Lauren to LoveShack: The Re-invention of Preppy

In its founding years, the term “preppy” was coined by Northeastern old money men and women who attended Ivy League institutions and participated in prestigious leisurely events like polo, golf, rowing, sailing, and riding. Poised and seemingly perfect, these so-called prepsters flaunted an unofficial uniform consisting of pieces from brands such as Ralph Lauren, Brooks Brothers, Burberry, and J.Crew amongst others. These styles closely mirrored that of a private school uniform or the attire of former first lady, Jackie O. 

As the popularity of this fashion trend and lifestyle grew, so did the number of companies that offered acceptable attire. Lilly Pulitzer, Vineyard Vines, and Kiel James Patrick entered the market and instantly were a hit. Lilly Pulitzer sales skyrocketed after a photograph of Jackie Kennedy in Capri wearing LP’s classic Shift Dress reached the tabloids. These brands won over the hearts of many as they brought bright colors and a youthful glow to the closet. 

 As time passed younger generations sought new, trendy styles and began to stray away from the classic preppy aesthetic. While the core academic preppy look is still alive and well, Gen-Z has revamped preppy to simply mean bright, youthful, and fun. Open TikTok and videos of teens taking you through “a day in the life” will surely bombard your For You Page. These videos are captioned with #preppy and showcase none of the brands that were OG preppy staples. 

Instead, today you will see Love Shack Fancy skirts, Golden Goose Deluxe Brand sneakers, Hermes enamel cuffs, and Aviator Nation sweats. These internet trends are current fashion favorites of Elon students too. This trendy new aesthetic is perfect for warm Spring days on campus and adds a youthful twist to the traditional preppy style that first captivated Americans on the East Coast.