The third and final installment of the Past of Prep series is a look at the best of the past and present of Prep. Starting with a few tips on the tenets of Seven Sisters style and then taking a look at the current state of prep to see how the classic American style has evolved over the past century. Since the early 1900’s preppy style has stepped in and out of the sartorial limelight, but it has never left us altogether. After all preppy style is not just about fashion but an entire American lifestyle that no matter of time can erase.
Lessons Learned from the Seven Sisters Style Revolution
- Embrace quirkiness. Small details and quirks in your wardrobe lend authenticity and uniqueness to your wardrobe. Small touches like a cool pin or broach on the lapel of your blazer, heirloom jewelry, or a handmade bag picked up on a trip make your look entirely unique to you.
- Make suits work hard on and off the clock. With a simple casual deconstruction you can get loads more mileage out of your pant and skirt suits. Lose the heels and pair a blazer and skirt with your favorite weekend staples: tee shirts, cozy sweaters, and tennis shoes. You can also spruce up a suit for cocktails with a pair of snazzy flats and a statement necklace. Build a wardrobe of matching sets and versatile separates, ideally in rich neutrals, plaids, or pinstripes, and you can go wild with styling options. Suit separates make a great statement worn together or just as well as separates, making a suit the perfect traveling garb.
Neutrals are a neutral’s best friend. Rich textures and shades of neutrals worn together are the ingredients for an understated and elegant look. A collection of wool, corduroy, canvas, silk, cotton, and knitted neutral tops and bottoms, and leather and suede shoes and accessories are the building blocks to a versatile and classic wardrobe. And don’t forget that a red lip is the perfect cherry on top of a neutrals sundae.
- Patterned neutrals are synonymous with traditional neutrals. Style stripes, animal prints, and plaids in neutral shades as you would regular neutrals for an edgier spin on prep.
- Last but not least, wear clothes that really fit you well and you’ll look as good as you feel.
The Modern Prep Lookbook
Modern preppy style is as easy, cool, and polished as ever, but today’s interpretation has a more edgy zest to it. In its simplicity and elegantly classic aesthetic the preppy look is amendable to endless interpretations, and these modern day muses have aced the 21st century preppy look. I’ve scoured Pinterest to put together a collage of my favorite current preppy looks where you’ll see both traditional and modern takes on the preppy look. All of these looks are made up with basic components of the preppy wardrobe: button up shirts, pencil skirts, mini skirts, ankle skimming trousers, blazers, sweaters, outerwear, and of course great shoes. Modern elements of playful print mixing, effortless textural layering, and vibrant pops of color put a charming and fresh spin on iconic American preppy style.
If you’re late to the party, check out Parts One and Two of the Past of Prep Series!
