Information AboutPreppy |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT PREPPY | |
| subcultures | |
| social groups | |
| stereotypes | |
| 1970s fashion | |
| 1980s fashion | |
| 2000s fashion | |
| fashion aesthetics | |
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Preppy, also spelled '''preppie''', is a chiefly North American adjective or noun traditionally used to describe the characteristics of White Anglo-Saxon Protestant s ( WASPs ) attitudes. The term originated as a description of someone who attended University-preparatory School s, commonly associated with the Eastern United States . These characteristics include particular Subcultural speech, vocabulary, accent, dress, mannerisms, Etiquette , and entitled life view. The term "preppy" is similar in formation to Hippie or Yuppie , both of which movements influenced the former, and had great currency in the 1970s and 1980s . The term first reached a wide audience in the 1970 film '' Love Story '', where Ali MacGraw 's character uses it as a derisive term of endearment. The more recent slang derivation prep has taken on an often derogatory meaning, associated not with any particular race, community or schools. Especially as used by young people, "prep" more generally denotes superficiality and preoccupation with the appearance and wealth; see Slang Usage below. CURRENT USAGE The word preppie (or "preppy") has come to refer to people of a certain class, economic status, and ethnic origin. In particular, it is used to describe people from established WASP families, and is controversial due to its exclusion of people from other backgrounds. More generally, preppies are people who attended elite college preparatory schools, often boarding schools. Interestingly, the prep school attended is sometimes given more weight than the college subsequently attended, however prestigious the latter. Nevertheless, preppies traditionally go on to some of the United State's top colleges and universities. It is worth noting that a school's eliteness or cost does not necessarily mean that is a preppy college. Preppy culture idealizes intelligence, athleticism, sociability and wealth. The culture also emphasizes deference to business and certain fashions. Fashion-wise, the term "preppy" is associated not with dramatic designer fashions, but with classic and conservative clothing and accessory brands such as Lacoste , Brooks Brothers , Burberry , J.Crew , J. Press , Paul Stuart , Polo Ralph Lauren , Vineyard Vines , Tod's , Lyle & Scott , C&J Clark , Barbour , Izod , L.L. Bean , Sperry Top-Sider , Vera Bradley , Lilly Pulitzer , and Patagonia . An example of preppy attire would be a button-down Oxford Cloth shirt, cuffed Khaki s, and Cordovan Loafer s. "Where do you summer?" is a quintessential prep question, since a preppy's vacation location is as important to their status as where they primarily live. It is important to note that preps generally vacation to the same location year after year and often own real-estate there. Vacations are an essential aspect of the authentic preppy lifestyle, important and prestigious vacation spots include Newport, RI ; Mount Desert Island, ME ; Bar Harbor, ME ; Millbrook, NY ; Lake Placid, NY ; Palm Beach ; Hilton Head Island, SC ; Rockport, MA ; The Hamptons, NY ; Fire Island , Locust Valley ; Harbour Island ; Nantucket ; Cape Cod ; Martha's Vineyard ; Manchester-by-the-Sea, MA , Bald Head Island, NC and Sea Island, GA . SLANG USAGE In recent years, young people have begun to use the term "preppy," to describe those who try to appear better off financially or class-wise than others in a middle class environment. In many regions, especially amongst young people, this usage has virtually replaced the traditional meaning of the word. Used in this manner, "preppy" is often applied contrary to the term's original meaning stated above, as the slang version most often describes publicly-educated people absorbed in the middle class hypermaterialistic '', a Tongue-in-cheek guide to what she termed "prepdom." Though intended as Satire , it is widely adhered to as a guidebook by those who embrace the latter interpretation of preppy fashion. ATHLETICS Athletics are highly valued to preps and are very important socially. The most widespread and respected preppie sports are known to be crew, lacrosse, sailing and squash. Participation in such events as the Head Of The Charles and Henley Royal Regatta is considered very highly among their athletic peers. The following sports were cited in Lisa Birnbach's ''Preppy Handbook'':
DRINKS '' The Official Preppy Handbook '' notes the Bloody Mary to be the favored mixed drink amongst preppies. The following liquor brands were cited to be "preppy" in an unofficial sequel to ''The Official Preppy Handbook'', ''Tipsy in Madras'':
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