What IS preppy?

Question

Does being preppy include surfing and sports?

Answer 1

Preppy is always clean, pressed, very conservatively in classic style...at least that's my definition. I'm sure someone will google it, and provide a real definition, but examples of prep style:

The OC: most of the students there.
Fresh Prince of Bellaire: Carlton, Ashley, Whitney. NOT Will.

It always looks somewhat athletic on men and regal on women.

Answer 2

The Official Preppy Handbook was published in 1980 as a tongue-in-cheek explanation of all things preppy -- the plaid, the Bermuda bags, the pearls, the bright pink and Kelly green, the monograms, the ribbon belts, the Topsiders, the personality.

And in many ways, the classic preppy look has never gone out of style. Crisp khakis and polo shirts, pearls and oxford cloth shirts always have been a fave of the summer-in-the-Hamptons set, which is why Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger and a few other designers have shown variations of the look year after year.

This season, though, designers across the board worked preppy pieces into their spring and summer collections as part of the '80s influence.

But they diverged on the look. On some runways, it was country-club crisp with lots of white, flirty tennis skirts with pleats and pearls and pastel long shorts. On other runways, the look was prepster gone mad, with bright colors, mixed patterns, layered Lacoste shirts (the crocodile is the same but the fit is tighter and sexier), plaid shorts and funky accessories, such as brightly colored plastic beads instead of pearls.

Clothing
The white tennis skirts are there, but with harder accents, such as metal grommets, and the skirt also has morphed into other colors.

Ribbons are everywhere, from rainbow-bright belts to muted ribbon headbands, including those whale and alligator ribbon belts. If you dressed yourself in the 1980s, you wore one.

We like both the classic preppy and the quirky preppy, and we've put together both looks so you don't have to choose.

Trust us, it's what Muffy would do.

Accessories
Sometimes all you need to be a preppy is the right belt with your oxford-cloth shirt or T and jeans. Pick any of these and you'll be on track.

Answer 3

The word actually came from the movie Love Story, in which Jennifer (the Ali McGraw character) labels Oliver (the character Ryan O'Neil plays) a preppy. Oliver is a legacy-kid going to Harvard, meaning he's from an old-money family who has gone to the school for generations (even a building is named after the family), so it's granted that he'll be accepted as a student. He drives a Jaguar, plays sports, and wears the type of clothing that kids from upper class families tended to wear: Khakis, sweaters, boat shoes, blazers, oxford shirts, etc., a traditional, conservative, established look reminiscent of the 1950's. The Jennifer character was criticizing Oliver's lifestyle by pegging him as a "preppy" (insincere, self-absorbed). Eventually, the word "preppy" took on a positive connotation and became associated with the clothing style.

People who dress preppy wish to emulate old-money breeding, yet it's primarily the middle class rather than the upper class that does this. In actuality, the truly wealthy wear clothing because it's clothing, not because it can get them status. They already have status.

Answer 4

Well I think preppy in dressing is stuff that's bright and perky. Like Old Navy and Gap is a good example of preppy. As in attitude preppy is more of a bubbly person

Answer 5

It can include those looks. Typically, prep is polo shirts, nice khakis, sweaters tied around the neck.

Check out Breezy Beach Wear at http://www.breezybeachwear.com

They have great beach and surfer looks that are very preppy!

Answer 6

You dress to impress and look good all the time. Preppy people have just as much fun as anyone else they just dress better than the average person. example: Khaki pants and a collored shirt while mowing the lawn.

Answer 7

preppy is how people act. Its like being happy at all times and trying to find the good in everyone! you smile all the time and are too hyper!

Answer 8

I interpret preppy to be one that dresses nice and carries themselves proudly. Not to be confused with stuck up or yuppie. Certainly nothing to be ashamed of. A way to categorize people like say preppy, jock, druggie, nerd, yuppie, and so on.

Answer 9

preppy deffinately incvolves surfing and sports. Preppy is tennis, argyle, navy blue, charm bracelets, french manicures, cardigans.... and sports especially.

Answer 10

I think that preppy means that you have a type of style that is fun. Basically include of clothes like skirts, polos, henleys, and stuff like that.