Ballet Flats – noun. A soft, round-toe shoe favored among preppy girls.
Crease – noun. The circular area surrounding a lacrosse goal.
Critter – noun. The cute objects and animals embroidered onto clothing. Whales, ducks, and martini glasses are popular critters.
Cute – adj. Adorable. A term used by preppy girls to describe people, clothing, houses, etc. Example: Your new pink dress from J. Crew is so cute.
Daddy – noun. A preppy term of endearment for your father.
Ex-Laxers – noun. Old guys who congregate in preppy bars to relive their days on the lacrosse field.
Grosgrain – noun. A ribbed fabric used to make ribbons. Very popular with private school girls.
J. Crew – Preppy retail clothing store
Letterpress – noun. Letterpress is a traditional printing process which transfers ink to the printed page by way of a metal, wooden, or photopolymer plate. Letterpress has recently seen a resurgence in popularity, due largely in part to Martha Stewart.
Lanyard – noun. A long string used by preppy guys as a key chain.
Lax – noun. 1. Abbreviation for lacrosse 2. A person who looks like he or she plays lacrosse Example: “Bitsy’s new boyfriend is such a lax.”
Lax Mullet – noun. A shag haircut made popular by private school lacrosse players in Baltimore. They are known for the long hair sticking out the back of their lacrosse helmet
Lilly – 1. noun. short for Lilly Pulitzer. It’s considered preppy to be on a first name basis with fashion designers. 2. adj. An allusion to the perky pastel patterns that Lilly Pulitzer is known for. Example: “That cute pink and green handbag is so Lilly.”
Lime Green – A bright green color
Madras – noun. A colorful, plaid fabric worn by preppies
Monogram – noun. One, two, or three initials representing your name that are inscribed or monogrammed into one’s belongings.
Mummy – noun. A preppy term of endearment for your mother
Old Bay – noun. A seasoning from Baltimore, Maryland. Used on everything from steamed crabs to mac & cheese
Pastel – noun. Soft, light hues considered the preppiest of colors. Popular colors include light pink, lime green, yellow, turquoise, and baby blue.
Perky – adj. Used to describe a spirited, happy preppy girl or object.
Pink – the original preppy girl color
Prepster – noun. A stylish preppy
Polka dot – a perky pattern featuring circles of various sizes on a solid-color background
Scotch – noun. The ultimate preppy man drink
Tailgate – A party before or after a spotting event, usually takes place in a field or parking lot. Named for the various foods and beverages placed in the back of a car. SUVs and Mercedes station wagons are the car of choice for tailgates.
Whole Foods – Preppy grocery store, specializes in organic foods
Yar – adj. A sailing term made famous by Katerine Hepburn in the Philadelphia Story
If you have a term to include in the Preppy Life Glossary, email the Preppy Girl at preppygirl@thepreppylife.com