Sea and Sand

Trick or Treat

I went shopping for eyeglasses recently and learned about a new line, Geek Eyewear, specializing in classic styles often associated with nerds, geeks, and of course preppies. The frames are solid and attractive, but this is not a high end product and the prices are reasonable, especially if you shop around. According to the company website the frames are acetate (not plastic) and come with optical quality clear lenses. Geek Eyewear may be fitted with prescription lenses, but the market for these glasses obviously includes people with 20/20 vision looking for a geeky/preppy fashion accessory or something to wear on Halloween.

Preppy Prisoner

Punished for defying Lord Voldemort. Happy Halloween!

Anglophilia

From E. Tautz's Autumn/Winter 09 Collection

Boot Up

We're getting into the cold wet time of year, and that means time to boot up!

Ralph Lauren is famous for blending all kinds of classic American styles, from Ivy League to The Wild Ones, giving us fashions that are unmistakably preppy if not exactly traditional. Take for instance this edgy look featuring black combat-style boots and a matching lambswool crew neck, a tartan plaid shirt with denim jeans tucked into thick black socks. I'm thinking "urban lumberjack," or something like that.

How do you pull off this look? I mean, most preppy guys don't run around in boots like this, and some people may jump to the conclusion that you have a leather fetish. Don't sweat it. If you like this look (and I sure do) all you need is the right attitude. If you are self-confident, maybe even a little cocky, dressing like one of Ralph Lauren's booted models is no problem at all.

Macho Man

Abercrombie & Fitch: Preppy?

A reader commented on my recent post where I wrote that Abercrombie & Fitch (among other brands) is not my idea of preppy. The reader was surprised that anyone would have this point of view.

So, this seems like a good time for me to explain.

But first, I want to thank Abercrombie's owners and management for all the hunky models and borderline homo-erotic advertising campaigns of the last fifteen years. Well done.

In terms of fashion, Abercrombie doesn't have enough traditionally-styled clothing for me to take the brand seriously. Part of their collection is based on prep classics (like the crested polo shirt shown here) but then you have all those T-shirts, cargo pants, fleece hoodies, hippie-surfer necklaces, and so on. Abercrombie isn't what it used to be. My grandfather remembers when they carried fly fishing gear, shotguns, and clothing made of tweed or flannel. I'm kind of sorry I missed out on that.

In fairness to Abercrombie, I think their clothing is stylish (in a way) and if you like it you should wear it. Call it preppy if you want. But it isn't my style. Most of my play clothes (youthful, casual clothing, i.e. Abercrombie's niche) is from Ralph Lauren's Polo and Rugby lines.