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.

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

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?

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.

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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:

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.

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.

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.

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

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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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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