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Preppy Aesthetic 2.0: Your Ultimate Guide to Preppy Style (Expert Tips)
Hey there, Littiez! Long time no see! Are you wondering how to combine classic pieces that have been in your closet for a long time with a modern touch and achieve timeless elegance? The Preppy style is a fashion trend that offers both comfort and elegance, which we have known since our school years and still maintains its popularity. Created with basic pieces such as classic white shirts, chinos, college style blazers, and loafers, this style will make you look stylish both in the office and at weekend events. And it's huge on TikTok, with over 5.9M posts and on Instagram, with over 2.3M posts (and probably more by now!). So, how can you adopt the preppy style and how can you adapt it to your wardrobe? Let's find the answers to these questions together and create your own preppy style!
What is Preppy?
“Preppy” is a fashion style from the early 20th century that represents a timeless and classic look while focusing on giving an elegant impression. The basic elements include polo shirts, blazers, and cable knit sweaters with neutral/pastel tones and more of a fitted form rather than an oversized fit. This aesthetic is recognized for its classic pattern designs such as plaid and argyle.
What Does “Preppy” Mean?
This term is short for “preparatory”— associated with preparatory schools in the United States. The students attending these schools were usually from upper-class families and aimed to attend Ivy League universities, including Yale, Harvard, and Princeton. In addition to schools, several traditional upper-class sports such as polo, golf, tennis, sailing, and many more are also linked to this term.
The Origin of Preppy Style
As for men, Preppy fashion has its origins in the Ivy League style of dress, which first emerged in the early 1900s and had grown popular by the late 1950s. Ivy League-inspired style was influenced by hobbies that were popular among the upper classes in the United Kingdom and the northeastern United States, such as polo, sailing, hunting, fencing, crew rowing, lacrosse, golf, tennis, rugby, squash, and swimming. This style adapted sportswear linked to these activities for everyday wear and integrated classic British countryside elements such as tweed coats, flat caps, and brogue shoes. Later on, Preppy fashion emerged as a more informal and younger take on the Ivy League style, incorporating rugby shirts, blazers, polo shirts, boat shoes, and loafers into an outfit. As jewelry, signet or class rings were commonly preferred among men. The Preppy style was built around sports and leisure activities. This emphasis transformed Preppy from being just a fashion trend to a symbol of an exclusive and active lifestyle. Those who wore Preppy not only looked stylish but also showed that they were members of this elite social circle.
By the 1960s, Preppy-inspired styles began to influence the way many women dressed. Silk or cotton blouses, cable knit cardigans, wool blazer jackets, college style skirt blazer sets, and pleated mini skirts became popular, often paired with loafers, low heels, or ballet flats. Preppy accessories such as a pearl and diamond necklace and preppy hair accessories such as small bows or headbands were usually favored by women. Preppy style brought a whole new breath to women's wardrobes. Inspired by the practicality and clean lines often seen in men's clothing, this style took on a completely different identity with feminine touches. Now women could be both comfortable and stylish, maintaining the same elegance while handling their daily tasks and attending special events. Preppy became a style that offered women freedom and elegance together.
Characteristics of Preppy Fashion
Preppy fashion aims to achieve a timeless elegance while mimicking the traditional upper-class social events. It’s all about emphasizing quality over quantity—think of it as making investments in a few high-quality goods that will last forever, rather than purchasing a ton of low-cost pieces.
Preppy outfits rely on the following key characteristics:
- More neat and clean lines with a tailored fit.
- No oversized hoodies and baggy pants allowed!
- Consider choosing button-downs, classy blazers, corduroy skirts, and tailored pants while putting together an outfit.
- A neutral color palette containing white, gray, navy blue, beige, brown, dark green, and burgundy is preferred, sometimes with small pops of color using pastel color socks or accessories.
- Blending these colors with patterns such as plaid, argyle, and stripes elevates the overall look.
This timeless appeal is further exemplified by iconic characters in pop culture who have shaped our understanding of the Preppy style. In the world of Preppy fashion, the styles of iconic characters continue to inspire us:
- Cher's 90s preppy in "Clueless"
- Elle Woods' pink and sparkly interpretation in "Legally Blonde"
- Regina George's sassy attitude in "Mean Girls"
- Blair Waldorf's luxurious and stylish stance in "Gossip Girl"
- Rory Gilmore's intellectual and classic taste in "Gilmore Girls"
- Veronica Lodge and Cheryl Blossom's modern and ambitious choices in "Riverdale"
- The timeless elegance of the British Royal Family in "The Crown"
All these characters display different faces of preppy fashion. These examples prove once again how diverse and timeless the preppy style is. In other words, preppy style can show itself anytime, anywhere, and in any way!
Tips for Building a Preppy Wardrobe
It all comes down to finding a balance between traditional and modern features to create the perfect Preppy look. For those looking to embrace this aesthetic, let’s buckle up and get started by explaining how you can dress in Preppy fashion!
Do's
- Oxford Shirts: Whether worn with skirts, pants, and loafers for a casual yet chic look or with a blazer, sweater, or vest for an elevated formal look, oxford shirts are a staple of the Preppy wardrobe.
1
STRIPED CLASSIC LONG SLEEVE SHIRT
2
LIGHT ACADEMIA CLASSIC SHIRT
not your classic oxford shirt but with a twist
3
LIGHT ACADEMIA CONTRAST SHIRT
- Pleated Skirts: Often plaid, pleated college skirts add a touch of sophistication, embodying classic femininity with a touch of youthful energy. Style them with a button-down shirt and loafers for a college-inspired look, or dress them up by pairing them with a cable knit sweater, tights, and low heels to get a classier approach.
4
SIDE SLIT COLLEGE MINI SKIRT
5
BARBIE PLEATED CARGO MINI SKIRT
- Blazer Jackets: Whether you're heading to the office or out for a night on the town, the blazer jacket has you covered. They are versatile pieces for both work and casual looks.
6
LAPEL COLLAR BLUE TWEED BLAZER
- Sweaters and Vests: Cozy up in style! Layering with classic sweater vests and argyle knitted cardigans is ideal for adding warmth to any Preppy look.
7
LIGHT ACADEMIA CLASSIC SWEATER VEST
8
PINK STRIPED KNIT CARDIGAN
- Loafers and Mary Janes: These shoes are where comfort meets chic! Mary Jane shoes and black loafer shoes the perfect finishing touch for any Preppy outfit.
9
DARK ACADEMIA MARY JANE SHOES
10
CHUNKY PLATFORM HIGH HEEL LOAFER SHOES
Don’ts
- Try to stay away from using bright and neon colors. Preppy fashion favors a more subdued and classic color palette. Navy, white, khaki, burgundy, green, brown, and pastel shades are mostly preferred. While pops of color are welcome, neon colors are generally considered too loud and clash with the refined aesthetic of Preppy style.
- Steer clear of excessively oversized clothing. The Preppy style is known for well-fitted garments. Oversized clothing can look sloppy and detract from the polished look that Preppy fashion aims to achieve.
- Refrain from using cheap materials or poorly crafted items. Avoid items made from flimsy fabrics or with poor stitching, as they won't last and won't contribute to the timeless, sophisticated look that Preppy style stands for.
- Stay away from too many visible logos. Preppy fashion is about understated chicness, not overt branding.
- Be sure that your clothes are ironed and shoes clean and polished. Wrinkled clothes and dirty shoes can ruin even the most well-put-together outfit.
Styling Tips for Preppy Fashion
|
Color Palette |
Classic colors such as white, navy blue, khaki, cream, pastel tones (pink, mint, lavender), burgundy and green |
|
Fabrics and Textures |
Natural fabrics such as cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, silk. Textures such as fluffy knits, corduroy, tweed, seersucker and chambray. |
|
Patterns |
Stripes (horizontal, vertical, Breton; a classic striped shirt is commonly preferred), plaid, argyle, houndstooth, nautical-themed patterns (anchors, stripes). |
|
Preferred Pieces |
Shirts (especially oxford shirts), polo shirts, sweaters and cardigans (puffy cable knits, crew necks, V-necks), blazers, chinos, khaki pants, pleated skirts, trench coats, dresses (shift dress, A-line dress, wrap dress). |
|
Shoes |
Loafers, boat shoes, brogues, white sneakers, ballet flats. |
|
Accessories |
Leather belts, knitted scarves, hats (baseball caps, flat caps, berets), pearl or plain gold/silver jewelry. |
Is Preppy Similar to or Different from Old Money and Light Academia?
Comparing Preppy, Old Money clothing and Light Academia clothing is like comparing three different groups of friends! Although they are all stylish in their own way, there are several differences between them. Preppy is a bit like the popular kid in a school suit who loves studying but also attends parties. Old Money is more sophisticated, a bit mysterious and has the 'rich kid' image, the calm friend. Light Academia is like the bookworm, art enthusiast, loves hiking and a bit of a mischievous student. Although they are all different, what they all have in common is that they care about elegance and quality. After checking out the table below, you are more than welcome to check our blog about types of aesthetics, that also explains Old Money and Light Academia aesthetics along with many more!
|
Feature |
Preppy |
Old Money |
Light Academia |
|
Aesthetic |
Classic, timeless, and often associated with wealth. Emphasizes quality and a chic look. |
Refined, understated, and elegant. Evokes a sense of tradition and heritage with a focus on understated luxury. |
Romantic, intellectual, and often inspired by literature and art. Emphasizes comfort and a love for the outdoors. |
|
Color Palette |
Focuses on neutral colors like navy, white, khaki, and pastels. |
Often features a muted color palette with a focus on neutrals like beige, cream, and navy. |
Soft, muted tones like cream, ivory, brown, and forest green. |
|
Silhouettes |
Clean lines, tailored fits, and classic silhouettes. |
Effortless and relaxed, with a focus on comfortable yet chic pieces. |
Flowing silhouettes, loose-fitting garments, and a focus on natural fabrics. |
|
Textures & Materials |
Prefers high-quality materials like cotton, linen, wool, and cashmere. |
Favors natural fabrics like linen, cashmere, and tweed. |
Focuses on natural fabrics like cotton, linen, and wool. Often incorporates elements like lace, embroidery, and crochet. |
|
Influences |
Inspired by Ivy League style, upper-class leisure activities, and classic American sportswear. |
Draws inspiration from European aristocracy, British countryside living, and timeless elegance. |
Inspired by literature, art, and a love for the outdoors. Often draws inspiration from historical periods like the Victorian era. |
|
Key Pieces |
Button-down shirts, chinos, blazers, loafers, and pleated skirts. |
Cashmere sweaters, tailored trousers, trench coats, and classic handbags. |
Flowing dresses, cardigans, wide-leg pants, and comfortable footwear like boots and loafers. |
|
Statement Approach |
Understated elegance and a focus on quality and timeless appeal. |
Quiet confidence and a focus on understated luxury. |
Emphasizes a love for learning and a connection to nature. |
Preppy has been around forever, and it's easy to understand why! It's quite adaptable, with options for dressing up or down, and it's popular among celebrities and fashion bloggers. So, if you're looking for a timeless and effortlessly chic style, Preppy could be your new favorite!
Whether you prefer a classic look or create your own style with a modern interpretation, it is possible to be eye-catching in any environment with a preppy style. Now it's your turn!
If the preppy style has inspired you and you're curious about other styles, don't forget to visit out fashion blogs and follow us on Instagram, TikTok, Pinterest, and YouTube. We're waiting for your comments and questions, share your style with us! Let's discover together, get inspired together!
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