Preppy look is back per Boston Globe
Smokey
What's pink and green and worn all over?
It's the preppy look, and it's back from the '80s
By Kate M. Jackson, Globe Correspondent | August 18, 2005
The words ''preppy comeback" make Paige Esser chafe in her Lilly Pulitzer
skirt. The notion of a comeback -- particularly in New England -- is
oxymoronic for people like Esser, for whom chinos, madras, and polos never
went out of style.
''To me, prep extends way beyond fashion. It's a way of life," said Esser,
31, a human resources director from Hingham who recently moved to
Washington, D.C. ''While I'm happy to see the style enjoying another moment
in the sun, I think many people miss the whole point of preppy clothing,
which is timeless, never trendy."
This year, with designers from Juicy Couture to the Gap rolling out hundreds
of variations of the rugby shirt, the cat is out of the Bermuda bag: Preppy
fashion is not just for Muffy and Biff of Andover anymore. It is for Madison
and Tyler from suburban high schools who wear preppy-inspired polo shirts
from Abercrombie & Fitch or American Eagle. It's ''preppy couture" for
fashion-conscious urban professionals whose Nantucket Reds -- distinctive
brick-red sailcloth slacks -- may be from Marc Jacobs's collection, not
Murray's Toggery Shop.
These conflicting preppy styles have converged in a perfect storm of pink
and green that is barreling full speed toward fall and could stick around a
while. However, the prevalence of prep has some old-school prepsters
experiencing a fashion-related surrealism not seen since the mid-1990s, when
upper-class suburbia went hip-hop.
When fashion adopts the style of an entire culture, a simple trend often
becomes a movement, said Kathy Gordy-Novakovic, director of fashion
marketing for Cotton Inc.
''Fashion is cyclical. After years of showing a lot of skin, fashion is
becoming more buttoned up and tailored down. The preppy trend itself could
be tied into the 'new luxury' consumer we're seeing more of these days," she
said. ''Preppy is a look that is synonymous with affluence and higher
education; it's an old-money wardrobe. People may want to take on that look
of someone who is very well educated or wealthy."
''I believe it has a lot to do with the Republican administration, the
uncertainty in our world, the war, etc.," Esser said. ''People want to go
back to a time where cardigans and pearls represented all that was good and
decent in America. Also, there is a reason cardigans have stood the test of
time: They just make more sense than a poncho or a fishnet sweater."
The last time preppy fashion reached this level of popularity was in the
early 1980s, when Ronald Reagan ushered in a new age of conservatism. While
it appears to be happening again, this trend -- unlike the preppy mania of
the 1980s -- arrived in a more organic manner, drawing its influence from
traditional seedbeds of fashion: the inner city and the music industry,
according to Gordy-Novakovic.
''One thing that is really driving this trend is how much hip-hop has
adopted this look," said Kelli Delaney, editor in chief of Celebrity Living
magazine. ''Kanye West and P. Diddy have been seen sporting preppy attire
like polo shirts, button-down shirts in bright colors, and khakis for a
while now."
According to Lisa Birnbach's ''The Official Preppy Handbook," preppy fashion
is famously low-key because it is inspired by a class of people who don't
care to flaunt their wealth -- except for the not-so-subtle message of
wearing clothes that suggest constant skiing, tennis, and sailing.
Emily Donnan, 22, is perhaps the most classic kind of preppy because she
wasn't even aware that her fashion choices defined her as such. ''To be
honest, I never considered myself preppy, because it was the norm at home,"
said Donnan, who grew up in Chatham and recently graduated from Middlebury
College in Vermont. ''I never realized that not everyone popped their
collars and not everybody's dad wore bleached out Nantucket Reds on a
regular basis during the summer.
''Personally, I like the return of the classic look; however, because I
consider 'old school' simplicity to be an element of traditional preppy
style, I feel that some of the clothes and trends are overdone," said
Donnan.
Trish Bridier, who is the granddaughter of Phillip C. Murray -- the founder
of Murray's Toggery Shop and creator of the original Nantucket Reds -- said
that while Nantucket has always been ''preppy," the island is changing.
''People are dressing up more and we're seeing younger customers who have
adopted preppy style as a fashion look," she said.
As a result, Bridier said Murray's has added low-rise Nantucket Reds and
Lacoste polos that have a slimmer fit and come in a cotton-Lycra blend.
''We're also selling more cocktail dresses," she said. ''And lots of ribbon
belts."
Ann Perrino, creator of Ann Veronica handbags, said she's having a similar
experience in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. ''New generations are seeing
hand-printed fabric with a preppy feel for the first time and are loving
it," she said. ''More tertiary styles, more imagination, and more affordable
fashion brings a wider audience; however, there is a downside. With preppy
being a mainstream trend right now, product quality -- once a
prerequisite -- may now be a novelty."
Jim Bradbeer, president of Lilly Pulitzer, said he's thrilled to see that
his company's fashions are appealing to a whole new generation and
demographic as a result of the resurgence of preppy style. ''We've
modernized our fabrics and cuts and have moved beyond our core pockets like
Palm Beach and New England. We are selling well in Cincinnati, Kansas City,
and Denver, and started shipping to Canada for the first time," he said.
''We've always made happy clothes," said Bradbeer. ''Fashion has been dark
and neutral for about 12 years, so a whole new generation is finally being
exposed to these bright-colored styles for the first time -- and they're
embracing them."
Kelly Reardon, 26, a Boston management consultant to nonprofit corporations,
is admittedly ''a little obsessed" with preppy style. ''I absolutely love
it. I bought a giant L.L. Bean tote for work that is green with pink straps
and has a pink monogram of my initials," she said.
Celine Carroll, 35, of Cohasset said she loves the ''khakiness" and colors
of the preppy styles that are currently so widely available. ''It brings me
back to the days when I lived in my peach Le Tigre shirt and painters
pants," she said.
Gary Zerola, 34, an attorney and self-proclaimed fashion zealot from Boston,
said he reads Italian fashion magazines to bone up on the latest trends.
''To be honest, I was shocked to see the preppy style coming back, but I'm
into it. I wear the clothes, but I put my own spin on it. I think my look is
more urban, less country club," he said.
To accommodate this new generation besotted with preppy styles, stores and
boutiques that are typically trendy are suddenly flush with madras and
plaids. On the racks at Jasmine Sola in Hingham, halter tops and low-rise
pants have been replaced by pastel polos and madras print blazers and
skirts. And they're flying off the shelves, according to sales clerk Ashley
Marscalek. This year, Juicy Couture -- a brand Jasmine Sola has carried for
several years -- rolled out its own line called ''Preppy Couture." Until
now, Juicy Couture's designs tended to be more urban and sexy.
''The Juicy stuff has been extremely popular this season, especially with
the 12- and 13- year-old girls," said Marscalek.
If 2004 was the year of the mesh trucker hat, 2005 could go down as the year
of the grosgrain ribbon belt. While it's hard to calculate how deeply
ingrained prep has become, it's definitely a trend that's carrying into the
fall, said Jenn Debarge-Goonan, a style expert at TJX Corp. in Framingham,
which owns T.J. Maxx and Marshalls.
''The customer is demanding it. We'll continue to see preppy styles this
fall, but with a twist," she said. ''For instance, we're seeing cropped
denim jackets worn over untucked polo shirts. People will take the basic
pieces and add something -- a metallic belt or scarf -- and make it their
own."
Š Copyright 2005 The New York Times Company
cycjec
> THE LOOK
> What's pink and green and worn all over?
> It's the preppy look, and it's back from the '80s
> By Kate M. Jackson, Globe Correspondent | August 18, 2005
> ''To me, prep extends way beyond fashion. It's a way of life," said Esser,
> 31, a human resources director from Hingham who recently moved to
> Washington, D.C. ''While I'm happy to see the style enjoying another moment
> in the sun, I think many people miss the whole point of preppy clothing,
> which is timeless, never trendy."
true enough. I'd just like to add that pink and green are
the LP colors, not "the" prep colors.
JoeinSoFla
-Joe in SoFla, making hay while the sun shines
P.S. Nantucket Reds from MARC JACOBS? The end is nigh, folks.
Vicki in DC
name.
Today my hair is in a ponytail, I'm carrying my carnation pink handbag
from Tarjay that I've had compliments on all summer long, and my "work"
tote is a green/white Merimekko-ish flowered beach bag I've started
carrying to work because I haven't been poolside nearly enough this
summer and wanted to get mileage out of it. My coworkers don't have to
know I've been to the beach/pool exactly once this summer :-).
Vicki in DC
v.rutgers
"Smokey" <SmokeyinN...@yahooey.com> schreef in bericht
news:rK6dne09ZN1...@comcast.com...
> THE LOOK
> What's pink and green and worn all over?
> It's the preppy look, and it's back from the '80s
> By Kate M. Jackson, Globe Correspondent | August 18, 2005
>
> The words ''preppy comeback" make Paige Esser chafe in her Lilly Pulitzer
> skirt. The notion of a comeback -- particularly in New England -- is
> oxymoronic for people like Esser, for whom chinos, madras, and polos never
> went out of style.
Madras out of style? Unthinkable!
I'm wearing a Gaultier (I'm sure inspired by LP) scarf skirt in fuschia
paisley to a party tonight. Topped by, what else? An acid green tunic and
the same color Gucci sandals (hurt like hell, but it looks so good
together). Prep style is in the blood. It can only be inherited, never be
bought.
Circe aka (in the 1980's) Cuffy
originally from Bucks County
deedee
products at www.theluxuryfans.com
they are made by a Korean Factory and all the products are exact
replica manufactured in France, Italy or Japan. They are made of
exactly the same material and have the same quality, style, and
accessories as branded products have. They only charge $300 for the
same products and offer exactly the product same quality and
everything the same at far less price and you do not have to wait for
2-3 years to have one.
Nanm
hair-do, cord bremuda shorts, knee socks, loafers and a sweater. THIS
WAS LIKE 1995!! I think the sweater had whales on it.
That look, in the early 80's was in, sort of, for 10 year old girls,
and preppy. In 1995 it was SO out. I felt like I was in a time warp
when I saw her.
However, there are many elements of preppy fashion which never went out
of style. This woman's outfit, however, was not one of those things.
NM