As a public school teacher, I can speak to this topic with some authority. The term "preppy" originally described members of old-money patrician families with traditional ties to private bording schools. They live on the East Coast or in the South, and they can afford to "summer" places.
At their best, true preps preserve the best traditions of Western Civilization. They try to be honest, humble, brave, principled and public-spirited. They wear simple, elegant, well-made clothing, and they wear it until it falls apart. The manufacturer is unimportant; true preps respect good craftsmanship, not expensive pricing. Although they wear the Classic American Wardrobe, they realize that they did not invent it (except for boat shoes... your grandfathers DID invent boat shoes), and they have no exclusive claim to it.
Classic preps with noteworthy ancestors see their forebears as people to be lived up to, rather than people to be bragged about. They recognize their privileged status, and they work to become worthy of it.
Classic preps work hard to develop both mind and body; achievement in both the classroom and on the athletic field are highly valued.
At their worst, preps are snobs. They take pride in money they didn't earn, power they don't deserve, and people they don't value. When they die they leave behind them an ocean of gin and tonic, a garage full of fine automobiles, a fantastic wardrobe, and a wasted life. It is good to appear in their will, but bad to appear in their presence.
Nowadays, though, the term commonly describes the upper strata of "popular" kids in many American highschools. I would argue that since this group vastly outnumbers traditional preppies, they perhaps have staked a greater claim to the word.
At their best, true preps preserve the best traditions of Western Civilization. They try to be honest, humble, brave, principled and public-spirited. They wear simple, elegant, well-made clothing, and they wear it until it falls apart. The manufacturer is unimportant; true preps respect good craftsmanship, not expensive pricing. Although they wear the Classic American Wardrobe, they realize that they did not invent it (except for boat shoes... your grandfathers DID invent boat shoes), and they have no exclusive claim to it.
Classic preps with noteworthy ancestors see their forebears as people to be lived up to, rather than people to be bragged about. They recognize their privileged status, and they work to become worthy of it.
Classic preps work hard to develop both mind and body; achievement in both the classroom and on the athletic field are highly valued.
At their worst, preps are snobs. They take pride in money they didn't earn, power they don't deserve, and people they don't value. When they die they leave behind them an ocean of gin and tonic, a garage full of fine automobiles, a fantastic wardrobe, and a wasted life. It is good to appear in their will, but bad to appear in their presence.
Nowadays, though, the term commonly describes the upper strata of "popular" kids in many American highschools. I would argue that since this group vastly outnumbers traditional preppies, they perhaps have staked a greater claim to the word.
See that kid with the black pants, the nose ring and the mohawk? Instead of shoving him into a locker, I think I'll introduce myself and shake his hand, because I'm a true preppy.
by David Medlock September 16, 2005
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Apparently, a group of wealthy Americans with surplus money and lesiure time, possessing an incredible ability to write lovingly about themselves.
by scose January 13, 2005
Get the preppy mug.A person having the qualities of dressing like a prep, but having the personality of a douchebag. Basically, the stereotypical asshole that has a closet full of striped shirts and cargo shorts (or faded jeans). Hair gel and a necklace are optional but popular accessories.
My roommate went shopping at American Eagle today and he's still an asshole. What a Preppy McDouchebag!
by pfizzle603 April 4, 2008
Get the Preppy McDouchebag mug.Preppy Sally is based off the phrase prep-rally. It was determined that there are two reasons for prep-rallies. A) to watch the 'hot cheerleaders' and the 'jocks' and B) to waste our lives away watching popular people show off. The phrase Preppy Sally was coined as a formal way of saying who the cheerleaders really are that we would watch at the prep-rally.
Formal way of saying bitch.
Formal way of saying bitch.
"We need a Preppy Sally at the office, she'd take care of anything we'd want her to."
"Now that cheerleader is a Preppy Sally!"
"Now that cheerleader is a Preppy Sally!"
by Bray Dagner October 14, 2005
Get the Preppy Sally mug.Someone who has good grades, but also still makes time for friends and good times. They do wear glasses, but the type that you see in magazines not on harry potter. They own high socks and sweater vests, but at the same time they do not scare away all of the male species by making it look like a fashion disaster. They manage to look quirky, instead of a social leper.
Man she's a preppy nerd, I'd whisk her away from the library.
She's actually out partying, she must be a preppy nerd, not a grosse nerd.
I'm in love with a preppy nerd, she may be smart, but she's hot.
She's actually out partying, she must be a preppy nerd, not a grosse nerd.
I'm in love with a preppy nerd, she may be smart, but she's hot.
by smileyface07 October 9, 2010
Get the preppy nerd mug.Preppy girls and boys who sometimes sport Ramones t-shirts because Carson Daily made punk rock cool. They have no concept of punk rock, the punk attitude, or anything associated with it. All they know is that Skyler in sophomore English class is way hot, and he wears a Fall Out Boy shirt and sings in a band called "As My Eyelashes Turn To Dust and Blow Away in the Summer Winds."
Michelle started wearing a My Chemical Romance shirt when she saw Maddy in her bio class wearing one. She couldn't find one at Abercrombie though, so she had get it elsewhere. Her parents were worried, but Michelle promised she'd always remain a preppy punk for her love Maddy.
by Eric in NE April 13, 2006
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