Do pearls equal preppy? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do pearls equal preppy?

Aziraphale

Veteran

Something Claire said on this thread: http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....-real-ones ("Gee Elisabeth, first button front shirts and now pearls? Are you coming over to the preppy side? *wink* ) made me giggle, but got me thinking about what it means to be "preppy". Are pearls and button front shirts firmly in the preppy camp? I don't *feel* preppy, although I like the aesthetic. At least, I think I do. I now realize I'm not exactly sure what "preppy" is.

When I wore pearls the other day, I did so with a black shirt unbuttoned into a vee, and left long and untucked over a pair of very tight skinny jeans, and paired with 3" pumps. I wrapped the strand twice around my neck so it was very short, but not quite a choker. My hair was its usual lively mess. I think I looked quite different from the well-groomed picture that equals "preppy" in my mind.

Being neat and groomed is part of my image for preppy. No matter what I do, I can't pull off well-groomed. I am RATE. I may start out the day OK, but by 2 p.m. I always look like I've been chased up the street by a pack of wild dogs. The thing is, pearls do seem like they belong, if not utterly in the preppy camp, at least in the polished one. Can a scruffy gal pull them off? Can preppy have a scruffy element? I'm not good with labels.

Dressing

21 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Anonymous

Madonna's pearls in the 80's - definitely not preppy! Audrey Hepburn? Not preppy. They lend an air of sophistication to an otherwise casual outfit, like your black shirt, jeans and pumps. I do shy away from Barbara Bush pearls, or pairing them with a twinset. They can feel matronly, unless your outfit has some funk. I hope this makes sense, I'm fighting a terrible headache today and can't seem to think straight....

ironkurtin

Veteran

God, I hope not. I own both pearls and button-down shirts and never feel the slightest bit preppy wearing either.

Ingunn

(website)

Veteran

Pearls and button downs are classics, but like the shabbychick said, it is all about how one combines them - or not. Some combinations are preppy, others are RATE. I like preppy, but there can be too much of a good thing, so I try to give my outfits a modern edge, too, and I wouldn't combine pearls with twinsets either. My 10 years younger coworker can, but she is preppy through and through, and very modern all the same.

Diana

Veteran

Like the others have already alluded to, it depends on the type of pearls and the type of outfit. The pearls have to a single strand of medium sized white pearls worn at the neck, and they must be worn with something clean, simple, understated, and unfussy. LIke a polo shirt or a twin set.

I do not own a strand of pearls (although I do have other jewelry that incorporate pearls). They always feel too classic and polished for me, and I can't figure out how to work them into my style.

qpswan

I am on team pearls-with-twins-sets but I like to think that I am more Grace Kelly than preppy...

Jjsloane

Veteran

Preppy chiming in to say "add a pearl" is synonymous with preppy (think small pearls, BB button down, cardi, you get the picture). Pearls in general can span many styles depending on how they are worn and what they are like. I think with all styles we each have a mental picture and trigger for each that may or may not be the same for others.

JR

Veteran

Pearls equal pretty. And perfect with so many things. Your outfit sounds great to me, and not at all preppy, although I am hardly an expert on the subject. The point is, you like what you see, right? Styles are so eclectic now anyway, it's all about finding the combination that works for you. Labels are useful to get a grip on classification, but shouldn't be used to bar you from wearing something you like. I am far from edgy, but every now and again, there's an edgy piece that appeals to me. And calling me edgy or urban or whatever is not going to stop me from wearing it. I will make it mine.

Deborah

Veteran

I don't think my own style would be described as "preppy" and I wear pearls of all shapes and sizes. I think pearls kind of transcend the various styles working with amost anything.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I love pearls and moto leather jackets ... not so much preppy as a hint of princess?

Echo

Veteran

One specific style of pearl necklace with a certain type of outfit might be considered preppy, but there are countless styles of pearls that can accomodate ANY style. Baroque pearls lend themselves to more casual outfits; baroque Tahitians have a slight edge; South Seas (Nancy Pelosi pearls) are more conservative, as are Barbara Bush pearls. But Jackie O's pearls (which were mostly faux, BTW) were more sophisticated and less matronly. Tin cups and pearls mixed with beads can be boho. Ultimately, pearls can be anything you want them to be!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Sounds like you all think that pearls can be adapted to anything. That's promising. I'm going to experiment a bit -- like I said, when I wore them on Friday I felt like it worked. Really I should start posting pictures.

But while we're on the topic, what exactly are "Barbara Bush pearls"?

Ingunn, Jjsloane -- nothin' wrong with preppy!

Diana -- pearls feel classic and polished to me, too, but I'm going to give it a whirl.

JR -- well said. Agreed.

bj1111

Veteran

pearls are subversive, in the right outfit combo.

cciele

Veteran

Would love to see how you style the pearls Elisabeth! I'm with Diana -- I view them as classic and polished and rarely wear them (although I have many strands, from faux to freshwater to classic). Sometimes though I will wear a bunch at once a different lengths along with some long metallic necklaces/chains.

rachylou

Veteran

Pearls are pretty preppy unless you drip in them. I don't think even heavy duty moto boots can counteract the preppiness of a single strand.

That said, it can be done.

Anonymous

Elisabeth, I read this a few hours ago, typed a response, hit send and then promptly lost my internet connection. Arggggh!

For some reason (because of my other variables) pearls and button front shirts can skew very preppy on me. This makes me think of a college logic course. I remember an example of reverse logic:

All whales are mammals.
but of course the inverse is not true:
All mammals are whales.

Likewise just because
All preppy women wear pearls and button front shirts.
does not mean that
Any woman wearing pearls and a button front shirt is a prep.

I'm sorry I teased you so mercilessly; I hope you didn't lose any sleep over it! I'd love to see a picture of your outfit. Somehow your RATE hair and heels (I'm picturing Fluevogs) sound like they transcend any preppy cliche.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Lol Claire, you're adorable. And with impeccable logic.

No, I didn't lose any sleep. And I was not implying that there's ANYTHING wrong with preppy -- I actually like the aesthetic a lot (I've drooled over the J.Crew catalogue since I was a teenager) but I fail dismally at it. I know "preppy" is more than just looking polished and casual (in a rich way) but it's a big part of it...and then when I thought about pearls being part of the whole prep package, I thought, gee, maybe I can't pull it off! I'm way too scruffy!

But then I decided that Angie, who isn't really preppy either (although there are elements of that to her style), uses pearls as an integral part of her style persona. If she can do it, I can too.

harman

Member

Thanks for sharing..

April

Veteran

I think pearls are a lot like "geek-chic" eyeglasses: if your style is conservative, they can quickly edge into something that looks accidentally matronly.

For this to happen, the pearls have to be very traditional: smaller in size, a single or double strand. Once you put pearls into funky, modern combinations, or you go with oversized, chunkier forumulations, you've left preppy behind.

Anonymous

Good grief! I have a double-stranded pearl necklace that my DH bought me years ago. I still love it, and still wear it on occasion--but NEVER together with a button-up shirt. I think my pearl necklace is classy--not at all "geek chic" or matronly. Just sayin'

April

Veteran

Exactly, Ruth. I don't think pearls have anything to do with geek chic either -- I meant that if you mix very traditional pearls with very traditional clothing (such as the twinsets mentioned above), you're going to get a "preppy" look that you would not get if you mixed in more modern elements.

This is the same principle that occurs with geek-chic glasses: if your style is purely classic, the "chic" part of these glasses can get lost.

shiny

Veteran

I have an inner preppy, I admit it. In high school I went full-on preppy for about a year, because the guy I was dating was into that: imagine me wearing a collared button down, boat shoes, and sweater artfully tied around my neck....

This is probably why my dad bought me the standard-issue medium length necklace of small-sized pearls as a graduation gift. It's a lovely necklace but I haven't worn it in years, as it looks dated.

I do wear chunky pearls ala Barbara Bush (though not quite THAT chunky). Mostly when I need to be in the office doing a video conference. Why? Several reasons: 1) A lot of my work blouses have high necklines, and this shorter style works nicely with those; 2) we have been trained to wear no jewelry at all, or pearls, when on video camara-- gold and silver tends to be distracting on camera, whereas pearls light up the face; 3) I am deliberately going for a conservative look.

Otherwise, I like my pearls funky (multi-stranded mixed with metal) and/or long, knotted or lassoing about. Often with the strand laying inside the collar, rather than outside. Like "oh this old thing? I just threw it on." Sometimes with other necklaces layered with them. Sometimes with a scarf getting all entwined. I also like the drama effect of a super long strand wrapped three times, with one circle practically choking me -- but sometimes I hesitate because I fear it looks too costumey.