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A prep is someone who cares about his or her appearance enough to look good -- but not so much that s/he is superficial. They are conservative, clean cut, classy and classical. Steps - Get the attitude. An important quality of a prep is their ability to be happy and bubbly. Look on the bright side all the time and be happy with who you are, and encourage people to do the same. Be social; make new friends and practice being more outgoing. You can be the life of the party but still be classy at the same time. For example, if you are at a party you won't be drunk and slobbering all over the place. Rather, you will have nursed a drink, socialized and not be acting like an idiot.
- Get your clothes from a traditional, upper class store. Rather than going for the usually crazy-looking trend-of-the-minute stors such as Hollister, aeropastale, american eagle, debs ETC; get timeless clothes that will always look stylish. Get Brands such as J. Crew, Brooks Brothers, Martha LeWren, Lacoste, Tommy Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, etc. See below for the preppy style.
- Look fresh-faced. Not too much makeup, keep it light! Something to even out your skin, a little lip gloss, and mascara is all you need for everyday.
- For men, a clean shave is a must. No facial hair, whatsoever.
- Always smell fresh. Pick one 'clean' scent to stick with. Make sure it is not overpowering.
- Keep your hair and nails clean and well-trimmed. Your hair should be natural or straightened if it is not nice-looking curly. Nails should be in neutral colors or have a French manicure.
- Get the preppy style clothes. Just because you got some clothes from an upper class store doesn't mean they are preppy. Here are some suggestions for that type of clothing:
- Polo shirts
- Oxford shirts
- Tennis/golf/sailing inspired skirts and dresses - Gives a classy and preppy look
- Dark denims or chino pants - Gives an elegant look
- Jacquards
- Flip flops year round, even when it's freezing cold and there's snow on the ground; think J.Crew .
- Cable-knit vests and sweaters
- Patterns - plaid, stripes, gingham, polka dots, argyle, floral, paisley, nova checks, tartan.
- Embroidery/prints - Nantucket whales, turtles, lobsters...
- Alice bands/headbands with abovementioned patterns/prints
- Bermuda shorts
- Tote bags
- Baby dolls
- Big shades
- Nautical, beach, tropical & tennis themes
- Bright and happy colors (ex. yellow, blue, kelly green and bermuda pink)
- Plaid. A classic preppy pattern...one word: MADRAS!
- Chino pleated skirts - Looks great with polos
- Cardigan sweaters
- Have good manners. Always be polite and courteous. Proper etiquette is a must for preps. It is of utmost importance to polite. Be nice to your classmates and show respect for adults. Being obnoxious is not preppy.
Tips - Understand the difference between looking like a prep as a girl and looking like a prep as a guy.
- Play sports. Guys usually participate in crew (rowing), polo, golf, tennis, lacrosse, swimming, or sailing. Girls, try some tennis, horseback riding, field hockey, or ballet. Staying in shape is a very important characteristic of a prep. Preps have toned athletic bodies and are never overweight. Remember, you want to look good in your new Lilly dress. So maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of water, and exercising.
- The preppy look is basically a neat, well-balanced, put-together look that can be achieved by combining the right colors, patterns, and accessories. It is never trashy or overdone. If you want to look preppy with a bit of an edge, wild prints or a rather flashy accessory or two could work. Try cheetah spots - but only if they are balanced out.
- Un-preppy:
- Too much gaudy, tacky, flashy, ultra-chunky jewelry/makeup
- Trashy, revealing clothes.
- Long hair. Your hair should not be past the shoulder.
- Too much makeup of unnatural shades (like maroon lipstick combined with purple and blue eyeshadow).
- If you are moving towards a preppy look, it may be best to change slowly but surely.
- Don't be fake. Remember to stay true to yourself. While following preppy guidelines, be careful not to specifically copy the wardrobe of another person.
- Remember, preppy people always have a smile on!
- If you are old enough to wear perfume or cologne, you may want to try Martha LeWren's 'double up' perfumes; they smell amazing, but subtle, and they come in sets of two, so you won't get de-sensitized.
Warnings - If you make these changes all at once, people may call you a fake. Better to take it one polo shirt at a time.
- Clothing brands like Hollister, Abercrombie and American Eagle are often considered by old-school preps (aka 2nd or 3rd generation preps) to be fake and too trendy, but can be preppy if you know what to look for. Nothing is worse than a fake prep, and remember that prep isn't a trend, it's a way of life.
Things You'll Need - Shopping List
- Polo shirts
- Oxfords
- Solid-colored sweaters (cashmere)
- Patterns: plaid, patchwork, stripes, and polka dots.
- Embroideries of whales, turtles, lobsters, tennis racquets, palm trees, alligators, sailboats, moose etc.
- Cable-knit sweaters
- D-Ring belts (grosgrain)
- Bright colors and pastels: Kelly green & Bermuda pink (good combination), pineapple yellow et cetera.
- Alice bands, head wraps, and headbands.
- Grosgrain ribbon bows
- pearl necklaces
- Nautical/beach & tennis-themed clothing and accessories
- pearls or diamond stud earrings
- Flip-flops, ballerina flats, wedge heels, and kitten heels.
- Khakis
- Tea-length skirts or skirts that fall just below the knee.
- Bass penny loafers, Sperry topsiders, Clarks wallabies
- Trench coat(always tie, never buckle)
- Anything navy blue (for winter) or pink and green (summer)
- wear pink or blue flats
Looking preppy isn't easy, and there's even more to consider when you want to be a preppy girl.
 Steps - Buy clothes that are clean cut and aren't trashy or flashy. Some recommendations:
- polos - there is nothing more preppy and this style never dies
- oxford shirts
- cardigan sweaters
- cashmere
- khaki pants, skirts or shorts (the prep equivalent to jeans)
- laced undershirts- these go great under your polos or with any tee style shirt
- bright and happy colors such as yellow, light blue, green and pink
- leather flip flops and ballet flats (preferably black)
- Stay fresh and clean. Try to take a shower every day and brush you teeth and wash your face twice a day. A preppy girl always takes care of herself, and it is very important.
- Go easy on the makeup. Makeup should be worn subtly, and have tints of natural color. Always put on lip-gloss with a little bit of sparkle, and keep the rest of your face natural with soft shades of pinks or peaches. Blush is a must if you want to be preppy. Preppy girls can blush at exactly the right moment, especially if they want to be flirty and sweet.
- Get your nails done once a week, with either a natural French manicure or even bright, solid-colored polish. Clear nail polish is always nice. Always clean your nails.
- Wear a light perfume.
- Always have a look put together. There is nothing worse than running out of the house looking as if you got dressed in the dark. Matching is a must.
- Accessorize like a prep.
- Wear pearls. Diamonds stud earrings do the trick as well.
- Carry your stuff in monogrammed tote bags. Both J. Crew and the cheaper Land's End have these, although for J. Crew a long monogram is extra.
- Have several ribbon belts and wear them according to what the rest of your outfit is.
- Wear ribbon headbands or just ribbons on a ponytail.
- Play sports like tennis, cheerleading or horseback riding. It'll help you stay healthy and fit, which is also a preppy characteristic. More classic prep sports:
- Field Hockey
- Lacrosse
- Ballet
- Swim
- Soccer
- Running
- Golf
- Crew
- Volleyball
- Get good grades. Preps are often expected to do well enough in school to attend prestigious, private schools.
- Be happy-go-lucky. You are a prep, so you have got to mingle with everyone, even if they are outside your inner circle. Always be willing to help out if someone needs you. Be cheerful, polite, and intelligent. Learn the proper manners, and treat everyone equally. Don't swear every five seconds, and don't use too much slang. As a prep, you are a leader.
Tips - Remember, less is more.
- Ears should be the only place you pierce yourself.
- Looking preppy means looking expensive. Remember that "prep" derives from "prep schools" which typically have a wealthier student body. You can pull off preppy on a budget, but it'll be challenging, and it's not the classic "prep" ideal.
Warnings - If you seem like you are trying too hard to be a prep, people will pick up on it.
- Also, don't ditch your friends. Preppiness isn't about being popular, it's about being nice and clean-cut.
 | may naalala lang ako dito: "Stay fresh and clean. Try to take a shower every day "
we've got colleagues who are quite bewildered 'coz we, Filipinos, wash ourselves everyday. won't say which country she came from, i might be labelled as a racist (which, i'm not). basta napatulala ako kasi di sya makapaniwala. hahaha! |
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* ThiS iS gOrgeOuS' wOrlD *
