Fashion: A Guide to Prep

Prep is back for fall in a big way. Camel coats, double breasted blazers, navy, kitten heels, chunky knit sweaters, aviator coats. The timing is just right for a prep revival, after all, being a prep is all about making sensible choices in an edited wardrobe of investment pieces. American casual wear walked down over half the British and New York catwalks (Stella McCartney really nailed it though) with sleek hair, natural makeup and a lot of tone-on-tone no frills outfits. In some cases (still talking about McCartney here) it was almost austere. Almost 90s if you ask us (which, was the last time we were in a recession), except with a Mad Men flair that is entirely sexy. It’s so clean it’s dirty people. And we love it!

Stella McCartney Fall 2010

The following is a guide to being preppy (for those of you still rocking those goth layers with long chains and androgyny, pay extra close attention):

Being a prep is not about being lavish or gauche and you don’t have to be rich either. In fact, preps fly economy and work in real jobs like decor and have mortgages, but they also regularly travel to Europe, play a ton of sports (but stick to tennis, golf, sailing and cricket exclusively), general have a two car garage and know a thing or two about high end market shopping.

The essential clothing items that all preps must posses are:

• Bowtie, or several (men)
• Something searsucker, preferably a blazer
• RayBans
• Loafers
• Something navy/ something plaid
• Single pearl earrings (women)
• Pair of kitten heels (women)
• A double breasted coat/a toggle winter coat (can be double breasted)
• Cable knit sweater
• Monochromatic shift dress (women)
• Crisp white cotton button down shirt
• Polo shirt

The key to all prep shopping is quality and fit. Invest in a good jacket and shoes and then get your polo shirts and button downs on sale. It’s not about brands for preps, fit is much more important.

Preppy’s Listen To:

Paul Simon, Human League, Liz Phair, Van Morrison, The Beatles, Dead Man’s Bones (Ryan Gossling’s Band), The Police, and Talking Heads.

Preppy Movies Are:

Heathers, The Big Chill, St. Elmo’s Fire and Dirty Dancing, all made in the 80s when the prep look and lifestyle was most popular.

Heathers

Preppy Reads:

On The Road, Catcher & The Rye, anything by Nabokov, Vanity Fair, and the New Yorker.

Prep Heroes:

Steve Carrel, Michael Cera, Ryan Gossling, Boris Becker, Dustin Hoffman, Steve McQueen

Where To Shop:

Brooks Brothers, Band of Outsiders, Lacoste, Banana Republic, The Gap, TNT, Ransom, Holts for: Rag & Bone, Pink Tartan, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Stella McCartney.