What makes clothes preppy

In the s, children of wealthy families went to the best private schools in the country. These institutions were inspired by traditional English dress codes, and incorporated uniforms in block colours with shields. After graduating from secondary school and university, alumni continued to wear preppy clothes. In the s, the preppy style defined the American lifestyle and became synonymous with success. Gradually, it became a trend worldwide. Preppy style is both classic and contemporary, feminine and ironic.

While similar to a classic look, preppy style has its own nuances. To create this type of look, stick to classic basics and introduce feminine or sporty elements. Mix and match or play with colour and bold styles like prints or tie die. The perfect preppy outfit comes from combining contemporary basics with the following items.

Take note! Shirts and tops in light colours, pastels or simple patterns and with a conservative neckline. Traditionally, preppy looks opted for slim cuts, but now the trend is heading towards looser, cropped clothing.

Cardigans and sweaters should be short, classic and in neutral or light tones. They can be plain, diamond patterned or accented with an embroidered shield. Oversized, maxi styles are gaining ground. Outerwear is the key to a preppy look. We see navy blue blazers with gold buttons, classic beige trench coats, varsity bomber jackets, plain or plaid coats and fifties-style capes. Bright colored pants like yellow, pink, white, and red are all common in girl's prep outfits.

You'll also find that many famous prep brands like Lilly Pulitzer use bright neon pinks, greens, yellows, and blues in many of their clothes and accessories. Speaking of accessories, preppy outfits aren't complete until you throw on at least one or two accessories. For jewelry, you can't go wrong with pearls.

Pearl necklaces and earrings can work for business and casual prep outfits. Spice up a basic outfit with a large statement necklace made of gold or silver. Headbands and hats are another common prep accessory for women.

Bad hair day? Try a classic Black Dog or Vineyard Vines hat in pastels like blue, pink, and yellow. We saved the best tip for last: look to and emulate your favorite preppy icons.

These women are considered prep icons for a reason, so why not take the chance to style yourself after them? Jackie Kennedy is perhaps the most famous prep icon to ever throw on pearls, sharp blazers, and all-white Cape Cod summer outfits.

She embodies everything preppy girls strive to be. So take a look at some of her most iconic outfits and see what you can do to modernize them. Blair Waldorf is the famous prep from the hit show Gossip Girl. She successfully took the classic preppy look that Jackie made famous and made them modern. She rocked tights, blazers, white gloves, sharp button-ups, pumps, pearls, etc. Watching even a couple of episodes of the show will give you outfit ideas that could style you for the next month.

Emma Watson might not be as traditionally preppy as Jackie and Blair Waldorf, but she definitely embodies the modern preppy look. Collared shirts, sheath dresses, and simple color schemes define her style. She's also one of the faces of Burberry , which should clue you into her modern prep style. Preppy style can take a while to refine and personalize to your own likes and dislikes. If you need a bit more help putting outfits together, check out our guides on how to style popular preppy clothing items.

Keep checking our new arrivals page as well to stay up to date with the latest modern prep styles. My favorite look. It is a great look for casual workplaces and ofcourse for elite college campuses — the epitome of the smart casual look. The basic tenet of the Preppy style is minimalism. It caters to a sleek silhouette, with practicality in mind; No ostentatious display of wealth or excess or style. No use of any of the symbols of alternative styles of clothing gothic, grunge, punk, etc that is usually used by youth — just some branded logos.

In the Preppy style, many of the rules are the same for men and women. Button-down shirts, blazers, shorts, wool sweaters worn over collared shirts, flat front khaki pants with cuffs, plaid elements, loafers — these are all common staples in a preppy wardrobe.

Accessories like classic sunglass, latest phone, leather wallet, branded belt, leather bags are other must haves. Pastel and neutral colors and a little bit of bright color are prefered over black and dark colors. Khakhi and tan colors are preferred for bottom wear. And clothes will be neat and well pressed. A standard preppy style for men can be button-down Oxford shirt, tweed jacket and chinos with loafers on the foot.

Other clothing in the preppy style includes, crew neck sweaters, Polo shirts, Straight leg Khakhi pants, Henley shirts or oxford shirts with sports jackets varsity jacket , tweed blazer or long coat; Footwear can be casual loafers or costly Box-calf shoes. Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger are the preferred brands for preppy style shirts. Jeans, trousers and chinos can be combined with a smart blazer. And if you want to go more casual, chino style shorts are nice. For girls, the preppy look includes the se rules — Shoes are always Flat, be it loafers, brogues, or mules and even sandals.

Pants are always fitting. Skirts are almost always knee length or a little higher or a little lower. Dresses are always clean cut without any fancy necklines or sleeves.