Most of the best definitions of preppy have emphasized Northern or New England birthrite preppies, but let's not forget about Southern preppies, as in folks living in Mountain Brook, Alabama, or the West End, Virginia, or the Garden District in Louisiana, or Buckhead, Georgia, or Belle Meade, Tennessee (if you've never heard of these Old Guard, old-money, preppy southern suburbs, than you're not a birthrite prep). Southern preppies wear most of the same classic clothes and styles as their northern cousins, including Lacoste, Lilly, L.L. Bean, Vineyard vines, Topsiders, Brooks Brothers, tevas, Polo, and especially Patagonia (shorts and fleece are key for guys). And the more monograms, the better. Girls love grosgrain and totes from Vineyard Vines and Bean. They also like outerwear by Barbour, Cole-Haan bit loafers, and wallobies by Clark. Southern preppy girls have straight, shoulder length hair. Their preppy mothers and grandmothers may have stiff, helmut hairstyles that haven't changed in decades. Preppy guys have longish, shaggy, wind blown hair. So do their daddies. They look so much alike. Preppy Southerners would attend day schools such as Altamont or Westminster or Harpeth Hall or boarding schools such as Woodberry Forest or Baylor or Foxcroft or Madiera, rather than a New England prep school. For college, they may attend state schools such as Bama or UVA or UNC or private colleges such as Vanderbilt or W&L or Hamden-Sydney (the preppiest school in the country according to Lisa Birnbach). And they will almost always join a fraternity or sorority. Preppy families live in historic or historic looking houses in nice, woodsy neighborhoods, that are comfortable in size but never ostentatious (no electronic gates!) Inside, family antiques, silver, china and portraits are found and all rooms are always used. It is an elegant yet comfortable environment. Southern preppies and their families belong to private town clubs and country clubs such as the Piedmont Driving Club of Atlanta, the Commonwealth Club of Richmond, and the Mountain Brook Club of Birmingham. Southern preppy families don't emphasize cars as status, but typically drive volvo wagons, mercedes sedans, Jeep Cherokees, Hondas, and sometimes SUVs (although they feel guilty about them!). It is more important to have money in the bank than in the driveway! Southern preppies enjoy sports such as tennis, sailing, soccer, lacrosse, and golf, but also quail hunting (in season) and attend Steeplechases in Virginia, Tennessee and Georgia. And they love to watch and attend college football games in fall. Tailgate parties! While some southern preppies journey northwards to summer on Martha's Vineyard or in Maine, most old southern families summer on Sea Island or St. Simmons's Island in Georgia, the mountain towns of Linville and Highlands in North Carolina, or the north Georgia lakes of Lake Rabun and Lake Burton. Southern preppies believe strongly in giving back to the community and are active members of their church, sit on symphony and museum boards, volunteer at children's hospitals, and run historic preservation societies. In fact, most old-family southern debutantes are required to participate in volunteer work during their debut season. Old-family, southern debutante balls are still important and traditional rites of passage for southern preppy girls as debs and preppy boys as escorts or marshalls. All southern preppies seem to know one another and have a large group of friends and acquaintances. Southern preppies have large, extended families and lots of cousins. They always go to the family country place for Thanksgiving and play football and ride horses. Preppy as a fashion trend may come and go, by preppy as a lifestyle will always continue and exist, and probably more so in the South than elsewhere. Remember: the Virginia colonies were settled by England before Massachusetts and the rest of New England. And Virginia is very prep.
Kappa Sigma at Hampden-Sydney is full of blond, shaggy hair guys who play lacrosse and are from Buckhead.
by Alex September 22, 2004
Someone who is preppy appreciates classic, conservative clothing. Contrary to popular teenage misconceptions, preppy people do not wear Abercrombie and Fitch, GAP, American Eagle; these clothes are trendy and entirely too flashy/showy for a true prep. Rather, traditionally preppy people wear Lilly Pulitzer, Polo Ralph Lauren, Lacoste, Brooks Brothers, or L.L. Bean. Preppy girls favor simple clothing and jewelry; polo shirts with the collar popped, simple sundresses with a cardigan tied round the neck, or ribbon belts. Preppy males also wear polo shirts with the collar popped, appreciate the simple polished asthetic of khakis, and generally do not dress like slobs.
"Doesn't Elizabth's pink polo shirt with the popped collar look nice?" whispered Robert, fingering his own khakis, and adjusting his tie.
by Pink and Green February 17, 2004
Preppy is a dress style, a social culture and a way of life. Preppies have been around a long time. Their dress style and much of their way of life has changed only slightly since the 1950’s. While sometimes assumed to be rich, snobs, most preppies I know are very down to earth and nice.
My mother tells me that in the 1950s preppies were upper class kids who wore kilts, cashmere sweaters, madras plaid and Bass penny loafers. Name brands really were not the focus as much as quality. She attended private “prep” schools and attended debutante balls.
By the 1980s, when I was in college, the “Preppy Handbook” was published and preppy became all the rage and mainstream America embraced the look. True preppy kids still attended private schools, belonged to country clubs and enjoyed sports like sailing, golf, and lacrosse. The clothes that were in were more “matronly” than today’s preppy styles but certain brands became status symbols. Preps wore Polo shirts with the collar up (Izod Lacoste or Ralph Lauren), plaid wool kilts with knee socks and Bass penny loafers, Talbot’s, Lilly, Papagallo changeable purses, Pierre Deux purses, Nantucket reds, (guy shorts), kakis, LL Bean (especially the Bean Boots and blue and white checked sweater), ribbon belts, Brooks Brothers, Verne or Ray ban sunglasses, Timberland boots, Tretorns and and Sperry topsiders. Whales, ducks and the nautical theme were on everything from clothes to glasses. Mercedes, Volvo or BMW were and still are the cars of choice along with the Jeep Vagoneer with a wood panel which preceded today’s SUV. Older homes decorated in antiques and old chince were where they lived. Preppy names were popular. I even named my cat Muffy. Southern preps liked to “shag” to the 60’s oldies.
Today, my daughter, Caroline is also prep who attends The Norwood School in Bethesda, MD. Her friends belong to local country clubs with Chevy Chase Club being the preppiest, they attend Ms Simpson’s Dance Class which leads to cotillion and many summer in preppy locals like The Vineyard. Sports are still a popular past time for her group especially lacrosse, field hockey, golf and tennis. In the early 2000s Preppy again became mainstream. Stores such as American eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch (not to be confused with the original Abercrombie & Fitch that was a very expensive upscale store in the 1980s in Georgetown) were established. These stores are a more more sexy interpretation of preppy made for the common consumer and are not truly preppy. Caroline and her friends wears some of this stuff but prefers J Crew, the new Lilly Pulitzer (only recently started up again and more stylish), Vineyard Vines, Polo, Black Dog shirts, Lacoste (no longer Izod Lacoste), Tiffany silver, ribbon belts, head bands, CK Bradley (the new Pierre Deux), Eliza B flops, ribbons in their hair, colorful clear water bottles, canvas totes, clothes picked up from boutiques while on vacation or from private boy’s schools like Landon. The preppy designers go on and on and are more plentiful than in my days. In the DC area some younger preps occasionally spice up their wardrobe with designer duds like 7 for all Mankind and Juicy, but wear it in a more conservative way.
So, as time goes by and clothing styles change, for many the “preppy style” will go out of style again. For true preps it never goes out of style. Preppy means a happy, fun life as well as a great wardrobe!
My mother tells me that in the 1950s preppies were upper class kids who wore kilts, cashmere sweaters, madras plaid and Bass penny loafers. Name brands really were not the focus as much as quality. She attended private “prep” schools and attended debutante balls.
By the 1980s, when I was in college, the “Preppy Handbook” was published and preppy became all the rage and mainstream America embraced the look. True preppy kids still attended private schools, belonged to country clubs and enjoyed sports like sailing, golf, and lacrosse. The clothes that were in were more “matronly” than today’s preppy styles but certain brands became status symbols. Preps wore Polo shirts with the collar up (Izod Lacoste or Ralph Lauren), plaid wool kilts with knee socks and Bass penny loafers, Talbot’s, Lilly, Papagallo changeable purses, Pierre Deux purses, Nantucket reds, (guy shorts), kakis, LL Bean (especially the Bean Boots and blue and white checked sweater), ribbon belts, Brooks Brothers, Verne or Ray ban sunglasses, Timberland boots, Tretorns and and Sperry topsiders. Whales, ducks and the nautical theme were on everything from clothes to glasses. Mercedes, Volvo or BMW were and still are the cars of choice along with the Jeep Vagoneer with a wood panel which preceded today’s SUV. Older homes decorated in antiques and old chince were where they lived. Preppy names were popular. I even named my cat Muffy. Southern preps liked to “shag” to the 60’s oldies.
Today, my daughter, Caroline is also prep who attends The Norwood School in Bethesda, MD. Her friends belong to local country clubs with Chevy Chase Club being the preppiest, they attend Ms Simpson’s Dance Class which leads to cotillion and many summer in preppy locals like The Vineyard. Sports are still a popular past time for her group especially lacrosse, field hockey, golf and tennis. In the early 2000s Preppy again became mainstream. Stores such as American eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch (not to be confused with the original Abercrombie & Fitch that was a very expensive upscale store in the 1980s in Georgetown) were established. These stores are a more more sexy interpretation of preppy made for the common consumer and are not truly preppy. Caroline and her friends wears some of this stuff but prefers J Crew, the new Lilly Pulitzer (only recently started up again and more stylish), Vineyard Vines, Polo, Black Dog shirts, Lacoste (no longer Izod Lacoste), Tiffany silver, ribbon belts, head bands, CK Bradley (the new Pierre Deux), Eliza B flops, ribbons in their hair, colorful clear water bottles, canvas totes, clothes picked up from boutiques while on vacation or from private boy’s schools like Landon. The preppy designers go on and on and are more plentiful than in my days. In the DC area some younger preps occasionally spice up their wardrobe with designer duds like 7 for all Mankind and Juicy, but wear it in a more conservative way.
So, as time goes by and clothing styles change, for many the “preppy style” will go out of style again. For true preps it never goes out of style. Preppy means a happy, fun life as well as a great wardrobe!
by Holly S September 15, 2005
a lot of these people are right, but a lot are wrong...I'll set the record straight...this definition comes from a TRUE prep-one who has summered in Nantucket for 12 years, and who goes to a top New England boarding school. A prep is usually waspy, but doesn't have to be. Some of the peppiest people I know live "new money" communities like Potomac, MD and Chevy Chase, MD. Preppiness is not just a particular clothing style, it is a lifestyle as well (I know everyone on here says that, but it's true). A preppy guy wears Vineyard Vines boxers, belts, and ties, Patagonia and The North Face fleeces, Birkenstock clogs, Rainbow and Reef flip flops, J Crew pants and critter shorts, Ralph Lauren seersucker/embroidered pants, Brooks Brothers ties and blazers, Ralph Lauren polo and oxford shirts in literally every color, a favorite is lime green with a pink Polo player icon, CK Bradley/CJ Laing/J. McLaughlin/Maax ribbon/needle pointed belts, Tiffany and Co monogrammed money clips and belt buckles, North Face backpacks, Ralph Lauren chino shorts and cable knit cashmere sweaters, LOTS of Lacoste shirts and Lacoste rugbys, Ralph Lauren rugbys, L.L. Bean Boots and moccasins, and Lilly Pulitzer/CJ Laing ties and bathing suits (yeah they're bright and kind of fruity, but that’s the point). Also worn are Sperry topsiders and Barbour jackets. Aviator sunglasses complete the look. Preppy girls dress basically the same as the guys, with some more designer items, like Seven jeans and Gucci sunglasses/horse bit loafers. Preps don’t always pop their collars, as now absolutely everyone is doing it in a vain attempt to be truly preppy. Sweaters are still tied around the neck, but less frequently. Preps would never go to a mall, and if that is the only shopping center near by, then Neimans and Saks are ok. Americana Manhasset is the only acceptable “mall,” if you will.
One thing that irritates me is when snotty Abercrombie wannabe preps call themselves preppy just because they wear a trashy shirt and like pink shorts. That stuff can make someone look put together, but it’s not preppy. Favorite prep activities include hunting, tailgating, playing tennis/lacrosse/sailing/squash/field hockey. Another prep pastime includes getting drunk on the vodka from Daddy’s liquor cabinet or sneaking some at the club. Preps summer in Maine, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and sometimes travel abroad. Preppy colleges include Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Trinity, Colorado College, Bowdoin, etc. Preps grow up and marry other female preps who are like them. Preps are really nice, get to know some and you’ll see. They are never snobby, the snobby people are the fake preps who blast rap and drive around in heinous “tricked out” cars and wear Abercrombie, the skankiest brand at the mall. So go to a Dave Matthews or OAR concert, take a trip to Nantucket, or just walk down the street, and you will encounter some really nice preppy people.
One thing that irritates me is when snotty Abercrombie wannabe preps call themselves preppy just because they wear a trashy shirt and like pink shorts. That stuff can make someone look put together, but it’s not preppy. Favorite prep activities include hunting, tailgating, playing tennis/lacrosse/sailing/squash/field hockey. Another prep pastime includes getting drunk on the vodka from Daddy’s liquor cabinet or sneaking some at the club. Preps summer in Maine, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, and sometimes travel abroad. Preppy colleges include Princeton, Yale, Harvard, Dartmouth, Trinity, Colorado College, Bowdoin, etc. Preps grow up and marry other female preps who are like them. Preps are really nice, get to know some and you’ll see. They are never snobby, the snobby people are the fake preps who blast rap and drive around in heinous “tricked out” cars and wear Abercrombie, the skankiest brand at the mall. So go to a Dave Matthews or OAR concert, take a trip to Nantucket, or just walk down the street, and you will encounter some really nice preppy people.
Biff walked into class late, but he looked awesome in his seersucker shorts, Rainbow flip flops, Maax belt, and Ralph Lauren polo shirt.
by A. Wasp February 10, 2005
Prep's dont have to come from old money or go to private schools or academy's like they usually do. Preps usually vacation on Nantucket Island, Martha's Vineyard, The Cape, Hamptons, Delray, and Maine. Prep's vacation homes are most likely on the east coast vacationing at spots such as VT to go skiing otherwise houses are at the beach.
Prep's don't buy stuff at malls, they usually stick to going to small store's maybe in Greenwich or New Caanan. If you wear american eagle, abercrombie and fitch, Hollister, or any of the "trendy and in" clothing stores you are not a prep.The only time you will see a prep shopping at stores such as american eagle is when they aren't going to be going to Murray's for a while and they need another pair of nantucket reds. True prep's shop at Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Vinyard Vines, Lilly pulitzer, Petit Bateau, north face, barbour,birkenstocks, CK Bradley, Brooke Brothers, J. Crew, eliza b, Patagonia, L.L. Bean for their totebags which almost every prep owns. Prep's carry around their school stuff in tote bags from L.L. bean, vineyard vines, long champ, herve chapelier, and maybe a vera bradley tote. Prep's never wear short skirts or shorts. We wear patterns such as madras and seersucker, We wear khakis and jeans made by blue cult or seven but not limited to these brands. We wear usually wear light colors but tend to wear brighter ones towards the summertime.
Prep's wear very classical jewlery such as pearls and diamond studs, we wear tiffany's jewlery, such as the beaded sterling silver bracelet, we don't usually go for the most popular style's at tiffany's like the sterling silver tiffany's bracelet and necklace that advertise tiffanys on it we usually go for the initial necklace that has your first inital letter or even the starfish necklace that they have there anything cute and simple but never tacky.
Prep's never wear alot of makeup the less the better, we never look tired, even though we party as hard as we work,
our hair is always neat and straight and long, if your hair is curly we get it permantly straightened or try and staighten it everyday hair is usually worn down however, preps wear their hair up with cute grosgrain ribbons.
Prep's are usually but not always active people, we play sports such as lacrosse, field hockey, sailing, golf, hockey, baseball.
Prep's usually wear classic perfumes made by chanel or mainly perfumes by Ralph Lauren
preps own:
*birkenstock clogs and sandals
*jack rogers
*a variety of polos from lilly, polo, lacoste, and other
*pearls
*ribbon
*khakis
*ribbon belts
*cable knit sweaters
*headbands
*eliza b sandals
*eliza b belts
*crocs
*long champ bags
*sunglasses, usually big chanel or dior ones
*anything nautical
Prep's usually drive nice cars such as landrover's, discovery, range rover, and defenders, they also drive BMW's and merecedes
REMEMBER....
PREPPY IS A LIFESTYLE NOT A TREND
being preppy will never go out of style
you cant just pop your collar and be preppy
Prep's don't buy stuff at malls, they usually stick to going to small store's maybe in Greenwich or New Caanan. If you wear american eagle, abercrombie and fitch, Hollister, or any of the "trendy and in" clothing stores you are not a prep.The only time you will see a prep shopping at stores such as american eagle is when they aren't going to be going to Murray's for a while and they need another pair of nantucket reds. True prep's shop at Lacoste, Ralph Lauren, Vinyard Vines, Lilly pulitzer, Petit Bateau, north face, barbour,birkenstocks, CK Bradley, Brooke Brothers, J. Crew, eliza b, Patagonia, L.L. Bean for their totebags which almost every prep owns. Prep's carry around their school stuff in tote bags from L.L. bean, vineyard vines, long champ, herve chapelier, and maybe a vera bradley tote. Prep's never wear short skirts or shorts. We wear patterns such as madras and seersucker, We wear khakis and jeans made by blue cult or seven but not limited to these brands. We wear usually wear light colors but tend to wear brighter ones towards the summertime.
Prep's wear very classical jewlery such as pearls and diamond studs, we wear tiffany's jewlery, such as the beaded sterling silver bracelet, we don't usually go for the most popular style's at tiffany's like the sterling silver tiffany's bracelet and necklace that advertise tiffanys on it we usually go for the initial necklace that has your first inital letter or even the starfish necklace that they have there anything cute and simple but never tacky.
Prep's never wear alot of makeup the less the better, we never look tired, even though we party as hard as we work,
our hair is always neat and straight and long, if your hair is curly we get it permantly straightened or try and staighten it everyday hair is usually worn down however, preps wear their hair up with cute grosgrain ribbons.
Prep's are usually but not always active people, we play sports such as lacrosse, field hockey, sailing, golf, hockey, baseball.
Prep's usually wear classic perfumes made by chanel or mainly perfumes by Ralph Lauren
preps own:
*birkenstock clogs and sandals
*jack rogers
*a variety of polos from lilly, polo, lacoste, and other
*pearls
*ribbon
*khakis
*ribbon belts
*cable knit sweaters
*headbands
*eliza b sandals
*eliza b belts
*crocs
*long champ bags
*sunglasses, usually big chanel or dior ones
*anything nautical
Prep's usually drive nice cars such as landrover's, discovery, range rover, and defenders, they also drive BMW's and merecedes
REMEMBER....
PREPPY IS A LIFESTYLE NOT A TREND
being preppy will never go out of style
you cant just pop your collar and be preppy
by ateggs February 20, 2006
A preppy person is someone who is classic and conservative. True preps attend some sort of private school. They don't have to have loads of money but basically all of them are at least "well-off". One can find preps shopping at store like J.Crew and Ralph Lauren because they have classic styles. Preps do own clothes from Abercrombie and American Eagle, but only certain things like sweaters and capris. They do NOT wear provacative clothing or really tighting fitting jeans. Most of them are relativly smart and athletic. Their friends and family are proud of them. They are polite, but still know how to have a good time when they go out with their friends! One can count on a true prep to be respectful.
"Wow look at that girl, she is really nicely put together!"
"Yea I know, and she is very classy too."
"Yea I know, and she is very classy too."
by Jen June 17, 2004
A prep is typically a well-educated, good-looking person who comes from a solid, well-established, "old-money" family. Preps lean towards conservatism, and generally are well-dressed and buttoned-down in public. A prep is inclined to wear clothes from Brooks, Lacoste, J. Crew, and Lily Pulitzer - NOT Abercrombie or American Eagle, as some non-preps believe. A prep is usually an all around good guy (or girl) and would be unlikely to brag about their status or wealth. Preps shouldn't be characterized as spoiled underachievers - if they were, where would top-tier schools like Princeton get their preppy reputations? Colleges and universites are becoming more democratic each year; an unqualified student wouldn't gain admittance on family wealth alone. People who bash preps have probably only had contact with the A & F, A & E kind of wannabe-prep - and in many cases I would agree with their comments. But a true prep is far more understated; they would drive a Volkswagen GTI over a Cadillac, vacation on the Vineyard or on Bermuda rather than on St. Bart's, favor subtlety over ostentation. The people on this site who don't like preps are either jealous or haven't actually met a real one.
Muffy and Bif spent much of the summer drinking G & T's and playing tennis at the preppy club in Old Lyme.
by Chip April 14, 2004