Preppy

This article discusses a college-related subculture of the northeastern United States. For the 2020s aesthetic, see New Preppy. For the girly aesthetic often labeled as Preppy, but uses more trendy elements, see Dollette. Note that Preppy is often used to describe mainstream aesthetics of the upper-middle class.

Preppy (also spelled Preppie) or Prep (all abbreviations of the word preparatory) is a subculture in the United States that is associated with old private Northeastern university-preparatory schools. The terms are used to denote a person seen as characteristic of a student or alumnus of these schools. Characteristics of preps in the past, include a particular subcultural speech, vocabulary, dress, mannerisms and etiquette, reflective of an upper-class upbringing.

It is one of the four high school stereotypes popularly used to classify students, along with Jock, Nerd, and Goth.

Philosophy[]

The subculture where Preppy originates from relies on pursuing a culture of prestige; at school and university age, this typically is done through having the best grades, internships, and extracurriculars. This is done to develop a later adult life of having a high-paying career important to society.

Legally_Blonde_(2001)_-_Elle_and_Vivian-_From_Foes_To_Friends_-_MGM — Legally Blonde (2001) - Elle and Vivian- From Foes To Friends - MGM

Vivian, the brown-haired girl, is an example of a Preppy character.

In doing this, there is often an element of competition against fellow students, especially in fields that have developed this culture, such as in law and medicine.

History[]

The Preppy aesthetic and subculture is linked with WASP (white, Anglo-Saxon Protestant) culture in the United States. In this country, there exists a group of people whose ancestors came to the United States during its founding, such as on the Mayflower or with the Puritans. Many of these ancestors became wealthy and were greatly involved in the political, social, and economic culture of the U.S. Part of the generation of wealth is education, and in the United States, Harvard and Princeton were some of the earliest universities to be established. With these influential figures attending these schools, a level of prestige became built around them. The Ivy League universities are concentrated in New England, where the United States was also largely founded.

Much of the traditions associated with Prep originated in the 1900s, where university culture became more distinctive in the Ivy League universities. For example, tweed jackets, polo coats and button-down shirts became popular attire for Preps, as these WASPs mimicked the fashion they saw in English sporting culture^[1]. This was also the time period where college sports emerged.

The people who were considered Preppy were these white families who had generational wealth and sent their children to preparatory schools to prepare them to attend prestigious universities and the social expectations of succeeding in areas such as law, politics, medicine, philanthropy, and academia. As a result of the insular community and its emphasis on appearing reputable (see Philosophy for a greater explanation), Preps developed multiple habits, tastes, and mannerisms that are indicative of their class.

It is also worth discussing that this way of life is applicable in English culture. In England, the expectation for the upper class is to attend Oxford or Cambridge (two very prestigious universities), wear an academic style, have a small hereditary social group, and have mannerisms consdered subdued and of good taste. However, the style of Preppy is considered American, as the highlighted brands, writings, and cultural understandings are distinctly American^[2].

The definition of Preppy expanded beyond WASPs only to include the Irish, who are Catholic and thus not considered WASPs. This is especially true after the Kennedy political dynasty came to be in the 1930s. However, the subculture, which relies on generational wealth, still excludes many minorities who do not have such a background in the United States. Despite this, Preppy fashion and activities are participated in by other races, as this lifestyle is associated with prestige in the United States. For example, Barack Obama, who did not grow up in this environment, goes to the Hamptons and wears Preppy fashion^[3].

Throughout history, Preppy style was also used by various black Americans, who were excluded from this culture, as a subversion of expectations against the style worn by the white elite^[4].

In 1980, Lisa Birnbach published The Official Preppy Handbook, which described many aspects of upper-middle-class WASP life in a tongue-in-cheek tone. It outlines the life of a Preppy, including the fashion, colleges, activities, etc. of such a person to an audience that typically would not have been exposed to such an exclusive class of people.^[5] Although the book was meant to be humorous, many Preps today take it extremely seriously, while acknowledging some of the information is dated.

The use of the term Preppy has shifted from a specific geographic and social circle into mainstream, wealthy women who are outgoing and involved in an academic setting. This is because these young women belonged to this social circle but deviated from the traditional look, which now includes athleisure and trendy items typically scoffed at by original Preps.

As a result of this shift, people in the 2020s are now labeling traditionally Preppy aesthetics as Old Money, and the aesthetic has greatly influenced online aesthetics such as Dark Academia and Dollette. What is now labeled preppy can be found under Popular Preppy.

Visuals[]

The Preppy visual aesthetic draws a lot of cues from the upper classes of society that would often eventually find themselves attending some sort of Ivy League school like Harvard, Princeton or Yale.

There are two generally accepted variants of the Preppy aesthetic. One is New England Prep or East Coast Prep, which has a lot of nautical elements like anchors, compasses, ships, lighthouses, and whales. Hydrangeas are also associated with New England Prep as they are common on Nantucket. The colors used are found in nature - olive green, navy blue, beige, tan, and dark red.

The other is Southern Prep, which includes elements like palm trees, elephants, monkeys, and zebras. Lilly Pulitzer is a good example of these types of patterns. The colors are much brighter and more saturated: hot pink, kelly green, lime green, bright yellow, turquoise, and orange. Contrasting colors are often paired together: pink with green or blue, orange with green or blue, red with blue or green, and yellow with blue or turquoise. Purple and shades of purple like lavender are not commonly used. Southern Prep is more casual than New England Prep and bare arms and legs are more common.

Members of sororities and fraternities often come from middle class and upper class families who follow the Preppy aesthetic. While members of sororities and fraternities are expected to be on their best behavior at all times, the darker side of Greek Life (hazing, drugs, alcoholism and hard partying, rape, and racism) makes people wary of Preps.

During the spring and summer, the "Chads" and "Beckys" who visit Nantucket are subjects of mockery for their basic drink orders, boring sense of fashion, and inexperience driving on sand. Chads and Beckys are also associated with the phrase "My father is a lawyer."^[6]

Related Aesthetics within Preppy[]

Related To East Coast or New England Prep[]

Ivy ^[7][]

Named after the Ivy League colleges, this is influenced be the clothing worn by college students beginning in the 1940s to about the 1960s.

Trad[]

The “grown up” extension of Ivy, it is more noticeably Vintage than Preppy. Bright colors are usually only used for a single accent piece, such as socks. Suits are tweed, Prince of Wales check (usually gray), or navy pinstripe. Blazers can be double breasted or single breasted. Elbow patches on tweed jackets are common. Recognizable due to the pairing of loafers with a two or three piece suit.

Neo Prep or Nouveau Prep, or Sprezzatura (Italy)[]

Adds sneakers, jeans (sometimes cuffed at the ankles), and baseball caps to outfits that include blazers. Argyle is a common pattern for socks. Facial hair such as beards and mustaches are worn by men.

The Tommy Hilfiger designs from the 2000s, and most of the outfits worn by Kiel James and Sarah Patrick are really Neo Prep.

Related To Southern Prep[]

Southern Belle[]

Heavily influenced by the book and movie Gone with the Wind, the Southern Belle aesthetic values tradition, family, politeness, and femininity. It is controversial due to the historical association with slavery, and modern associations with racism and the Confederacy. Plantation Weddings are common for Southern couples.

Politics[]

Although the Preppy aesthetic is not inherently political, the aesthetic was formed by people who had similar socioeconomic background, heritage and political leanings. Traditionally, Preps were associated with WASP culture (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant), but there is no requirement of race or religion to follow the aesthetic. The most famous Preppy family, the Kennedys, are Catholic.

The WASP background has led many Preps to have an idealized idea of American history, glossing over and even ignoring significant events and the way in which they affected the lives of Native Americans, Black Americans, LGBTQIA+ people, and disabled people.

An example of this is how the Republican Party is often referred to by Republicans as "The Party of Lincoln." While it is true that President Abraham Lincoln was a Republican, the Republican Party of the time had an ideology which was more closely aligned with the Democratic Party of today.

The Preps of the 1980s were overwhelmingly supporters of President Ronald Reagan. To this day, Preps who were not even born when Reagan was president associate him with the Prep aesthetic, ignoring his denial of the AIDs Crisis in the 1980s, a choice which killed thousands of members of the LGBTQIA+ community. Other preps are far more liberal, active in the Black Lives Matter movement, and fight for women's and LGBTQ+ rights. In younger Preps, this liberalism is a backlash against the actions of Donald Trump and the modern Republican party.

Many members of mainstream society are uncomfortable with Southern Preps because they believe these people uphold outdated and dangerous ideals, due to the American South's association with slavery, antisemitism, racism, and homophobia. The practice of Plantation Weddings and the culture of the Southern Belle, influenced by movies like Gone with the Wind all play into this. The actual degree to which a person who follows the prep aesthetic upholds these ideals (if at all) varies from person to person.

The brand Brooks Brothers became tainted in June 2020 when Mark McCloskey was photographed wearing a Brooks Brothers polo while threatening Black Lives Matter demonstrators alongside his wife Patricia.

Fashion[]

For men, Preppy fashion has its roots in the Ivy League style of dress, which started around 1912 and became more established in the late 1950s. J. Press represented the quintessential Ivy League style, stemming from the collegiate traditions of Ivy League schools. In the mid-twentieth century J. Press and Brooks Brothers both had stores on Ivy League school campuses, including Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Preppy fashion emerged in the late 1970s with cues from the original Ivy League style. Some typical Preppy styles also reflect traditional upper-class leisure activities, once associated with the wealthy English who once had a strong political and social position in the Northeast and New England, such as polo, sailing, hunting, fencing, crew rowing, lacrosse, golf, tennis, rugby, squash and swimming. This association with old English inspired outdoor activities can be seen in Preppy fashion, through stripes and colors, equestrian clothing, field jackets, and nautical-themed accessories. By the 1980s, mass marketing of brands such as Lacoste, Daniel Cremieux, Izod, and Dooney & Bourke became associated with Preppy style in many areas of the US and Canada.

For women, Preppy-influenced fashions emerged in the 1960s, a trend led by designers such as Perry Ellis and Lilly Pulitzer, influenced by designers such as Oleg Cassini, and popularized by female students at the Seven Sisters Colleges, sister institutions to the Ivy League. These classic ensembles of the 1960s and 1970s include tailored skirt suits, low heels, wrap dresses, shift dresses, silk or cotton blouses, and jewelry with a refined style. Such clothing often includes elements drawn from typical Preppy style, such as nautical stripes, pastel colours, or equestrian details.

Though traditional interest in Preppy style fell in the 1990s, some of the newer outfitters such as Ralph Lauren, J. Crew, Vineyard Vines, Gant, and Elizabeth McKay are perceived as having preppy styles, with designers such as Marc Jacobs and Luella Bartley adding the Preppy style into their clothes in the 1990s. The Preppy aesthetic fell out of popularity when the Financial Crisis of 2007–2008 made signifiers of wealth unpopular.

Those who follow the Preppy aesthetic pride themselves on how timeless it is. In reality, the Preppy aesthetic goes in and out of fashion. Previously strict followers of the Prep aesthetic such as cousins Audrey Kelleher, Charles McBryde, and Jenna Sweeney, have moved towards a more Bohemian aesthetic.

Stores and Brands[]

Abercrombie & Fitch
Barbour
Burberry
Brooks Brothers
CatherineCameo
Cartier
David Yurman
Draper James
Preppy iPhone Cases | Stella Cases
PreppyThings Inc
Hermes
Hillflint
Hunter
J. Crew
Jack Rogers
Kendra Scott
Kiel James Patrick
L.L. Bean
Lacoste
Lilly Pulitzer
Marc Jacobs
Murray's Toggery Shop - home of Nantucket Reds, pale red or salmon colored pants and shorts
Palm Beach Sandal Company (often abbreviated to "Palms")
Pendleton
Ralph Lauren
Sperry
Tiffany & Co.
Vineyard Vines

Tops[]

Oxford Cloth Button Down shirts
Polo shirts
Tory Burch tunic (women only)

Bottoms[]

Chinos
Nantucket Reds shorts or pants
Gray or black slack pants
Plaid skirts (women only)

Dresses[]

Lilly Pulitzer shift
Diane Von Furstenberg wrap dress
kaftans

Outerwear[]

Cardigans
Aran aka Fisherman sweaters
Cable knit sweaters
Aquaberry sweaters
Blazers
Trench coat
Pea coats
Wax jackets (usually Barbour)
J. Crew vest

Shoes[]

Ballet flats (women only)
L.L. Bean boots
Boat shoes (usually Sperry)
Gucci Horsebit loafers
Hunter rain boots
Jack Rogers sandals (women only)
Stubbs & Wootton slippers
White tennis shoes
Black dress shoes

Jewelry[]

Cartier Love bracelet
David Yurman cable bracelet
Hermes Clic Clac
Kendra Scott necklace
Pearl or diamond stud earrings, one per ear (women only)
Signet rings and class rings (men only)

Accessories[]

Neckties
Bowties
Sunglasses (tortoiseshell pattern or aviators)
Burberry check scarf
Needlepoint belt
Longchamp Le Pliage in Navy
White, black or gray socks
Small bows (for women only)

Outdated fashions[]

Bermuda bags (tiny handbags with a wooden frame and interchangeable covers which could be matched to outfits)
Charm bracelets
Return to Tiffany's bracelet
Popped collars on polo shirts
Romphims (rompers for men)

Fabric patterns[]

Argyle
Check/Gingham
Critters (crabs, lobsters, elephants, monkeys, crocodiles, horses, fish, seahorses)
Plaid
Madras
Tartan
Stripe
Quatrefoil

Monograms[]

Monograms are arranged with the first initial on the left, the last initial in the center and the middle initial on the right
Large monograms, especially in curly fonts, are popular in the South. EVERYTHING is monogramed.

Media[]

Television[]

Gossip Girl (2007-2012)
Hart of Dixie (2011-2015)
Royal Pains (2009-2016)
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel (2017-present)
The Politician (2019-present)
Southern Charm (2013-present)
The Sex Lives of College Girls (2021-present)

Film[]

Annabelle Hooper and the Ghosts of Nantucket (2016)
Caddyshack (1980)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
The Fox Hunter (2020)
The Holdovers (2023)
Igby Goes Down (2002)
Knives Out (2019)
Making the Grade (1984)
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
The Philadelphia Story (1940)
The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
Trading Places (1983)
So Undercover (2012)

Literature[]

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
Moby-Dick by Herman Melville
A Separate Peace by John Knowles
Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor by Tad Friend
Confessions of a Prep School Mommy Handler by Wade Rouse
Twisted Family Values by V.C. Chickering
Take Ivy by Shosuke Ishizu
The Art of Southern Charm by Patricia Altschul
The Official Preppy Handbook by Lisa Birnbach
The Preppy Cookbook by Christine E. Nunn
A Southern Belle Primer by Maryln Schwartz
The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl

Web Series[]

Emma Approved (2013)

TikTok[]

"Connecticut Girl" and "Boston Girl" characters by Shannon Fiedler
Southhampton and Miami "Rich Mom Starter Packs" by Tinx

Activities[]

Because many activities have been associated with the neighborhoods of New England's wealthy, these activities have become emblematic of the Preppy, Ivy League-aspiring crowds. Sports have often been used to make a college applicant look more impressive, and sports that are more obscure and traditionally associated with these classes are played because the money involved keeps out other students who would have been able to use their skills to succeed, as in basketball or soccer. Many of these non-sporting activities are associated with older "company men" who got to where they are via generational wealth and economic and social capital. Many of these were described in a now retracted Atlantic article which exposed many readers to the dramatic world of obscure sports (with more drama than the truth.) Here is another accurate one.