In American what does "preppy" mean exactly?

Question

We've heard it a lot. In Soaps and films and get the idea that it's sort of Neatly-dressed,possibly educated at a Good University.
Good job.
But we all know that putting on an expensive suit isn't all that you need.
Are there some sort of qualities that you need
to display?

HI youlovely people
Oh lovely 1
You're confirming some of
The ideas I'll get back to you.
4 am here
Great!

Hi to you all ,Shameik and HK,and last,but certainly not,least:all of you.
I just KNEW as I typed in my question that I would receive carefully typed,carefully considered and,informative answers! ALL sit down comfortably.
And give yourselves a little pat on the back !
Sloane Rangers still going.But now talking in Cockney so as not to stand out.
A good "Preppy" tactic!
I have a lot of ideas about "Preppies" and I wanted to find out what you, in the actual USA thought of it?
OED ;A person attending an expensive Private School,or looks like such a person (short hair,Blazer etc)
As your comprehsive replies make clear : it is immensely more complicated than that.
I was reading an American book on this.
The author took us on a journey round all the different Universities, Army postings,Wall St ,Law Firms etc.
then asked :how (with all these different things)
could they connect?
THEN he delivered his Killer-blow:
They all went to the same
High Schools!The Bonds Began Early!

Will be back later,you loveiy People!
got to go on the Frog line to test their Wit?
come over.The French are very Welcoming........................................................................................................Ask the German Army.!..

The French are very Welcoming

Ask the German Army

Hi shameik you are one informative Gal!
I was thinking last night about the age of "Preppies"
Of course they grow up into WASPS !
Think Bush Sr'
Never saw "Love Story" Will get the DVD.
I should think that "Preppies" get a lot of abuse.
One Man's "Nice clean-cut Guy who wants to get a good job and live the American Dream" is
Another Guy's "Stuck-up Snob who thinks he/she is cleverer than us because he/she's got money.
please note:my polite deference to all you Lovely Feminists out there.
What age is Prep school?
Saw "Dead Poets" and Tea and Sympathy"
I know how nasty cliques can be.
But I know how slanted and vicious"liberal " Film-makers can be

Someone mentioned Old money I think this is important!
When we're talking Very Advanced "preppie" it is even important what SORT of Millions you have.
All the old money was acquired by robbing People(robber barons and so on)
Then it got cleaned up: Consuela Vanderbilt married an Engish Duke
Some body else married a lunatic French Count.
Barbara Hutton ,A bogus Russian Prince,and so on.

Thanks for all your lovely answers!
Sloane Ranger is only used by newspapers and in a slightly derogatory sense.
To be one of the "IN" crowd you have to be aware (almost instinctively) of which Tailor or Designer is "IN" .
Which Bar is "IN".
Some of them have gone "Green"
And eat stuff specially flown in from California!
One of them got so Green that he got on TV as Director of Greenpeace.
When it came time to go home after the interview some innocent girl said "you're lucky we have someone going your way.You can share a Limo.
He went NUTS and demanded his OWN LIMO!
so much for the carbon emissions!

Answer 1

Preppy, also spelled preppie, is a chiefly North American adjective or noun traditionally used to describe the characteristics of white Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPs) attitudes. Such individuals commonly attend or attended major private, secondary university-preparatory schools commonly associated with the northeastern United States. These characteristics include particular subcultural speech, vocabulary, accent, dress, mannerisms, etiquette, and entitled life view. The term "preppy" is similar in formation to hippie or yuppie, both of which movements influenced the former, and had great currency in the 1970s and 1980s. The term first reached a wide audience in the 1970 film Love Story, where Ali MacGraw's character uses it as a derisive term of endearment.

The more recent slang derivation prep has taken on an often derogatory meaning, associated not with any particular race, community or schools. Especially as used by young people, "prep" more generally denotes superficiality and preoccupation with the appearance and wealth
The word preppie (or "preppy") has come to refer to people of a certain class, economic status, and ethnic origin. In particular, it is used to describe people from established WASP and Jewish families, as well as upper-class African-Americans.

More generally, preppies are people who attended elite college preparatory schools, often boarding schools. Interestingly, the prep school attended is sometimes given more weight than the college subsequently attended, however prestigious the latter. Nevertheless, preppies traditionally go on to some of the nation's top colleges and universities. It is worth noting that a school's eliteness or cost does not necessarily mean that is a preppy college. Preppy culture idealizes aestheticism, athleticism, sociability and wealth. The culture also emphasizes deference to business and fashion.

Fashion-wise, the term "preppy" is associated not with dramatic designer fashions, but with conservative clothing and accessory brands such as Lacoste, Brooks Brothers, L.L. Bean, J.Crew, Polo Ralph Lauren, Vineyard Vines, Vera Bradley, Lilly Pulitzer, CK Bradley, North Face, and Patagonia. An example of preppy attire would be a button-down Oxford cloth shirt, cuffed khakis, and cordovan loafers.

Typical vacation spots include Cabo San Lucas, South Padre Island, Newport, RI, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, Cape Cod, Kennebunkport, certain other East Coast beaches, and anywhere overseas, often in summer cottages kept in the family for generations and situated between neighbors one has known for some time.

In recent years, young people have begun to use the term "preppy," often shortened to "prep" as a noun, as slang to describe those who seem better off financially or class-wise than others in a middle class environment. In most regions, especially amongst young people, this usage has virtually replaced the traditional meaning of the word. Used in this manner, "preppy" is often applied contrary to the term's original meaning stated above, as the slang version most often describes publicly-educated people absorbed in the middle class hypermaterialistic pop culture pursuit of ostensibly quality-made goods sold at prices for those who can pay for the best and most fashionable, and are 'obsessed' with clothes and shopping. As such, teenagers often apply this slang label to popular clothing not characteristic of "prepdom" like Banana Republic, Club Monaco, Hollister Co., American Eagle, Abercrombie and Fitch, The Gap, Express Men, Aeropostale, Killer Loop, and H&M.

In 1980, American Jewish author and private school, but not boarding school, alumna Lisa Birnbach notice wrote the Official Preppy Handbook, a tongue-in-cheek guide to what she termed "prepdom." Though intended as satire, it is widely adhered to as a guidebook by those who embrace the latter interpretation of preppy fashion.

Answer 2

Here in America preppy doesn't mean what you think it does. There are several stereotypes. "Preppy" people tend to shop at certain stores, like Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, etc. They tend to be neatly dressed and very image-oriented. Many are educated in private or expensive schools, but this is not always the case. They're known for listening to lighter rock and pop music primarily. The main images many Americans have of preps are those of the cheerleader, sorority girl, frat boy, and in some cases a jock. Some preps also have more money than others stereotypes or groups of people, and if they don't they try to buy things that give the impression that they do (think expensive labels and brand names). Preps are also notorious for creating almost exclusive "cliques" as well, and are known to be a bit arrogant and "snobby". Again, these are stereotypes though. Not all preps are these things. Hope that helped!

Answer 3

Same as your Sloane Ranger type (if that type still exists). Rich monied toff types. Trust fund posh kids. People who have everything handed to them yet who still somehow manage to look down on their "lessers" (you know, people who work and perform an actual function in the world)

They wear certain brands that may be good quality, but they are more concerned with wearing the correct labels and dressing within their groups rules. Generally not a creative bunch. In John Hughes movies they are the bad guys/establishment.

Arrogance is key. A general air of superiority is displayed (earned or not) and money is thrown about in an ostentatious way. They may travel a lot, but nothing they see will sink in, except maybe for the bars clubbing and shopping. Sadly they can afford to travel as they don't need to work.

Answer 4

preppy?
looks: clean cut, bright colors, always perfect looking, not one hair out of place, kinda like Jackie O. some keep up with the trends (others dont) but always tastefully dressed.
attitude: depends.. sometimes theyre nice as pie and other times their noses are in the air.. some are modest and some are not.
financially: rich. end of story.
intelligence: just because they go to amazing schools and ivy-league universities doesnt mean theyre all that smart. girls tend to become trophy wives or business wives.. men tend to go into business. a lot of them are intelligent though.
well known 'preppy' areas: New England, the South (southern bells, old money), and CA (orange county, LA)
what matters to them most?: what other people see, physical appearance, financially stable, what some people call superficial things

Answer 5

Preppys are those who attend private highschool prep schools. Often times, their highschool is deemed more important than where they attend universities. They tend to have a certain style, that can deviate from the norm. Real preps are humble and a bit of a polymath; excel in many areas.

Answer 6

Look at J Crew and Abercrombie & Fitch catalogs for images of "preppy."

When I think of preppy, I think of blonde hair, blue eyes, cheerleaders, attending private college-prep high schools, being clean cut, Ivy League colleges, coming from wealthy families, living in gated communities.. It's hard to define the term, but I hope that helps.

Answer 7

I live in the US and preppy can also refer to the style of dress. It's mostly high school kids. The guys wear dressy starched long sleeved shirts with white shirt underneath, polo brand shoes and have fade haircuts. The girl usually have high lites in their hair and wear starched jeans ,polo brand mostly,and expensive clothing from the malls, i.e. PAC Sun ,579.
I know the term "preppy" started from calling kids that went to prep school but it's mostly now used to describe how one dresses.
Preppy style is in good neighborhoods and poor ones.
I'm sure this is not how you were referring to preppy but just to let you know the "slang" usage.

Answer 8

Beverly Hills 90210

Answer 9

Its mostly people who succced. Look in Abercrombie and Fitch and American Eagle. I guess i am preppy soo i would know. Its people who are humble and do well in school. I love Abercrombie and Fitch, American Eagle, Hollister, and Aeropostale. I hope that helped:]

Answer 10

preppy is when someone wears label clothes just because they re label designers! They are usually the popular ones and look down on those who don't have enough money to afford those types of designer clothes! nice!