first of all, there are basically two types of preppy. while both date back to the original root of the preppy style. there is an east coast prep, and a west coast prep.
both of these types of preppy go back to the original polo shirts like lacoste, lilly pulitzer, ralph lauren, jcrew and other brands.
l.l. bean, lands end and patagonia are also preppy favorites.
while some west coast preps do shop at baercrombie, it's not for any tight or revealing clothing. it's for basic slimt fit chinos, nice skirts and oxfords. preppy does not mean snobby, and rich although most preps are from well off families.
preps are not mean, condescending people.
we often play sports like lacrosse, golf and tennis.
and while most of us do drive nice cars, and do pop our collars (without a crease, of course) we are not mean and rude to people.
a true prep respects everyone and is well mannered.
many times we volunteer our time to charity and helping the less fortunate.
more importantly we must always look collected and neat, have good manners and NEVER reduce ourselves to making fun of others.
most preps go to a private school, like myself, and stay with the classic preppy looking never trading it in, but sometimes it's nice to add something to the classic look.
anyway, people need to stop saying preps ONLY wear abercrombie and that stuff because actually, most of us don't.
we are not snobby as MANY of you have tried to say, if you get to know a prep we're actually really nice.
we love ribbons in our hair, printed belts, jane fox flip-flops and most importantly tote bags!
you all should really give preps a chance before you judge them as self centered rich kids!
both of these types of preppy go back to the original polo shirts like lacoste, lilly pulitzer, ralph lauren, jcrew and other brands.
l.l. bean, lands end and patagonia are also preppy favorites.
while some west coast preps do shop at baercrombie, it's not for any tight or revealing clothing. it's for basic slimt fit chinos, nice skirts and oxfords. preppy does not mean snobby, and rich although most preps are from well off families.
preps are not mean, condescending people.
we often play sports like lacrosse, golf and tennis.
and while most of us do drive nice cars, and do pop our collars (without a crease, of course) we are not mean and rude to people.
a true prep respects everyone and is well mannered.
many times we volunteer our time to charity and helping the less fortunate.
more importantly we must always look collected and neat, have good manners and NEVER reduce ourselves to making fun of others.
most preps go to a private school, like myself, and stay with the classic preppy looking never trading it in, but sometimes it's nice to add something to the classic look.
anyway, people need to stop saying preps ONLY wear abercrombie and that stuff because actually, most of us don't.
we are not snobby as MANY of you have tried to say, if you get to know a prep we're actually really nice.
we love ribbons in our hair, printed belts, jane fox flip-flops and most importantly tote bags!
you all should really give preps a chance before you judge them as self centered rich kids!
catie looked super chic prep in her sky blue lacoste polo (collar up, no doubt!), khaki chinos and vera bradley tote, and the ribbons in her hair totally accentuated the look.
by bri August 17, 2004
Although there are numerous definitions of "preps" from America, i would like to subject people to the English preps. Like their international counterparts, the English Preps often come from Old-money backgrounds. Some may live on larger farms, or have extensive estates, they may indeed live in manor houses. they are less conservative than the description of the americans, and often like to do sports such as lacrosse, polo, tennis etc. before the Ban, many preps would also enjoy hunting.
by Gorgeous trumps everything May 3, 2006
A true "Preppy" is an individual that has or had the privilege of attending a private or preparatory high school in preparation for college. Examples of prep schools on the east cost include Exeter and Handover and on the west coast include Harvard-Westlake, Flintridge Prep, and Poly Pasadena. Those that are not currently attending a prep/private school or are not alumni/alumnae of a prep/private school and just try to dress the part are by most definitions a wannabe.
by TheSeven July 28, 2011
adjective
This word found its start with the term "Prep School", or preperatory school, which is an elite high school where teenagers live in dormitories on campus. (i.e. Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts - shout out to all my girls at PA!!!) Since these schools are populated by a particular class of people, with a particular style, the adjective PREPPY emerged.
'Preppy' can refer to members of a certain social class, but can also be more generally used as description of personal style.
In terms of style, the stereotype is a mixture of pink-and-green. Pants are typically khakis, Nantucket Reds, and, for men, often khaki-cotton-material in bright neon colors such as pink and lime green. The epitome of preppy pants are the latter, decorated by a pattern of sewn-in whales of a darker contrasting shade. Classic button-down shirts, usually solid or striped, are common, as well as solid and striped polos. The collars of the polo shirts are always "popped", or turned up instead of folded over. Often, polos of different colors are layered, the one on the bottom matching the skirt/pants, the belt, or the headband. Flip-flops are the coup de grace, no matter what the weather. However, when our toes are absolutely freezing off, we wear Uggs, with the tops folded over to expose the fur and our jeans tucked in. We wear v-neck cable-knits and argyles over button-downs. North Face jackets are a must. Pearls are best for jewelry. Excess hair products, jewelry, and make-up is frowned upon. Accessories include Nalgene bottles and tote bags.
In terms of the lifestyle, "preps", or preppy people, typically live in the New England area. They usually belong to Yacht Clubs, Beach Clubs, or Country Clubs, depending on which crowd they run with (i.e. The Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts). Their children go to private elementary and middle schools, and are attended by foreign female au pairs, to keep them out of their parents' way until they can be shipped off to boarding school (not that we mind much). They dress in preppy clothes (see above), and spend much of their time shopping to find them. The Jewish kids among them throw fabulous bar mitzvahs during middle school, and if the WASPs and Catholic kids get jealous, we throw even more fabulous Sweet Sixteens, which are similar to bar mitzvahs escept with less religion and more liquor. We all know each other. All of us. I know, it's hard to believe, but somehow we are all intermarried, or at least have some mutual friends. The women are either housewives on committees and boards and things, or they are incredibly successful professionals, like partners in a law firm or the head neurosurgeon at a hospital. The fathers make lots of money, and are always gone on business, and play lots of golf. Acceptable sports are lacrosse, soccer, crew, polo, and sometimes water polo. We are either radically liberal (like my family) or radically conservative, but we don't discuss politics unless everyone in the room is on the same side. We will all get into an Ivy League school. This is a necessity. We summer on the Cape, or the Hamptons, or Nantucket. We spend March break in Atlantis and Cancun and other trendy resorts. Contrary to popular belief, not all preppy people are wealthy - but the more money you have, the easier it is to fulfill the lifestyle and to enjoy its benefits.
This word found its start with the term "Prep School", or preperatory school, which is an elite high school where teenagers live in dormitories on campus. (i.e. Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts - shout out to all my girls at PA!!!) Since these schools are populated by a particular class of people, with a particular style, the adjective PREPPY emerged.
'Preppy' can refer to members of a certain social class, but can also be more generally used as description of personal style.
In terms of style, the stereotype is a mixture of pink-and-green. Pants are typically khakis, Nantucket Reds, and, for men, often khaki-cotton-material in bright neon colors such as pink and lime green. The epitome of preppy pants are the latter, decorated by a pattern of sewn-in whales of a darker contrasting shade. Classic button-down shirts, usually solid or striped, are common, as well as solid and striped polos. The collars of the polo shirts are always "popped", or turned up instead of folded over. Often, polos of different colors are layered, the one on the bottom matching the skirt/pants, the belt, or the headband. Flip-flops are the coup de grace, no matter what the weather. However, when our toes are absolutely freezing off, we wear Uggs, with the tops folded over to expose the fur and our jeans tucked in. We wear v-neck cable-knits and argyles over button-downs. North Face jackets are a must. Pearls are best for jewelry. Excess hair products, jewelry, and make-up is frowned upon. Accessories include Nalgene bottles and tote bags.
In terms of the lifestyle, "preps", or preppy people, typically live in the New England area. They usually belong to Yacht Clubs, Beach Clubs, or Country Clubs, depending on which crowd they run with (i.e. The Eastern Yacht Club in Marblehead, Massachusetts). Their children go to private elementary and middle schools, and are attended by foreign female au pairs, to keep them out of their parents' way until they can be shipped off to boarding school (not that we mind much). They dress in preppy clothes (see above), and spend much of their time shopping to find them. The Jewish kids among them throw fabulous bar mitzvahs during middle school, and if the WASPs and Catholic kids get jealous, we throw even more fabulous Sweet Sixteens, which are similar to bar mitzvahs escept with less religion and more liquor. We all know each other. All of us. I know, it's hard to believe, but somehow we are all intermarried, or at least have some mutual friends. The women are either housewives on committees and boards and things, or they are incredibly successful professionals, like partners in a law firm or the head neurosurgeon at a hospital. The fathers make lots of money, and are always gone on business, and play lots of golf. Acceptable sports are lacrosse, soccer, crew, polo, and sometimes water polo. We are either radically liberal (like my family) or radically conservative, but we don't discuss politics unless everyone in the room is on the same side. We will all get into an Ivy League school. This is a necessity. We summer on the Cape, or the Hamptons, or Nantucket. We spend March break in Atlantis and Cancun and other trendy resorts. Contrary to popular belief, not all preppy people are wealthy - but the more money you have, the easier it is to fulfill the lifestyle and to enjoy its benefits.
The taller girl snorted out a laugh, and her nose ring wobbled a little as her face settled into a derisive sneer. "Look," she said derisively, her voice deliberately too loud, "the preps are slumming it on our side of town." The group looked up at the sound of her voice, scowling back at her triumphant smile. They looked like they had just stepped out of a J. Crew catalog, but were beginning to get the distinct impression that they took a wrong turn and ended up in hell.
by PA gal February 12, 2005
A true prep can very easily tell the difference between a real prep, and fake one. Most true preps attend private school, or at least have multiple family members that did. Most preppies come from WASP families. Don't think that just because you shop at J. Crew that you can be preppy. It's a lifestyle.
Preppies do tend to shop at L.L. Bean, Lands End, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, and more. Preppies buy into these stores because of the better quality and appearance. Some common preppy shoes are top-siders (the classic sperry's), penny loafers, L.L. Bean boots, ribbon flip-flops, and others.
Preppies tend to vacation on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and in Maine. They go there every summer and probably have houses there. Preppies usually don't say the full name of such places. For example they will say they are going to "Newport", "Edgartown", or even "I'm flying into ACK". Preppies love the outdoors and playing preppy sports, like lacrosse.
Preppies DO NOT:
- wear over-revealing or skin tight clothing
- pop their collars (this is debated but if you really are a TRUE prep, it is fine to pop your collar but for any semi-preps or fake preps you seem to be trying too hard and end up looking like a douche.)
- Wear an excessive amount of make-up ("less is more")
- Vacation at places like the Jersey Shore
- Talk about being preppy.
Preppies do tend to shop at L.L. Bean, Lands End, J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, and more. Preppies buy into these stores because of the better quality and appearance. Some common preppy shoes are top-siders (the classic sperry's), penny loafers, L.L. Bean boots, ribbon flip-flops, and others.
Preppies tend to vacation on Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, and in Maine. They go there every summer and probably have houses there. Preppies usually don't say the full name of such places. For example they will say they are going to "Newport", "Edgartown", or even "I'm flying into ACK". Preppies love the outdoors and playing preppy sports, like lacrosse.
Preppies DO NOT:
- wear over-revealing or skin tight clothing
- pop their collars (this is debated but if you really are a TRUE prep, it is fine to pop your collar but for any semi-preps or fake preps you seem to be trying too hard and end up looking like a douche.)
- Wear an excessive amount of make-up ("less is more")
- Vacation at places like the Jersey Shore
- Talk about being preppy.
True Preppy: Hey, I like your nantucket reds and top-siders.
Fake Preppy: What are nantucket reds? And do you mean my sperry's?
True Prep: Nantucket reds are your red shorts. So you told me you sail- where is your yacht club? I have a couple friends at EYC.
Fake Prep- Oh my club's on the jersey shore. Where is EYC?
True Prep- It's the Edgartown Yacht Club.
Fake Prep- Oh. I knew that. Are you in boarding school?
True Prep- Yeah, I'm at Deerfield. How about you?
Fake Prep- No I'm in public school.
True Prep- Oh but both your parents went to private school right?
Fake Prep- No. (A semi-prep would say yes)
True Prep-Well I got to go to lax practice, see you around
Fake Preppy: What are nantucket reds? And do you mean my sperry's?
True Prep: Nantucket reds are your red shorts. So you told me you sail- where is your yacht club? I have a couple friends at EYC.
Fake Prep- Oh my club's on the jersey shore. Where is EYC?
True Prep- It's the Edgartown Yacht Club.
Fake Prep- Oh. I knew that. Are you in boarding school?
True Prep- Yeah, I'm at Deerfield. How about you?
Fake Prep- No I'm in public school.
True Prep- Oh but both your parents went to private school right?
Fake Prep- No. (A semi-prep would say yes)
True Prep-Well I got to go to lax practice, see you around
by ellie12 May 2, 2011
I agree with most of the definitions. Preps always have to have there collars popped, they need to wear brands such as Lacoste, Ralph Lauren polo, Lilly, Brooks Brother, etc….. But the one thing I disagree with is that all preps live in New England. I live in Michigan, but I use to live in Connecticut, and I go to a prep school and I wear all of the brands listed above and I’m very preppy, so not all preps live in New England.
by Lacoste chick May 1, 2005
most of the people on this site truly have no idea what preppy is. preppy is a way of life, a style, a feeling. it is NOT Abercrombie and Fitch or AE. Not classy enough.
by sara March 12, 2005