Rudder is ready to go!

From large Chesapeake Bay Retrievers to little Scotties, there are many pooches living the preppy life.  In case you are having a hard time naming your doggie, here is the Preppy Life’s list of the top ten preppy dog names:

1. Lilly – popular girl dog name, must have a matching Lilly Pulitzer dog collar
2. Martha – an Old English Sheepdog
3. J.B. – short for Jim Beam
4. Rudder - a large retriever, usually perched on the bow of a sailboat
5. Bo – a puppy with big feet and a penchant for mischief
6. Sailor – girl or boy dog named for Jimmy Buffett’s song, Son of a Son of a Sailor
7. Muffy – a blond dog with lots of fur
8. Max – a French Bull dog with pointy ears
9. Birdie – desired golf score, a big dog
10. [ Insert exclusive private school name here ]

I have always been a fan of camping i.e. packing one suitcase for a weekend at the beach. As long as you have some bikinis, a couple of cute Lilly dresses, a few polos and shorts, you are all set. There is nothing better than a long weekend at the beach. The scent of salt air mixed with coconut-scented sun block is the basis of many summertime romps.

Trendy twenty-something prepsters spend their weekends navigating the murky waters of summer shares. On the weekends, you can spot them in preppy beach towns, such as Dewey, trying to enjoy their 1/32nd of a beach house. The main attraction of a summer share is seasonal access to preppy watering holes such as the Bottle & Cork, a cute place for hobnobbing with DC’s future lawyers and politicians. Summer is not complete unless you hook-up with at least one aspiring lobbyist.

In an ongoing series exploring the hallmarks of preppydom, I have decided to examine the importance of having a preppy nickname. Every true prep has one. Think about the last lacrosse game you attended; did you hear anyone cheering for Blakely or Barbara? No, but how the private school girls shrieked when Biffy and Bunny scored a few goals.

A preppy nickname is the gateway to the preppy life. Once you have one, those magic pink and green doors start opening up everywhere: tailgates, baby showers, Kate Spade Sample Sales, the possibilities are endless!

If you do not have a preppy nickname, you should start using one ASAP. A good guideline for girls to follow is take the first letter of your name (consonants only) and add one of the following suffixes: iffy, itsy, issy, addie, attie, uffy, unny, or ootsy. For example, if your first name is Madison. Take the M and add “addie.” Your new preppy nickname is Maddie. Having lowercase i’s in you nickname is preferable, you have the option of dotting the i with a heart or a smiley face.

If your name starts with a vowel like the name Elizabeth, use the first consonant from another syllable in the name. For example, Biffy, Bitsy, Bissy, Baddie, Bootsy, Buffy, Bunny, or Bootsy all make great nicknames.

This morning I read an article in the New York Times announcing the end of the era of Manhattan’s exclusive clubs. The days of being scrutinized by doormen are over; comfy bars with relaxed door policies are now the rage. I can’t say that I am sad to see these elitist clubs go.

From polka dots to grosgrain, preppy poochwear is all of the rage. Pet boutiques are popping up everywhere, outfitting petite poodles to giant great danes with the latest fashion accessories. For the super stylish dogs, you can even buy Lilly Pulitzer dog collars and leashes.

One of my favorite pet boutiques is Dogma, located in Baltimore, Maryland. From embroidered collars to preppy dog beds, Dogma has got your four-footed friends covered. It even has self-serve dog baths for the messiest of paws.

Dogs can be a preppy girl’s best friend, but they are a huge responsibility. Considering adopting a pet from your local animal shelter. There are a lot of good dogs who need a loving home.