Preppy, also spelled preppie, is a shortened version of the word preparatory. It is a chiefly North American adjective or noun traditionally used in relation to northeastern private university-preparatory schools, as well as those who attend Ivy League or other prestigious colonial era colleges and universities. The term is used to denote a person seen as characteristic of an attendee of these schools.[1] Characteristics of preppies include a particular subcultural speech, vocabulary, accent, dress, mannerisms, and etiquette.
The word is particularly well-known amongst American teenagers, as it is quite often used to refer to a particular subculture present within most populous American high schools: the traditionally "popular kids", generally consisting of the children of middle to upper class families, typically characterized (especially by Hollywood in films such as "Never Been Kissed", "She's All That", etc.) as a shallow, transparent group, who are primarily concerned with extrinsic things, the three most obvious of which are probably popularity (generally within their own high school), physical appearance and material possessions. Although, when used in this sense, the word is considered slightly more "slang-ish" when it is shortened to the term, "prep(s)".
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Definition
The preppy style originated in the 1960s and the 1970s. As the style is associated with the WASP ethnonym, preppies frequently wear more traditional styles.[2][3]
Classical preps frequently dress formally; the teenage prep often models the appearance of a young professional adult. Many preps play sports perceived as typical of higher classes.
Fashion
The classical clothing worn by traditional preps can be seen as bland by those unaccustomed to it. Frequently wearing inconspicuous clothing, the styles usually worn by preps are nonetheless more expensive than most other styles.
Brands include Tommy Hilfiger, Lacoste, Jack Wills, Ralph Lauren, Jos. A Bank, Brooks Brothers, J. Press, Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, Gant U.S.A.,and J. Crew are frequently perceived as preppy styles.[4] An example of preppy attire is a button down Oxford cloth shirt, an argyle sweater, cuffed chinos, and boat shoes. Among younger people (high school teenagers) preppy clothing is usually associated with Hollister, Abercrombie and Fitch, boat shoes, Aeropostale, and the popular North Face jackets.
In 1980, the author and private school alumna Lisa Birnbach[5] edited The Official Preppy Handbook, a tongue-in-cheek guide to what she termed "prepdom". Though intended as satire, it is widely adhered to as a guidebook by those who embrace the traditional interpretation of preppy fashion.[citation needed]
Lifestyle
Among the more common sports played by preps are swimming, skiing, cross country, fencing, tennis, golf, rowing, field hockey, sailing, squash, lacrosse, polo, rugby, and water polo.[citation needed] These sports historically have been played by the traditionally upper classes of American society and the Ivy League universities preserve this strict tradition.[citation needed]
References
External links
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