Re-discovering Preppy

The men's clothing retail market's obsession with mining old catalogs for new style has now resulted in a resurgence of preppy style--while a little late to the party, traditional bastions of American style have gotten into the act of trying to put a young and current spin on their long-standing staples and re-emphasizing old classics that had started to fall by the wayside.  At Brooks Brothers, traditional oxfords can be found a bit more easily these days, and repp weave striped ties seem more abundant and in their traditional widths.

As is evident in this window display, college life is where preppy style begins.  When done right, something about this aesthetic seems youthful but not juvenile, and confident but not cocky.  Its an involved look--many colors, patterns, and layers are involved--but shouldn't be an uptight one.  It looks best when disheveled and rumpled.  Too pressed, tucked in, and crisp and it crosses into obnoxious, rather than charming, pretension.

This Brooks Brothers window display shows how preppy style can grow up and be a little more mature without losing all of its appeal.  This look might be too serious for a college man, but being pressed and tucked in seem appropriate for living in the real world.  Earthy colors and substantial textures keep these ensembles from being too slick, while also quite functional in the fall.

This wardrobe is appropriate for young professionals in a business casual setting, and also works on the weekend.  And one more nice thing about sticking with classic American style--almost everything works with everything else, so little thought has to go into coordinating trousers, shirts, sweaters, and jackets.  A big part of the style is the effect of outfits looking thrown together rather than meticulously thought out.