Saturday, September 12, 2009

Preppy vs. "Preppy"

Since I've been at college, I've really started to notice what people are wearing. I went to a private school, so we had uniforms. They were more like dress codes, but for the most part we either wore khaki skorts and a polo or khakis or a navy blue skirt with a polo and tights in the winter. We looked VERY preppy as uniforms go. On assembly dress days I especially loved the way everyone looked with blue blazers and wool plaid skirts. Although this is a VERY silly photo, its like one of the only ones I have wearing my uniform.

When I decided to go to USC, everyone was like "OH! They're SO PREPPY down there! You'll fit right in." It seems like people are confusing truly preppy with trendy. Yes, girls wear dresses to class, but you're way more likely to find the very popular two-tone dresses that are usually black and white than you are to find anything Lilly or Madras. I think that people are confusing the preppy as we know it with a more "trendy" style. Or some people are even considering girls who wear dresses at all as "preppy". I consider myself very preppy, and I'm happy to wear a Lilly to class or a printed skirt and crew neck shirt, however I question what preppy is viewed as on campus these days. Certainly Lilly isn't the only preppy brand out there and I think that some people believe that it is the only way to be preppy. Whatever happened to the rules from the Preppy Handbook? Why don't people wear khakis anymore?

Even during rush, girls would be like "I'm SO PREPPY, sororities are perfect for me!" and the flipside too, "I HATE Lilly, so this house is immediately wrong for me." I think people aren't getting quite the right ideas. Maybe its just South Carolina's wrong impression or maybe its schools everywhere, I just don't know!

What are your campus attires like? What do you consider acceptable for class? For walking around? What is preppy to you?

xxKatie

8 comments:

mFw said...

Preppy is vineyard Vines, Lilly, Ralph Lauren, madras, and monograms in my opinion. My college isn't as preppy as I thought it would be. Everyone wears jeans even though its nice out. I don't plan to wear jeans until its cold. Right now I wear lots of polos and shorts with a cute belt. I wore Lilly prints through labor day. I think they look a little too summery now. You always look so cute!

Belle- Pink Cupcake said...

I read somewhere that some people think preppy is abercrombie and american eagle, aeropostale, etc. I almost DIED! When did preppy become that to some people! Hate that. Love this post, though! Hope some people come across it and get set straight!

Gracie Beth said...

See Tennessee is preppy you will find boys in VV, Southern Proper, and Polo everywhere I know some guys who I have never seen in a non- collared shirt. Girls wear polos in nice jeans as well as button downs and other preppy accessories and actually preppy brands.

Kerry said...

I wear a variety of different outfits to class, depending on the class and how far I have to walk to get there. Although, no matter what, I always make sure I am perfectly matched and have pearls on. I definitly know what you mean though, I cannot stand when people think they are so preppy because they are wearing a polo shirt for one day. I love The Preppy Handbook by the way!

Beth Dunn said...

I went to a preppy college. I love preppy!!! xoxo

Headbands and Hand Bags said...

My college was pretty true prerry, I agree with mFw! Classic, timeless brands are the true preppy!

Miss Janice said...

Lilly fashions, anything polo, Lacoste, Burberry, Chanel, shifts, tights, turtlenecks, ballet flats, pearls, cardigans, monograms, crew neck sweaters, and on and on! Love the preppy style. P.S. Just got an awesome khaki skirt at Target today for $19.99. Khaki is another preppy staple!

Red Lipstick said...

I live in Southern CA and I don't find that people dress very preppy here. Sadly, I was threatened with physical violence in a Los Angeles middle school for my love of preppy outfits. "Preppy snob" was my nickname by these uncouth kids. (I guess they had something against well-groomed and CLEAN!!)

I love "east coast preppy", but I tend to dress more "city preppy" in black, navy, mixing in fasion element, for the office - see how I label them, and I know that is not the correct way to describe Preppy. I loved your picture and post! Good luck at USC!!