Your prep school needs a new athletic facility? The sailing club needs new uniforms? The ski team wants to go to Switzerland? It’s Bull Roast time. Bull and Oyster Roasts are the unofficial preppy fund raisers. It’s like a grown-up tailgate minus the flat beer. What better way to raise money, then by socializing with 300 of your closest friends? For the un-initiated, Bull Roasts are not as gruesome as they sound. Imagine a room full of preppy people chatting, sipping cocktails and snacking on pit beef, mini-crab cakes, oysters, and fancy hors’ dourves. Often times held in large tents, popular Bull Roasts sell out quickly, so be sure to reserve your table of ten in advance.

Bull Roast Must Haves:

• Classic Rock Band
• Middle-Aged Prepsters
• Cocktails
• Roast/Pit Beef
• Crab Cakes
• Steamed Shrimp
• Roasted or Mashed Potatoes
• Cheese Plate
• Fancy Desserts

Who doesn't love dining in a tent?

School Uniform Blahs

Three little words that still make me shudder. There is nothing worse than after a long summer of fashion freedom to be stuffed back into the often conservative and confining school uniform. Oh, but wait, there is a small glimmer of hope. Even the strictest of uniform codes…and I am talking no ankle socks, nuns measuring the length of your skirt, allow for a little room to express yourself. You just need to get a little creative.

Girls – Layer it!

• Sweaters: If you don’t have to wear a gross polyester blend from the school uniform company, sweaters are a great way to express your individuality. J. Crew, Old Navy, and Land’s End have many styles of cardigans to choose from. Cardis are great because you can even customize the buttons.

• Shoes: I had to wear saddle shoes—yes ladies—saddle shoes. But many schools who are more lenient in the shoe department. Most department stores carry cute styles of oxfords, flats, brogues, and penny loafers. I am sure you can find at least one pair to your liking…and who said you had to wear white crew socks?

• Jewelry: Whether you love traditional styles like signet rings and pearls or if boho jewelry more your thing, bracelets, rings, and earrings are a great way to show off your fashion sense (and comply with your school’s dress code.)

• Watch: Everyone is allowed to tell time, aren’t we? From silver to grosgrain, watches come in a variety of sizes and styles.

• Hair: Hairbands and barrettes just to name a few hair accessories. Time to try some new styles.

• Nails: Many schools do not have a rule about nail polish, so stock up on all of the fun shades.

• School bag: Who said you have to carry a traditional backpack? Try a stylish tote or a funky over-sized purse instead.

Guys – Color it!
Guys have it so much easier than girls in the uniform department. As long as you have a tie and a buttoned down shirt, you are golden. Many schools do not specify what color shirt or tie to wear, if that is the case at your school, you should take full advantage of it. Try pairing unexpected color combinations like a navy blue gingham dress shirt with a green tie.

• Sports jackets: Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, Jos. A Banks, Nantucket Reds, take your pick. Spruce up your look with a fancy handkerchief and a funky needlepoint belt.

Do you have any helpful tips on how to make your school uniform more fashionable? Send it here.

We love doggies, our four-footed friends who make us smile every day. So with out any delay…the preppy pooches.

The Preppy Princess's pup, Tilly, in her adorable pink and green halter.

Cheryl's pooch Chico is looking snazzy in his preppy sweater from Old Navy.

Daisy keeping watch at the beach.

Miss Penny snoozes in her Crab and Sand Dollar Collar.

Mr. Ranger looking good at the beach.

And the ever preppy Golden Retrievers!

Boomer, Ashley Estill's preppy pup, soaking up the scene in Annapolis.

Mr. Max playing on the rocks.

Pretty Miss Priscilla of Newport Beach

Truman is ready for a night on the town!

For more preppy puppies, check out the Preppy Life’s Top 10 Preppy Dog Names.

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.

Ok, who doesn’t own at least one polo shirt…one in every color!

Lacoste: The Original Polo Shirt

Polos are the brainchild of the 7-time Grand Slam champion, René Lacoste. Called “the Crocodile” by his fans, Lacoste was unsatisfied with the stuffy and confining tennis attire of the 1920s. He took matters into his own hands and designed a short-sleeved, breathable piqué cotton shirt, which he premiered while playing in the 1926 U.S. Open. His meticulously designed shirt had thoughtful details ensuring comfort, wearability and style. For example, the shirt featured a longer shirttail to stay tucked-in and a stiff collar to protect his neck from the sun. In 1927, Lacoste placed a crocodile logo on the left side of his tennis shirt, ushering in the dawn of the Lacoste and logo clothing. Upon retiring from tennis, Lacoste formed Chemise Lacoste, a luxury sportswear company, who manufactures the ever-popular crocodile tennis shirt.

…but how did it get its name?

Preppy Prince William plays polo in a polo shirt. Photo by Simon Taylor.

Tennis players were not the only athletes dissatisfied with their athletic wardrobe. Disgruntled polo players took the field in long sleeved buttoned-down shirts called polo shirts. Hearing about Lacoste’s fabulous tennis shirt, the players tried it. Before long, Lacoste’s shirt was the standard garb for playing polo and referred to as the “polo” shirt. A young Ralph Lauren included the polo shirt in his fledgling 1972 clothing line, Polo.

Forty years later, and the polo shirt is still going strong. Hundreds of clothing companies have created polo knock-offs, but nothing can beat Lacoste, a true preppy original.

Since the dawn of time, preps have used monograms to personalize their belongings. From cuff links to cozies, everything looks better with your initials. The nuns even required our high school gym uniforms to be monogrammed. Besides being functional, monogramming is a great way to spruce up your stuff.

Here are a few of my favorite monogrammed items:

Sweet Pink Plaid Pillow by Letter Perfect Designs. $62

Preppy Pillow:
This perky pillow features dozens of rose pink buttons and was handmade by Letter Perfect Designs. The pillows can be customized for any letter.

Personalized Key Ring from Paige's Pastime $8

Cute Key Ring:
Never loose your keys again with a personalized key ring from Paige’s Pastime. Its the perfect gift for all of your preppy friends.

Monogrammed Duffel Bag from The Lazy Daisy Children's Shop $23

Delightful Duffel:
This adorable green and pink duffel bag from The Lazy Daisy Children’s Shop is great for your tweens. The bag can be personalized with 1, 2, or even 3 initials.

Personalized Vinyl Car Monogram by Southern Belle Boutique $10

Coolest Car:
You can now even personalize your car with a vinyl monogram from Southern Belle Boutique.

Monogramming Guidelines:

• Traditional three letter monograms feature the last name in the center of the design. The first name initial appears to the left and the middle name initial appears to the right.
• Married or engaged couples can use either a two letter monogram or create a new three letter monogram using their shared surname.
• Monogramming etiquette for the married couple varies according to the item being monogrammed. For example, bed linens place the woman’s initial first, followed by the couple’s shared surname initial, and then the man’s initial.

Source: Wikipedia

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.

Whether cooling at the country club or chilling on the beach, here are a few preppy essentials to get you through this summer heat.

Franklin+Gower Coastal Cool

For Guys:

1. Nantucket Reds – Critter shorts, pants, polos and more
2. Retro School T’s – Preferably of the Ivy League
3. Lacoste – Great for those hot weather tennis matches and golf games
4. Shorts – F+G makes the coolest customizable bermudas
5. Seersucker – Why don’t more men wear seersucker suits?
6. Vineyard Vines tie – A staple at preppy summer weddings
7. Madras – It goes with everything
8. Grosgrain, needle point, & club belts – Can’t leave home with out one.
9. Boat Shoes – Ahoy!

Lilly Skirt and J. Crew Grosgrain Ribbon Flip Flops

For Gals:

1. Lilly – Skirts, dresses, bathing suits, you name it, Lilly makes it pretty.
2. A little white dress
3. Madras patchwork skirt – A summer essential that never goes out of style
4. Navy Blue anything
5. Plenty of polos
6. A classic tote bag ala L.L. Bean – Perfect for storing your snacks, books, and beach blanket.
7. J. Crew flip-flops – Simply the best
8. A floppy straw hat- A must have for the beach
9. Jackie O. Sunglasses – The bigger the better
10. Sailor Stripes: H&M, J. Crew, Old Navy, everyone is making them this year, it’s a perfect time to stock up!
    

    Stripes Galore at H&M

For more preppy fashion check out Preppy Style 101: Dressing the Part and Preppy Essentials.

Since I essentially live in a bachelor pad with the BF and Wonder Dog, I have to voice my decorating style on the sly. Slowly, I have been sneaking the lime green and sunshine yellow on the walls, transforming the BF’s brown-on-boring house into one of my budget coastal design. After scouring the Pottery Barn catalogue for ideas,  I went to IKEA and stocked up on jars, vases, and candles. I’m not an interior designer by any stretch of the imagination, but I thought these beachy accents made a huge improvement in the home.

To disguise the ugly glass table lamp, I added a few jars stuffed with sea shells

Candles and Shells add some serenity to the mess I call "The Mail"

a good way to store all of your sea shells from past vacays

Pussy Willow Branches in a large vase

French fries and the smell of the ocean air brings back fond memories of living at the beach, one of the great rites of prep passage. Not every prep spends a summer at the beach, and a few lucky preps have yet to return, ala Jimmy Buffet, but one thing is for sure, most preps wish they summered at the beach.

The ideal age to live at the beach is the summer after your freshman year of college. At this point your parents are just happy you survived freshman year, a few months at the beach with your friends can’t hurt, right?

The Digs:
A big beach house on the ocean is always preferable and great for throwing late night soirees. Wishful thinking, I know. Any beach shack will do, as long as there is a roof over your head, a bed to sleep on, and a working fridge.

Want some useful tips on decorating your beach bungalow? Here is my list of beach house essentials.

The Daily Grind:
The ultimate beach job is working the umbrella stand, followed by selling telescope photos. And finally there is waiting tables, sigh, not a beach job, but a good way to make some cash and score a few well-cooked meals.

Nightlife:
The beach bar scene is usually out of the question for young preps. The preppy social life revolves around parading the boardwalk and attending parties the cute lifeguard’s house. Not a bad way to spend the summer. With any luck, you will meet a co-ed from a nearby prep school.

With this advice in mind, you are all set for a preptastic summer! ; )