Let's call our discussion "How to Dress Like a Wealthy Student at a Private School." We'll focus on the style items and the details to pay attention to. This way, if someone says, "You didn't go to an American private school, so why dress preppy?" you can respond calmly and confidently: "I'm just emulating the style, not trying to outdo anyone."
Before we dive into the dressing tips, let me clear up a few things for everyone.
The first thing to clarify is that preppy style is sometimes mixed up with American campus retro style. According to Wikipedia, the definition of "Preppy" is:
The term "preppy" comes from private preparatory schools, which are often attended by kids from wealthy American families. These students are usually well-educated, have strong connections, and lead a comfortable life, often associated with the Ivy League.
Therefore, Preppy style ≠ American campus retro.
Preppy Aesthetic Outfits is different from American campus retro. It's a fashion style that's rooted in the culture of elite education and upper-class society. The clothes are usually inspired by the everyday activities of young elites. Preppy outfits are known for their classic and timeless pieces, which give off a sense of sophistication and elegance. The goal is to look polished and refined, with a focus on quality and fit. You'll often see tailored blazers, khaki pants, and polo shirts in preppy outfits, which are both comfortable and stylish.
Preppy Style is all about dressing appropriately and elegantly for different occasions, especially during the preparatory period before college. It has that "aristocratic" touch. On the other hand, American retro style is more laid-back and bold, often featuring brighter colors. For instance, take a look at the iconic American campus retro look from the movie "Clueless": the plaid outfits paired with knee-high socks were the go-to college style back then. In contrast, the Preppy Style on the left is more refined and "dignified," showcasing the classic clothes and aesthetic that have become synonymous with this style.
The second thing to clarify is that people sometimes mix up preppy style with "Ivy style," also known as "college style." Here are the main differences:
- Origin: Preppy style started around 1910, while Ivy style really took off in the 1950s at top U.S. universities, especially within the Ivy League. The Ivy League is a group of eight prestigious universities in the northeastern U.S. Ivy style lost some popularity in the 1980s but came back strong in the 1990s.
- Style Preference: Ivy League students often came from aristocratic families where their parents had a lot of influence over their lives. They were expected to dress like refined gentlemen, focusing on propriety and elegance, which made Ivy style more formal. On the other hand, Preppy style caught on with prep school students from aristocratic backgrounds who loved sports, socializing, and vacations. This created a unique preppy look that's sporty and casual. Preppy outfits often feature items like polo shirts, khaki pants, and nautical accessories, making them perfect for a relaxed yet elegant vibe, especially on vacation.
Basically, knowing these two misconceptions puts you ahead of 60% of people, because many only know that preppy style looks expensive and refined, but they don't understand its essence or how it differs from other retro college styles. Just knowing this is not enough, to wear preppy style well, you should understand the "basic principles" to follow when choosing individual items to ensure you find the ones that best suit your style. Additionally, you need to know the "essential pieces" of this style so that when you're dressing or putting together an outfit, you know which items are indispensable. At the very least, you should be able to tell others: when wearing boat shoes in this style, you must go sockless.
Basic Principles for Preppy Style Items
1. Fit
- The first requirement for fit in preppy style is that every item must be simple and neat, with a tailored and slim cut. It can have some embellishments, but nothing too flashy. Take the cricket sweater, a basic preppy style item, as an example. When comparing the cricket sweaters worn by models and Taylor Swift, it's clear that Taylor's version aligns more closely with preppy style.
- First, regarding the neckline, it's not about having a large, sexy opening to look good. Taylor's two-tone small collar design looks more elegant.
- Second, in terms of the hem design, models's sweater has an odd fringe hem, while Taylor's has a simple ribbed hem. The overly fancy design makes the overall style of the garment look less polished.
In recent years, fashion shows have often reimagined classic items with innovative twists. For instance, big brands might pursue trendiness by designing cricket sweaters with very low-cut necklines. Such designs are best avoided in preppy style items, as "aristocrats" are known for their elegance rather than relying on sex appeal or body shape.
The second requirement is that clothes should be fitted but not too tight, and also not too loose. Preppy style is a lifestyle and a culture that embraces sports and socializing as its core. Clothes that are too tight can make movement difficult, while clothes that are too loose can appear lazy and do not align with the refined and professional aura of the elite. Let's take the cricket sweater as an example: the three states are loose, tight, and fitted. Tight and fitted are often confused. Tight means that two or more parts of the garment are closely fitted to the body, whereas fitted means that the garment follows your body's curves while still allowing some room, resulting in a more appropriate look.
2. Fabric
Preppy aesthetic items should be chosen for their high-quality natural fabrics, avoiding synthetic materials. Synthetic materials include polyester, nylon, acrylic, spandex, and so on.
In preppy style, the most common and popular natural fiber materials for items include cotton, linen, wool, cashmere, and silk.
During the summer when the weather is hot, you can choose materials like linen, silk, and pure cotton. In winter, prioritize materials like wool and cashmere. When shopping, you can check the item's label, which usually indicates the material. Nowadays, clothing often uses blends for comfort and to prevent deformation. However, since preppy style has high standards for item quality, it's best to choose items made from the single materials mentioned earlier, such as pure cotton, silk, linen, wool, and cashmere.
3. Color
Preppy Aesthetic, being the attire of the elite, tends to avoid overly bright and saturated colors. The key to a preppy wardrobe is "less is more," but it's not about the minimalist black, white, and gray. Instead, it's about choosing colors that flatter your skin tone.
- For cool skin tones, go for colors with a blue undertone.
- For warm skin tones, pick colors with a yellow undertone.
- Colors to steer clear of include bright pink, bright red, and bright purple.
When it comes to choosing colors, take a look at this color palette. Follow the direction of the arrow, starting with black. The colors closer to the front are more important. This is the secret to getting that "super sophisticated" look in preppy style. Be sure to bookmark this and read it often!
4. Patterns
For preppy style, keeping patterns simple is the way to go. You might want to include a small school crest or just enjoy the natural textures and color patterns that come from the fabric's weave or dye. Sometimes, no pattern at all is perfect. It's best to skip overly fancy patterns, as they can make your piece look like something you'd find mass-produced everywhere.
Authentic preppy choices include plain two-color V-neck sweaters and cricket sweaters with a small school crest. Stick to these, and you'll avoid that overly complicated look.
For example, imagine a runway piece with a sleek and crisp design, but it features a "creative touch" with a rose embroidery on the chest. While it's not out of place, it can be a bit puzzling to figure out the reasoning behind that design choice.
While we're at it, let's avoid avant-garde patterns like leopard print and the laid-back charm of French floral designs. The preppy style is all about simplicity, where less is definitely more. The simpler the pattern, the more it can bring out an "aristocratic" elegance.
Preppy style clothing often focuses on the classic colors of red, white, and blue. It's designed for those who love sports and travel, especially the aristocratic elite. That's why you'll often see it with nautical touches, like anchor prints and striped patterns. It's all about embracing a lively and elegant vibe!
In addition to nautical elements, various patterns like plaid, paisley, and cashmere motifs are also characteristic of the preppy style.
二、Preppy Style Basics
1.Tennis Sweater
Tennis is a popular sport in Western aristocratic universities, and the tennis sweater is a classic preppy style piece. The most recognizable feature of a cricket sweater is the V-neck with colorful stripes, and you'll often find matching stripes on the waist and cuffs. It's a wardrobe staple for any preppy girl. Tennis sweaters come in many styles: they can be sleeveless or long-sleeved, and can vary in length from short to long.
Wearing a shirt under a cricket sweater and pairing it with a pleated skirt is a classic way to rock the preppy style.
If you feel like your legs aren't your favorite feature, don't worry! Pairing it with dark denim straight-leg jeans can be a great choice.
To keep that sophisticated preppy vibe, jeans with cat's whiskers or holes aren't the best fit. Opt for simple white straight-leg pants instead—they'll really bring out the preppy elegance.
2. 100% Cotton Polo Shirt
The word "polo" in English is all about the sport of polo, which is played on horseback with a long-handled mallet to hit a wooden ball. As you might guess, polo shirts were first worn by nobles while playing polo. Over time, they turned into everyday casual wear.
In the 1970s, preppy style aristocrats loved activities like equestrian training, golf, and tennis. The polo shirt, with its simple design and elegant collar, really fit the elite vibe of prep school students. Plus, it's super comfortable and easy to wear, so it became a go-to choice for students at Ivy League prep schools.
A lot of folks might see polo shirts as just for the older crowd, but they've got a really nice vibe and can be worn in so many ways. Take Elle Fanning, for instance—she looks super chic in a navy polo shirt with a plaid skirt. It's totally on point for the preppy style!
To really capture the preppy style, start by picking the perfect polo shirt. Skip any weird designs and go for simple ones, like those in solid colors without too many patterns.
Secondly, go for straight-cut polo shirts instead of fitted ones. Although some folks prefer fitted styles to show off their figure, keep in mind that preppy style is all about elegance and not about body shape. The left image shows a fitted style with a clearly defined waistline, while the right one is a straight-cut style.
For the perfect skirt to go with a polo shirt, keep it simple! A plaid skirt is a great choice. In the early days of preppy style, longer, more conservative skirts were common with polo shirts. But let's bring preppy style into the modern era! Swap those long skirts for a shorter plaid A-line skirt or a plaid pleated skirt. It's all about being a fresh, new preppy style girl!
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3. Oxford Cloth Button-Down Shirt
Back in the 1900s, some cool students at Oxford University wanted to stand out from the fancy, flashy fashion of the time. They started making clothes with a special cotton fabric. This fabric had a neat two-tone look, with calm colors, great breathability, and a comfy feel. It became the go-to fabric for Oxford's uniforms and has been a hit ever since. That's how the Oxford shirt got its name!
A guy named John E. Brooks spotted this shirt while watching a game in London and brought it back to the U.S. At that time, students in the upper class were all about finding their own style. They wanted something that could break the mold of boring dress codes.
The Oxford cloth shirt, with its unique texture and simple, durable design, was just what they were looking for. Pairing it with an OCBD (Oxford Cloth Button-Down) shirt let them move smoothly between formal and casual events. In the early 20th century, the OCBD with a crisp Sack Suit became the go-to look for Ivy League students. So, if you want to rock the preppy style, a simple Oxford cloth shirt is totally essential!
For a preppy style, you can layer an Oxford cloth shirt under a cricket sweater or a knitted vest, and finish the look with some boat shoes. It's a classic and stylish combo!
If you're aiming for a sharp and clean look, Bermuda shorts are a great choice. And if you want to add a bit of feminine flair, a denim skirt is perfect!
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You could also match an Oxford cloth shirt with some nice trousers or cozy corduroy pants for a comfy yet stylish look!
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4. Blazers
Both preppy style and Ivy Style just wouldn't be the same without a blazer. The suit jacket is the one we see all the time, especially in business or formal settings. It's made of a stiff fabric and usually goes with matching trousers—what we call a formal suit jacket. A sport coat is more of an Ivy Style thing. It's often a two- or three-button wool or plaid blazer, and it stands out with its unique pocket design: the side pockets have flaps, and there are double welt seams where the flaps meet the garment.
Now, when we talk about the preppy style blazer, it's all about the prep school students who loved sports, hanging out, and traveling. This blazer has its roots in naval uniforms and is known for its bold stripes or a crest on the chest. The stripes and colors are usually pretty bright, and the buttons are often metallic. The most classic one is the navy blue blazer.
Pairing this blazer with Bermuda shorts or tailored shorts really captures the classic look. In preppy style, you'll usually see it with boat shoes, Derbys, Mary Janes, or loafers instead of sneakers. It's all about that polished vibe!
To layer under your blazer, you can go with a cricket sweater and an Oxford cloth shirt for a timeless look. If it's a bit too warm in the summer, you might want to try a simple crewneck sweater instead. Just make sure it's got a good feel and a more muted color!
5. Bermuda Shorts
Before I got into fashion, I only knew about work pants, suit pants, and casual pants. It wasn't until I started exploring fashion that I discovered Bermuda shorts. You might have heard of the Bermuda Triangle, and this type of pants actually has a connection to Bermuda.
The climate on the island of Bermuda is pretty hot. The British soldiers stationed there for centuries finally got official permission to cut their long, stuffy military pants just above the knee. Today, Bermuda shorts are also known as "dad shorts," which are casual shorts that typically end about 2-3 centimeters above the knee.
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6. Boat Shoes
While loafers have that classic, romantic vibe, boat shoes are a perfect match for preppy style. Boat shoes, also known as deck shoes, are great for their waterproof and non-slip features. The laces across the top of the foot add a cool touch. These shoes, with their top-notch performance and vintage charm, have always been a favorite among prep school students.
When it comes to shoes, I won't go into too much detail here. I've just touched on the features of two classic types of shoes. Preppy style is unique, so if you want to get it just right, you can't just wear sneakers, running shoes, or canvas shoes. It's all about pairing with vintage and timeless shoe styles. Besides loafers and boat shoes, Derby shoes and Mary Jane shoes are also perfect for this style.
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This article is mostly my summary and understanding after looking at lots of references and articles. It might not be exactly the same as the true preppy style, but I think the most classic styles don't have to be copied exactly to be meaningful. Understanding the essence behind the style and mastering its key pieces, then wearing them according to your own interpretation—that's what true fashion is all about.
There's a lot of misinformation about preppy style online. At its core, preppy style is a form of rebellion from the elite. They have the pride of nobility and the upper class, and they have a certain disdain for fashion. They love life and have a unique understanding of it. They hate being constrained and reject paternal authority, which might seem similar to another style called "city boy." This style is definitely not about piling up expensive items or spending a fortune to attend private schools.
At its heart, it's really about an attitude and a way of life.
For more ideas and to see the latest preppy aesthetic outfits, check out By Coquette Clothing. We’ve got everything you need to look stylish!
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