Wednesday Wardrobe

07 / Prep in Your Step

Apr 12, 2023

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Preppy styles are gaining popularity right now… thanks to a wink and a nod to “stealth wealth” and “quiet luxury” aesthetics. But has prep ever really gone out of trend? Not so much.

Deep in my core, I still hold a bit of prep in my style. You’ve probably seen it come through in some of my #mirrorselfies. I grew up in New York but on the border of New England (I did my undergrad in CT), where Nantucket red, pearls, and seersucker were worn year-round. I’ve streamlined my style since my pastel-coated rainbow assortment of Polo Ralph Lauren oxford-shirt days (thanks to super-discounted purchases at Woodbury Commons Outlets). And yes, I did the double-popped collar (not a memory I will revisit further from the early 2000s), but I don’t plan on reviving that anytime soon.

The point is prep comes from a place in our cultural history in America that’s been around since the early 20th century, and it’s not going away anytime soon. But rather than interpret preppy style solely as an Ivy-league-only quality, there’s so much more to it that can speak to your own classic, personal expression. So instead of the banal palette, try incorporating elements that can give hints of prep with a new, modern twist: stripes on stripes, patchwork with suiting, johnny collar polos, retro sneakers, and linen mixed with cotton knits.

Wear it well, x L