, so there is that. Anyways, I think Rae's description is pretty good: "an offshoot of Classic that is a little more casual and rugged."

I think Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, J. Crew, etc. are things preppies like to buy. But, for example, they're not *exactly* preppy. You can't get something from J. Crew and presto be mistaken for preppy; you also have to wear it in the preppy way. Land's End, owned by Sears even, is more likely to produce instant prep.

True prep is a little on the frumpy side. I mean, a lot has to give way to the practical necessities of cutting back the rose bushes, mud football, swimming out to the boats, and fountain jumping.

ETA: I have to confess, it's not clear to me that Southerners can be preppy. Society mixes, you may cross the Mason-Dixon to attend a cotillion, but this is different from everyone being preppy...

Vildy

Veteran

Now this is ages ago but I went to school with girls who went to Farmington (Miss Porter's School) and while things may have changed some, I'll bet not too much.
To my eye, there is nothing of the feminine in preppy style. If they wear a skirt or a blouse, it has a hearty overtone. Though there seems to be a branch of the Palm Beach Preppy who, in those days, were wearing Mummy's Lilli Pulitzer flowered shifts. Generally, the clothes are for athletic bodies so that the buxom gals used to look kind of upholstered. Even the Pulitzer shifts were boxy.

rachylou

Veteran

Haha! Vildy, that so *nails* it: upholstered

Anonymous

Oh trust me Rachylou, there is Southern Prep to be sure, but it has it's own distinct flavor.

If I had to explain what prep style was I'd say there is an emphasis on function rather than form. There is a careless attitude about *fashion* (but maybe a covert interest). A clean-cut, wholesome appearance and natural everything is important: hair, nails, tans, jewelry (minimal but real), fibers. The exclusive/expensive sports are favored: golf, tennis, horseback riding, sailing, la crosse, rugby-- and clothing worn for these activities seems to make it's way over into street clothes, either literally or in inspiration. Clothes are often reminiscent of uniforms worn in private academies long after the preppy has graduated: grey gaberdine or khaki trousers/skirts, white button downs and navy blazers. I think dressing "properly" is more important than dressing fashionably. Having old or passed-down items of really high quality is considered very "old money" and cool. As in Euro Chic, items are often worn to shreds.

Wow, I'm talking like I'm an expert and of course, I'm not. But that's my take on it.

catgirl

Veteran

Growing up in Boston in the 70s and 80s, I'd cite l.l. bean, j. crew and Land's End as quintessial sources of preppy items back then. Chinos/khakis and tucked in oxfords, striped ties, grosgrain ribbons and kilts and penny loafters. The worst parts of that style to me were the heart-embroidered turtlenecks and the uber-cutesy Fairisle sweaters. However, the rugged aspects - riding gear, barn jackets, plaid, duck boots - had a lot more appeal.

Like any other style, there's wide range for interpretation. I'm actually interested in exploring some of those aspects (as Rae described, the Ralph Lauren side)...

ETA: j. crew today, like Banana Republic, is very different from the j. crew of the 80s. There was none of the luxe/boho aspect to it back then, other than the prices.

rachylou

Veteran

@Claire - I feel a need to know more about Southern preppiness. I mean, Southern girls use hair spray... Are you sure that can be preppy?

@Una - *No no, not my turtlenecks and Fair Isle sweaters!!!* ... hehe. Thing is, boring to wear, but very practical for me...

catgirl

Veteran

Just tell me your t-necks aren't embroidered with little hearts or shamrocks!

I just remembered the whole preppy look from the movie "Trading Places" - Dan Ackroyd's girlfriend Penelope Witherspoon had it down!

christieanne

Veteran

I will confess now that I had a heart covered turtleneck - in 1982! We did the layering of turtleneck, oxford shirt and fair isle sweater all the time. Very practical for foggy Oakland hills weather. And Topsiders. The urban edge was that we pegged our jeans to make them more skinny.

Preppy has various definitions for sure. I tend towards the prep still (I think it's a cycle - I am only coming back to it after a twenty five year absence) but these days it's more modern. Sperry Topsiders with slim cigarette leg trousers. All those striped Breton tops that you see all over the blogosphere - preppy.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Don't forget Lacoste! We used to layer our Lacostes - green over hot pink. And wore them with khaki shorts and Tretorn tennis shies. Finished off with a short strand of pearls, bien sur!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW! Such diversity.

I can see Preppy integrity in everyone's explanations accept Lemonade's series of photos. Apart from #3 and very possibly #9, I do not see preppy style when I see those outfits.

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