"Prep" is short for "preparatory." But unless you are doing "kitchen prep" before making a meal or getting ready for a test, the word usually refers to people who look like they could belong to the elite world of American preparatory schools.
The old-time New England prep schools--Andover, Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, etc.-- modeled themselves on English "public" schools like Eton (where Prince William graduated and Prince Harry still studies). The idea was to prepare the children of wealthy, WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) families for top colleges and life in the upper crust of society.
At this point, you don't have to be a WASP or travel to New England to go to prep school, and you certainly don't need to go to "prep" school to be labeled a "prep." Nowadays, it's more about how you look: understated but classic, wearing khakis maybe, and always lots of cotton. "Preppy" fashion is famously low-key because it is inspired by a class of people who don't care to flaunt their wealth. (Except for the not-so-subtle message of wearing clothes that suggest constant skiing, tennis and sailing--and the occasional loud plaid or hot pink.)
When the term "preppy" developed in the 1960s, it was with a mix of awe and annoyance. What was not to like about the clean-cut looks and the tastes of the "old money" prep-school crowd? But they were so insular, so spoiled...
Preppy pride soared in the conservative '80s, when Lisa Birnbach published "The Official Preppy Handbook," which extolled the joys of living among the best and brightest while dressed in navy blue and kelly green. Birnbach was kind of kidding, but a backlash followed with books like "101 Uses for a Dead Preppie" and the "I Hate Preppies Handbook."
Preps and their trappings have made a lot of enemies along the way. "The Catcher in the Rye"'s Holden Caulfield railed against the "fakes" at his New England prep school and ran away to the less stifling confines of New York City. Hip-hop's embrace of Tommy Hilfiger and other preppy brands has always been part poking fun at the status quo, part appreciation of the quality.
Meanwhile, there always seems to be a preppy fashion moment around the corner...
~ This definition curtisey of the good people at www.gurl.com !
The old-time New England prep schools--Andover, Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, etc.-- modeled themselves on English "public" schools like Eton (where Prince William graduated and Prince Harry still studies). The idea was to prepare the children of wealthy, WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) families for top colleges and life in the upper crust of society.
At this point, you don't have to be a WASP or travel to New England to go to prep school, and you certainly don't need to go to "prep" school to be labeled a "prep." Nowadays, it's more about how you look: understated but classic, wearing khakis maybe, and always lots of cotton. "Preppy" fashion is famously low-key because it is inspired by a class of people who don't care to flaunt their wealth. (Except for the not-so-subtle message of wearing clothes that suggest constant skiing, tennis and sailing--and the occasional loud plaid or hot pink.)
When the term "preppy" developed in the 1960s, it was with a mix of awe and annoyance. What was not to like about the clean-cut looks and the tastes of the "old money" prep-school crowd? But they were so insular, so spoiled...
Preppy pride soared in the conservative '80s, when Lisa Birnbach published "The Official Preppy Handbook," which extolled the joys of living among the best and brightest while dressed in navy blue and kelly green. Birnbach was kind of kidding, but a backlash followed with books like "101 Uses for a Dead Preppie" and the "I Hate Preppies Handbook."
Preps and their trappings have made a lot of enemies along the way. "The Catcher in the Rye"'s Holden Caulfield railed against the "fakes" at his New England prep school and ran away to the less stifling confines of New York City. Hip-hop's embrace of Tommy Hilfiger and other preppy brands has always been part poking fun at the status quo, part appreciation of the quality.
Meanwhile, there always seems to be a preppy fashion moment around the corner...
~ This definition curtisey of the good people at www.gurl.com !
by Former President Richard Nixon January 7, 2006
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1. A style of dress that incorporates a sense of style with classic punk rock ethics.
2. A style of music made popular by the DC area rock band known as The Ashwins. This music is often influenced by the "punk" movements of the 1970's and '80's, as well as the "Pop-Punk" movement of the late 1990's and the third wave revival of ska music. Members of Prepcore bands often sport a classically clean look, with more of a raw edge.
3. An attitude which conveys a sense of self-worth, often combined with a rejection of social norms. those who sport this attitude often take great pride in the way they dress, in an effort to show that a clean cut appearance and "punk" ideals do not always cancel eachother out.
2. A style of music made popular by the DC area rock band known as The Ashwins. This music is often influenced by the "punk" movements of the 1970's and '80's, as well as the "Pop-Punk" movement of the late 1990's and the third wave revival of ska music. Members of Prepcore bands often sport a classically clean look, with more of a raw edge.
3. An attitude which conveys a sense of self-worth, often combined with a rejection of social norms. those who sport this attitude often take great pride in the way they dress, in an effort to show that a clean cut appearance and "punk" ideals do not always cancel eachother out.
by Reggie Fantastic November 9, 2005
Get the Prepcore mug.1. n. refers to the high/middle school in the city of La Cañada, CA, where various individuals learn, play, and beat other schools such as poly high school in every sport.
by George December 6, 2004
Get the flintridge prep mug.A group of people defined by another group of people. Anti-Preps are the reactionary result of preps, therefore they are a product of that which they hate. (making them hate themselves, maybe?) Neither group being better or worse then the other, only different from one another.
by SVU May 13, 2005
Get the Anti-Prep mug.A person who has a lifestyle of understated elegance, generally using good manners and who strives to achieve academic success. A true prep often buys well-made clothing that doesn't go out of fashion quickly, such as Burberry, Lacoste, better quality Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, and classic high-end clothing from companies such as Prada or Gucci. Preps DO NOT shop at Aeropostale, Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, or Hollister. True preps go to college preparatory schools for high school, then to Ivy League schools for college. A prep often strives to stay in good physical shape. Preps do not try to be ostentatious or overly conspicuous in spending habits, but they have such cars as BMWs or Mercedes Benz. It is a stereotype that all preps are sluts and whores, this is not true, and preps are usually not from new money, but from established families around the US especially the Northeastern states such as Massachusetts. There is no one type of music preps listen to. True preps are polite, and try to get along with others. Unlike goths, emos, and other sad social groups, preps try to stay happy and wear bright colors to show it.
by Matthew McRee April 6, 2007
Get the prep mug.When playing Pac-man or Ms. Pac-man, right next to a Power Pellet, you sit and wait for a ghost to come. Right before the Ghost hits you, you go for the power pellet, and quickly turn back for the Ghost. However, in the rush of playing the game, you don't quite hit the power pellet, and instead get the pac-dots in front of it, and turn around straight into the Ghost. Most often experienced with beginner players, or the impatient.
Mark's such a noob, he was going on and on about getting pinkey, only to come up with a case of PrePac-attackulation
by PyroinTheFace September 15, 2010
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