So you want to dress like you’re the newest student at the Constance Billard School for Girls, you just bumped into Blair Waldorf, became best friends and are now both plotting how you can takeover the world? I got you! Let’s master the preppy style aesthetic.
The Preppy style is based upon the American subculture of the perceived view of ivy league school fashion, the ultimate smart casual look. To visualise the aesthetic: picture being in your prestigious private school, your friends ask about your plans for winter break, you roll your eyes and complain that you wanted to go shopping in Europe, but your parents are insisting that you have to go to Aspen for your annual skiing trip, your friends look at you with sympathy. For a visual idea, check out my Pinterest video pin (to the right) and remember to save it to one of your Pinterest boards for future reference.
What is the preppy style aesthetic?
At the word preppy, many instantly visualise tweed blazers, sweater vests, argyle, plaid, and tennis skirts. This is fair as this style is derived from preparatory school attire – typical private school uniform. The style also has negative connotations surrounding the type of personality that would wear this aesthetic, the main being; privileged and entitled. This interpretation is likely because the preppy style was once a conservative style reserved for the wealthier members of society, particularly those deriving from old money. The aesthetic was exclusive, as the quality garments that represent it were only affordable to members of the more affluent society. However, because of the romanticisation of the lives of wealthy students, this aesthetic is now widely accessible and popular. I will give you all the details you need to master the preppy aesthetic.
Preppy style has cemented itself as a core aesthetic within fashion. It has derivatives formed from within it, such as equestrian preppy, which is synonymous with Polo Ralph Lauren’s designs, which target this particular aesthetic. The derivative you are usually most used to seeing is ‘pretty preppy’. Pretty preppy is a recent term coined for the 80’s influence on the classic preppy aesthetic, donned by many famous characters in movies and TV shows – namely; Blair Waldorf and Cher Horowitz.
Pretty Preppy is the style manifested within; plaid skirt suits, sweater vests, collared tops, collared dresses, tennis skirts, knee-high socks etc. Although there are many spin-offs, the term preppy covers all aesthetics within this style family. The derivatives of the preppy aesthetic allow the classic aesthetic to be modified in a way that makes it modern, fresh and accessible to everyone.
Preppy Aesthetic Colour Palette
A traditional colour palette will see whites, blacks, nudes and navy – stereotypical school uniform colours. However, in recent years it has been possible to pull off the preppy aesthetic, with other colours, pastels and neutrals being the most synonymous with the style. In particular, tan and khaki are trendy colours for preppy bottom wear with menswear.
With this style, patterns are superior to colours; remember to play around with patterns in your preppy looks to ensure an ironclad aesthetic. The preppy style has specific patterns that make this aesthetic instantly identifiable; plaid, argyle, check and stripes are the most common patterns used for the preppy style.
Preppy Style Outfit Essentials & Basics
It is best to ensure that you have a good variety of the essential components that form a typical outfit of this aesthetic to make outfits easily. You probably have these items already, so you won’t have to shell out or break the bank to achieve this aesthetic. This is my must-have list for preppy style aesthetic outfits (with links to clothing sites – side note: some of these items are on the high-end side, but the preppy aesthetic relies on quality clothing, that being said, you can find loads of quality dupes at more affordable prices on H&M, Shein & Zara, just search for the style/pattern names):
- Tweed Skirts
- Pleated Skirts
- Plaid Skirts
- Tennis Skirts
- Chinos
- Chino Shorts
- Cuffed Flat Front Khakis
- Tailored Trousers
- Plaid Trousers
- Pleated Trousers
- Plaid Blazers
- Tweed Blazers
- Silk Blend Blazers
- Cable Knit Sweaters
- Cashmere Sweaters
- Sweater Vests
- Cardigans
- Collegiate Sweaters
- Knitwear
- Argyle Sweaters
- Collared Tops
- Collared Dresses
- White Button Down Shirts
- Tie Neck Top
- Turtlenecks
- Mock Neck Tops
- Plaid Shirts
- Oxford Shirts
- Polo Tops
- Polo Dresses
- Rugby Shirts
- Trench Coat
- Wool Coat
- Mary Janes
- Loafers
- Mules
- Brogues
- Buckled Shoes
- Leather Trainers
- Canvas Trainers
- Clogs
- Woven Wedges
For Extra Points:
- Headbands
- Neck Tie
- Fashion Socks/tights
- Scarves
- Analogue wrist watch
- Classic Sunglasses
- Quality Wallet
- Quality Belt
- Classic Leather Bags
- Pearls
- Check Accessories
- Plaid Accessories
- Argyle Accessories
As I stated before, some of these items may be expensive. Still, the preppy style is reliant on luxury, high-quality clothing. This doesn’t mean you can’t prep on a budget, though! H&M, Zara & Shein, to name a few, have loads of dupes of the above styles and some original styles that would blow some of these out of the water, so just remember you do not have to break the bank for the preppy style.
Sticking to a set colour palette will let you mix and match but ensure your outfits say cohesive – for example, stick to neutrals and their complementary colours. Please feel free to edit this list to your tastes. I constantly change things to cater to my tastes; I usually wear heels, but the classic preppy style doesn’t typically include heels. You can elevate this style with your personal tastes. Another tip is matching sets/suits. They are an outfit already, but you can also use the skirt with a different top and the blazer with other bottoms, three outfit options in one suit.
Preppy Style Accessories
You may have noticed that despite this aesthetic originating from the style of the super-wealthy, none of the garments is an obscene display of wealth. There are no ostentatious pieces that scream ‘yes, I can afford this.” The aesthetic exudes wealth through its minimalistic approach and extra detail paid to ensure garments are of the highest quality.
Keep this in mind for accessories; quality is the most essential factor. Small dainty jewellery and pearls are immaculate but remember not to over-accessorise;. If in doubt, follow Coco Chanel’s advice and remove one accessory before leaving the house.
Now that you have all the tools to master the preppy style aesthetic, go on and live your Gossip Girl fantasy.
That’s all from me,
Until next time,
xoxo Gossip Girl.
[…] aesthetic may sometimes be confused with the preppy aesthetic, although they can overlap, and the preppy style is a derivative of the old money […]