If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Hey Preppy Girl,

Are there any brands or styles we should absolutely avoid as a preppy girl?

Thanks so much,
Preppy Jackjack

Dear Preppy Jackjack,

That is a great question! With the constant evolution and re-designing of brands, I don’t like to exclude specific brands from the realm of preppydom. You never know, maybe even Gwen Stefani’s L.A.M.B. or Rock & Republic might turn preppy one day. That being said, there are some things to keep in mind when searching for great clothes. Look for classic styles that cover all of the three P’s; pretty, preppy, and perky. You want quality items that won’t fall apart in the washing machine. Try to avoid overly shiny or sparkly material as well as polyester. Also look for brands that don’t skimp on fabric. Some of my favorite goto preppy brands are J. Crew, Lilly, Lacoste, Vineyard Vines, Ralph Lauren, and Old Navy (for basic tanks, cardis and ts). The Preppy Princess sells darling preppy accessories.

For more on preppy style check out Preppy Style 101

Best!

Preppy Girl

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,

First off, I love your blog! It’s my last year of college and I’m in love with the preppy style. I was wondering what are some preppy college essentials. I want to buy some clothes before school starts, but I can only afford so much. So, I was thinking maybe some articles of clothing that I could mix and match? (tops, bottoms, shoes, etc.)

Thanks so much,
College Prep Chic :]

Dear College Prep Chic,

Thanks for reading my blog! That is such a great question. My sister and I are at the beach and have spent the past 2 days discussing your question. We came up with a long “wish list” of items that will take you from fall to winter. I hope it helps!

Fall Trends:

• Camel – It’s really big this year, look for a cute camel colored skirt and a camel colored coat, they go with everything and will be great for college and beyond.

• The Great Outdoors – Designers are really into the outdoorsy look this year. Think warm winter woolens: chunky sweaters, shawls, & tie front cardigans, socks, scarves, hats & mittens. Mittens are so cute and are supposed to be really big this winter. Chunky heeled boots with wool socks & leg warmers. Look for classic colors, tweeds, and hand-knits.

• Sweater dress – Looks great with tights & boots

• Vintage Jewelry – Check out second hand stores for great jewelry & handbag finds

• Layer it – Layer tanks & tees with cardigans

• Wide leg trouser jeans (dark)

Preppy Must Haves:

• Skinny Jeans, Khakis, & Corduroys

• Cardigans – Shrunken cardigans are great and can take you from class to going out with your friends. You can easily change their look by adding jewelry and accessories.

• Shrunken Blazers – So cute!

• Ballet Flats & Kitten Heels
• Sperries

• Button down shirt – Looks great with rolled up sleeves

• Headbands
• Nautical Stripes (for early fall)
• and finally…a Monogramed L.L. Bean Tote (more inexpensive than Longchamp, the preppy ideal)

Have fun shopping!

-Preppy Girl

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Hi Preppy Girl!

First let me say I enjoy your blog…ALOT. And since I’m considering getting a car this winter a question popped up. Are Volkswagens considered preppy? I love Volkswagen, my second and thirst choices are BMW and Volvo…so are Volkswagens fit for a New England preppy?

Thanks a million,
New England Prep

Dear New England Prep,

Thanks for reading my blog, I am glad you like it. I am very biased when it comes to Volkswagens, I LOVE THEM! Volkswagens, BMWs, and Volvos are all preppy cars. Just make sure you get a car that you can afford, runs well, and is dependable. The last thing you want is a car that spends more time at the mechanic than it does on the road.

For more information check out this post about preppy cars.

Good luck with the car shopping!

Best,
P.G.

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Hi Preppy Girl,
Just wanted to let you know that I absolutely adore your blog! Well, I’m going into the eighth grade in a month or so and I really want to know what sorts of clothes I should wear to school?

Love,
Excited for Eighth Grade

Dear Excited,
Thanks for reading my blog, I am glad you like it! Tween preppy is about classics mixed with vintage 80′s or boho elements. Here are a few suggestions to start your school year off in style.

• Basic polo and khaki skirt with fluorescent Ray-Ban knock-off sunglasses, metallic flip-flops (or bright colored sandals of any kind but nothing that matches the sunglasses, no matchy-matchy. Cool always looks unstudied.)
• Graphic print skirts, simple crew neck or v-neck t-shirt with TOMS slip on shoes.
• Go nautical, Old Navy! Try a cute dress with leather boho sandals and a wrap around scarf.  H&M is another great place for preppy stripes at a reasonable price and don’t forget the boat shoes!
• Try a more colorful take on classic polo or button-down: bright hues that pop paired with either basic khaki, white, or black. Or if you are more daring, pair with other bright mismatched tones for a very confident and bold look.

Accessories are really important, they make preppy look more funky, edgy, and fun.

Arms & Ankles:
More mismatched string bracelets, sillybands, beaded bracelets, the better (gives the impression you’ve been trading, swapping, or sharing a good time at camp/vacation/wherever). I like to wear my pastel pearl bracelets with my sillybands, I think it’s a fun mix, the fluorescent with the pearl and it’s a conversation starter.

Shoulder:
Tote bag, either the classic L.L. Bean, or a more boho-ish version, for example any of the nicer “reusable grocery bags” double as purses. This is a trendy look that can amp up a preppy outfit and it’s origins are decidedly upper-crusty.

Fingers:
Nailpolish! This is hugely important if you can wear it at school. Hot colors: light lilac, light blue, or electric blue. Hot pinks are always cool.

Hair:
No fuss hair, for example a loose bun, tousled-look, or headband with ponytail. Long, long hair is in for girls…keep it simple though!

Good luck with school next month!
-P.G.

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,
Firstly, let me say I LOVE YOUR BLOG. It is so comprehensive in everything preppy! My question is: whenever I wear polos I feel like a boy; are there any preppy alternatives to consider?

xoxo,
Royar

Dear Royar,
That is a tough question! I know what you mean about polos. I have never been a big fan of them myself. One of my stylish friends suggests dressing up your polos with ultra feminine accessories like a cute pair of espadrilles, dainty jewelry, and a girlie belt. If you shop around you can find some great slim-fit polos or even a halter polo.

The Preppy Polo

Here are a few variations on the classic polo:

• Vineyard Vines Sleeveless Pique Polo
• Vineyard Vines Susie Fit Polo
• Lilly P. Michelle Sleeveless Polo

And here are a couple of stylish alternatives:

• Old Navy Ruffled Polo: A cute variation on the polo. Looks great with a pair of  short shorts, capris, or a skirt, and a few preppy accessories.

• Old Navy Embroidered Crinkle-Gauze Top: An fun alternative to the polo, still has sleeves, but a bit more feminine.

• The Limited Striped Bateau Top: This nautical top is a little bit more dressy than a traditional polo. Great for a casual dinner at the club.

Try to stock up on short sleeves now, there are a bunch of fantastic summer sales going on. I hope that helps!
-P.G.

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,
So I was at the mall yesterday and I saw a sign saying all ballet flats were 40% off. Naturally, I could not resist. However, the flats I bought did not get the sale price. What’s the difference between flats and ballet flats?

- Confused in Connecticut

Dear CC,
I am sorry to hear about your shopping faux pas. Just the other day, my friend Cheryl, the fashion expert, was telling me the difference between flats and ballet flats. Here are a few things to looks for:

Ballet Flats

• Ballet flats are a classically styled shoe, dating back to the 16th century and are always rounded in the toe.
• Ballet flats can come in a variety of colors but they are typically made from a soft material, like silk or suede.
• Ballet flats do not have a heel.

Flats

• Unlike ballet flats, regular flats can have small heels, think 1/4 of an inch.
• The toe can come in a variety of shapes, it may be pointy, square, open, or even peep toe.

Happy Shopping!

P.G.

the real ballet flats

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,
Are mini dachshunds preppy enough? I know labs are, but love my doxies! Also, where can I find grosgrain watch bands that will fit my watch? A lot of them I have tried are too fat for even my large watch.

- SEL

Dear SEL,
Thank you for the great questions. Miniature Dachshunds are extremely preppy; maybe even preppier than Labs. Who can resist their little stubby legs and long floppy ears? Dachshunds have three varieties of coat: long haired, short haired, and wire haired, and they are all equally adorable. Miniature Dachshunds, as we know them today, were first bread in Germany but have roots going back to Ancient Egypt. Talk about a distinguished family tree!

Preppy Dachshunds

As for the grosgrain ribbon watch bands, have you considered making your own? You could even make matching collars for your doxies. Here is a great site that has tips on making your own watch band using Velcro and a hot glue gun.

Good luck!
-P.G.

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,
I just got a beautiful long scarf from J.Crew in a very flattering color. My problem is that I can’t decide on a way to wear it! Which knots/styles look best with which outfits?

- Liz

Dear Liz,
Thank you for the great question! The scarf sounds absolutely wonderful. I have always found summertime scarves particularly daunting, their airy fabrics can be quite the challenge. Here are a few cute ways to wear a summer scarf:

• Looped around your neck with the ends hanging down-this is great for sleeveless dresses and shirts with scooped necklines

• Draped around your neck (no knot) with the ends hanging free in front. This is a great style for rectangular scarves paired with long summer jackets.

• Over your shoulder worn as shaw. This is a great way to spruce up a basic tank top or a sleeveless summer dress

• As a belt, works best with long rectangular scarves, but square scarves can also be folded to form a stylish belt.

And if all else fails, scarves make a great accessory for your handbags. Here are few additional tricks and tips for tying scarves.

Good luck!
-P.G.

Scarf looped around the "model's" neck. For the record, art directing, modeling, and styling your own photo shoot is way harder than it looks.

Ask Preppy Girl – Scarf Woes one

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,
I am embarrassed to admit that I do not know what letterpress is. My friend is getting married and she is OBSESSED with letterpress and I have no idea what she is talking about.
Thanks!

- Hillary

Dear Hillary,
Letterpress is a traditional printing process which transfers ink to the printed page by way of a metal, wooden, or photopolymer plate. It is usually identified by the indented impression the plate makes on the paper. Preparing letterpress is a highly-skilled process which can be very labor intensive and time consuming. Even today, many of the presses are still powered by hand.

Letterpress has recently seen a resurgence in popularity, due largely in part to Martha Stewart. Letterpress invitations, stationary, and business cards are are considered très chic and are highly sought after due to the care and cost associated with it. I hope that answers your question!

Best,
P.G.

If you have a question for the Preppy Girl email it to me at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com.

Dear Preppy Girl,
I love watching the tv series, Gossip Girl. Ever since I started watching the show, I have embraced wearing flats,  just like Blair. My question is would she wear flats in the summer or just the winter?
Thanks!

- Cheryl

Dear Cheryl,
Thanks for reading the blog, great question! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, flats! They look great year round. In summer they look great with a cute pair of capris or a mini skirt. With jeans you can wear either flats or heels. I prefer heels with dresses. Target, J. Crew, and Nordstrom all have a great selection of ballet flats this summer.

Best!

P.G.

Cute Ballet Flats

Ask Preppy Girl – Ballet Flats one