Much of my Design sensibility has been gleaned along the way…absorbed from Art and the masters of color and style and beauty…too many to name and all so varied in style.

But the Preppy style is in my blood.

here is my PREPPY PALATE:

….I came hardwired with…PREPPY. Preppy has been around me since before I was born and which I have come and gone from and it seems I have wandered back into, first by way of my children and now, just because it makes me happy. It is easy.

My Dad grew up in Winchester Massachusetts and my Mom grew up in Rye New York.

My Dad, Trevor, went to Loomis Boarding school and then to Amherst College. At Amherst, my dad’s best friend Dick took him home one weekend, and introduced him to his sister, Bonnie Jean, who was just a year older…Trevor + Bonnie Jean were smitten and a year later they were married with a baby on the way!

My Dad was the original prepster.

HAVING BEEN BORN INTO PREPPYDOM…I Grew up ironing my Dad’s Brooks Brothers shirts. In high school I would wear his old ones to bed and to school, with jeans and my jack purcells.  I have a stack of them that my step Mom gave me after he passed away. I wear some of them as My painting shirts. They fit Tate now and recently he wore one and it made me cry.

 

PREPPY CASUAL ESSENTIALS BY LILLY PULITZER, J CREW, SPERRY, AND VINEYARD VINES, HUNTER BOOTS, JACK WILLS, RALPH LAUREN, JACK ROGERS SANDALS, LACOSTE, BROOKS BROTHERS AND PEARLS.PEARLS PEARLS – NEVER ENOUGH PEARLS! (CLICK ANY OF THE NAMES TO VISIT THEIR SITES)

 

 

…I WORE preppy all through College and into my 20’s. And I can remember when PREP was synonymous with JCREW. Even when I have attempted to change it up…and strayed from my Preppy roots…it is not long before I am back…. for a few simple reasons…It is EASY! Basic. Classic.  I don’t look too old to be wearing it, OR too young…I just look like me!

I tend to do more jeans than Khakis and more boots than Sperrys…but the rest just works…

My recent return to Prep was fueled by of all things…my BOYS!!!

Vineyard Vines

is HOT HOT HOT in the Middle and High school boy world in our College town.

Before I had 3 teenagers, I might have leaned in the direction of trying to avoid things considered too trendy. Especially expensive trends. But when a trend comes along that means my sons now dress in clothes other than their sports clothes…well that is a whale of a different color my friend and …. I could kiss Shep and Ian, the founders,  right on the lips! Thanks to these two visionaries who have taken this new wave of prepsters to a NEW LEVEL…Both of my sons own pink shirts and more importantly both boys are wearing pants…with zippers! Cooper,  until he got his recent VV shorts, had ONLY EVER worn sports shorts…anywhere except church. The clothes are very high quality so we buy less and they last longer…and Now Cooper owns 3 pair of khaki shorts and he even bought himself a pair of shorts with Lobsters on them!!!

My Dad would be so very proud of him!!!

Look, it is what it is. When I was in High school everyone HAD TO HAVE a real rugby shirt with a real rubber button, those slouchy socks,  Levi 501 jeans, jack purcells, and Izod shirts. We did not have the internet and I must have driven my Mom crazy!!!

Nowadays…here are some of Phoebe’s go to things she begs for….in fact, she has that Lilly phone case and I think santa might bring HUNTER boots…but you did not hear it from me!!!

PREPPY CASUAL ESSENTIALS BY LILLY PULITZER, J CREW, SPERRY, AND VINEYARD VINES, HUNTER BOOTS, JACK WILLS, RALPH LAUREN, JACK ROGERS SANDALS, LACOSTE, BROOKS BROTHERS  (CLICK ANY OF THE NAMES TO VISIT THEIR SITES)

I HAVE ALWAYS TENDED TO LIKE TO MIx things up…maybe a vineyard vines shirt, and some forever 21 skinny jeans…and my newest shoes…bought in san Francisco this summer one day when my feet were getting beat up…and which have NEVER done me wrong…my Sperrys…

I would ahve to say that MY SPERRYS are my current PREPPY ESSENTIAL…

 ..I think too much of any ONE thing whether it be a color or a style is not nearly as much fun as a more eclectic approach to life….and when I think of PREPPY in terms of interiors, what comes to mind are all the same things I like about Preppy clothing – they are  “classic”, “Traditional”, “colorful” and most of all relaxed without being messy. I think there are Preppy elements in many rooms which would not consider themselves Preppy….and thats okay…who wants to be labeled anyway!

TOMORROW – BONUS SATURDAY POST!

PREPPY INSPIRED ROOMS!!!

SO – DO YOU SO PREPPY? YAY OR NAY? LETS TAKE A POLL!

and if YES…WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PREPPY ESSENTIAL?

I would love to hear from you!!!