Today’s Wall Street Journal makes the claim that “preppy” is back.
The problem?
It never went away.
It’s tempting to declare the apocalypse on a style trend (white is the new black! dresses – no pants – no dresses!), but the preppy influence is everywhere from Ralph Lauren’s continued success to Marc’s recent Nantucket totes, and even Hilary Rhoda’s streak from a Maryland field hockey game to the Chanel runway. But while the style’s dominance never changed, its customer base certainly did.
Upper East Side boys have long embraced L.A. hip-hop staples. (Think Timbalands and Nantucket Reds.) Finally, the vice versa effect has set in.
With rappers like T-Pain rocking both the mic and the madras plaid, it seems the hip-hop/preppy mix is here to stay.
Will you hop on the bandwagon? If so, will you do it by pairing existing pieces in your closet, or will you spring for one of Unruly Heir’s basketball hoodies- made of seersucker?
– NATALIE MATTHEWS
Tags: Chanel, Hilary Rhoda, Ralph Lauren
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What do you mean “Finally, the vice versa effect has set in.”? Rappers have been rocking prep since…forever. Think Phat Farm polos–think Phat farm anything for that matter–, think Ralph Lauren button downs with popped collars, think the fact that they actually made Tommy Hilfiger cool/relevant for 12 minutes in the mid 90s…..
daft pryncess, I agree, of course, that rappers have long embraced preppiness–on some level. Now, though, I think there’s been a motion towards the extreme, a la Fonzworth Bentley in bowties and pink shorts, and WSJs T-pain graphic of the group in madras plaid and sweaters around the shoulders . I didn’t mean to insinuate that no rapper has ever worn a polo shirt…
i mean, i really like marraiges of two different styles, like a cute babydoll dress with some rocker accessories…
I agree. Fusion always pushes fashion forward.
hop on the bandwagon? why, this isn’t a trend, your initial statement “It never went away.” is correct. this has been going on for a long time. it’s lines like Unruly Heir that don’t realize the preppy meets urban look is so played out it’s now commonplace.
daft pryncess is dead on! and don’t forget the singing group Boys II Men pre-dated all of this they were the ones who took the pastel colors and madras shorts to the extreme first!
Diddy, Jigga, Big Boi, et.al how do they dress?
it’s funny that people see farnsworth as ‘extreme’…i see guys dressed like him, with bow ties, suspenders, seersucker/madras, bright colors, critters and the like at the club and at summer weddings all the time. i don’t like the prep look on anyone who can’t wear it with the ease of having it imbued in them from a young age, though. it’s just trying too hard, and borderline vulgar.
T-Pain is not a rapper. He’s not even really a singer – more of an entertainer.
or babydoll dresses paired with birkenstock ala early 90′s grunge.
Borderline vulgar without “the ease of having it imbued in them from a young age” Anonymous? I call bullshit, firstly because that phrase seems too vague to mean anything other than class prejudice. Secondly, Farnsworth rocks it just as hard as the gentlemen from the club.
Also, incorrect usage of ‘imbued’.