preppy

"preppy" has come to mean the opposite or "punk" or "goth"-meaning unoriginal and stuck up, which is completely unfair to the true meaning of preppy.
(so yes, those of you who define preppy as:LOVES A+F, PINK, MAKEUP,MAKING FUN OF GOTHS and CHEERLEADING!!!!! are wrong)

the definition:
"preppy" is a lifestyle; that of many well-to-do and often "waspy" families of New England and New York; most preppy teenagers have been preppy since birth; have attended private/boarding schools in New England all of their lives; enjoy sophisticated, lifelong sports such as (but not restricted to)tennis, sailing, skiing, and golf. Many live in classically preppy areas such as New Canaan, CT; the North Shore, MA; Westchester County, NY; and Greenwich, CT. Many also have second or third homes in Vermont for skiing, or Nantucket/Block Island/Cape Cod for summers.
Many are legacies at boarding schools/colleges in the North East, many are talented but party as hard as they work; Most are old money (see wasp) but there are "nouveau riche" preps who may prefer more modern customs (ie. abercrombie etc) than the timeless classics of the "wasp" lifestyle.
Preppy clothing designers include (but are not limited to):
Lilly Pulitzer, Ralph Lauren, Petit Bateau, J.Crew, Anthropologie, Patagonia, Birkinstock, Brooks Brothers, Lacoste, C.K. Bradley, L.L. Bean, the North Face, etc.
Preppy Designers do NOT include:
Abercrombie and Fitch, Express, American Eagle, The Limited, Guess, Aeropostale, etc.
HOWEVER: preppy items may be found at many of these locations (ex: nantucket red girls chinos at American Eagle)
Preppy (girls) essentials include:
ribbon belts,minimal makeup (or better, none), minimal hair styling, pearls, oxfords, polos, chinos, birkinstock clogs, sauconys, headbands, cableknit sweaters, brightly colored pants, cropped pants, jack rogers sandals, lilly pulitzer sundresses, longchamp/herve chapelier/vineyard vines/ll bean totes, patagonia fleeces, reef sandals, JCrew bathing suits, rainbow sandals,moccasins/topsiders, and many more.
preppy (boys) essentials include:
brightly colored baseball hats, rainbow sandals, Ralph Lauren polo shirts (in ALL colors- the brighter the better), nautical rope bracelets, nantucket red khakis, messy/unkempt hair (or minimal styling), other brightly colored khakis/shorts, crewneck sweaters, flannel/plaid oxfords, rope belts, striped ties, vineyard vines ties, LL bean boots, patagonia fleeces, navy blazers + khakis, topsiders, and much more.

Read the Official Preppy Handbook.

by _Kate_ February 16, 2004

Preppy

Preppies live very privileged lives (and we all know it too) and they are grateful for the opportunities given to them. They realize that not everyone lives a charmed life and are therefore not brats such as those on MTV's Super Sweet 16, but rather they acknowledge how much mom and dad have done to give them a good life, and are properly grateful.

Another defining characteristic of preppies is their work ethic. Preppies work hard for top grades and to be admitted to top-tier prep schools and colleges. The myth about daddy paying for lazy kids to go to Yale is not true. Our parents feel we should work to get to the top, and our work ethic usually pays off, which is why you find us at colleges such as Dartmouth and Yale.

There is, of course, the matter of the distinct preppy clothing style. Rather than the mall shops such as Hollister and American Eagle where the so-called "mainstream preps" shop, a real New England preppy shops at stores such as Vineyard Vines, J.Crew, Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, and Murray's. These clothes are admittedly more expensive than those found in the mall, but they are of much better quality, and therefore last longer, proving to be a smarter, better investment. The reason we can get away with wearing clothing for so long is because preppies do not follow trends. Our style of polos (collars popped essentially until marriage), khakis, topsiders, and other classic pieces has been in style for decades, and will continue to be in style for decades to come.

A preppy has been given opportunities but rather than waste them or take them for granted he or she works to earn this privilege after the fact. Class act.

by Nantucketreds0527 April 8, 2010

preppy

Obviously there is much confusion on here as to what a prep is.... I suppose this is the kind of word that can be defined by where "someone sits" so to speak. However most of the definitions here are from kids in middle class towns who describe the "cool" crowd at their school. Sorry but a kid who wears Ambercrombie and drives a Civic is not a prep. It is a lifestyle. Even if you are very rich you still may not be a prep. Preps are mostly located in lower coastal CT. Parts of Mass., Southampton, and parts of Rhode Island. Most of the kids here have never seen a true prep. The clothes of choice are Brooks Brothers, J.Crew, Burberry, Lacoste and Lily Pultizer. They usually drive BMWS, Volvos, Jeeps or Benzs. They don't wear much make up.

The A&E clad jock in a middle class public school is not a prep. He is just popular

The kid driving a vintage car draped in Polo pulling up to his families equestrian country home is.

by A prep hater August 27, 2004

preppy

Loves beach music - R&B from the 50s and 60s, dances the shag at the Carolina Grand Strand. Ladies wear colorful flats or sandals with leather soles. Summer capris with martini glasses or palm trees and matching sleeveless tops - not low cut. In winter might wear plaid culottes and Christmas tree ornament earrings. Will wear sequined tops with oceanic creatures on them. Guys wear khakis and loafers with no socks. Also very fond of sixties music.
Another summer look for ladies - sleeveless oxfords with belted khaki shorts and flip flops. Very enthusiastic, go to church and join the Junior League or other community service. Big on football and basketball and golf. Will also dance barefoot. 60s flower power also big with the ladies. Love kitchy pocketbooks. Ladies have very big smiles. The flip and the bob are popular hairstyles for ladies. Houses loaded with family antiques.

This preppy girl's favorite brands of the sixties were John Meyer, Ladybug, Villager and Papagallo. She loved the bold prints of Merimekko. And always Lily. She Carolina shagged to "Sixty Minute Man," "Under the Boardwalk," "Ms. Grace," "A Quiet Place," and "My Girl." She danced to the Tams in a former tobacco warehouse, especially "Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy."

by sandflea October 1, 2005

preppy

a southern prep: Often will wear the same thing as any other preppy person including polos, pearls, ribbons but will also include many different colors of seersucker (never after Labor Day) and cameo hats for boys often times for their state college of choice. Conservative with a lot of southern pride! Usually don't like "yankees" too much. Might go to a New England school but will probably end up at a school like UVA or UNC (the really smart ones) or another southern school like Bama, Ole Miss, Vandy, Georgia, etc. Will join a fraternity or sorority and be very active members. Many southern preppy families are inter-related. Many of the girls will be Debs and will eventually marry a nice southern gentleman. Most likely have gone hunting before. Will probably have houses either in Mississippi (Biloxi) or Sea Island or other exclusive locales like that. Often like sailing and are part of country clubs. Love southern tradition and are very set in their ways.

Richard is always such the preppy southern gentleman, and he looks so good in his cameo hat and popped collar at the UVA football games.

by Jordan L December 28, 2005

preppy

i am really amazed by lots of these entries. a lot of them seem to get the whole jist of being preppy.. but much of them don't. there really isn't even.. a certain way you have to be which a lot of these people here are saying. preppys are just normal people. just like any person, they can be nice, mean, snobby, perfect, hideous, amazing.. you can't help how you were born. being preppy is the life you were born into. typically, it means attending a prestigious private school (usually boarding) and then continuing on to a prestigious private college. it's a priveledged lifestyle. that's really all. there are tons of preppys in the world, typically, yes they do live in the northeast but if you live in a suburb of boston and then your family needs to move to.. idk.. florida.. you are still you. your preppy family has it's ways and that's how they live. also typically preppys do wear clothes from places like polo ralph lauren, lacoste, patagonia, ll bean, vineyard vines, jcrew, and anywhere! it's all about the classics. the stores i just listed are where you can get everything preppy. but you can find a classic piece at any store. just look.

being preppy is just a lifestyle.

by guesswho2 September 8, 2004

preppy

traditionally, attends a prep school; realistically, sophistocated, classic, stylish, somewhat conservative; optimistically, ridiculous, intelligent, kind; frequently blonde, fairly well-off, spends summers on the Cape; usually can be identified by clothes and car

anything polo, lacoste, burberry, maax, or lilly pulitzer; not really abercrombie; common colors include pink and green, among other pastels; accessories for girls include pearls, bows, sweaters around the neck, collars popped, ribbon belts and large "audrey hepburn" sunglasses

by mel p November 30, 2003