The Preppy Handbook: how to master the classic aesthetic

With shows like Succession and the Gossip Girl reboot gaining massive traction during the past couple of years, the internet is perpetually obsessed with “old money” aesthetics and the concept of “stealth wealth”.

The prep and old money aesthetics seem to go hand in hand as representations of the aspirational and unattainable lifestyles of the upper echelons. Fashion writer Alexandra Hildreth, in a TikTok posted on 12th April, explains that, back in the day, prep was characterised by the “socioeconomic and cultural signifier of essentially being white, upper middle class, or wealthy”.

As Alexandra goes on to say, the aesthetic was inextricably tangled with “inherent and learnt behaviours” correlated to that economic status, making it reactionary and exclusive.

View this post on Instagram

Instagram

To embed social media content, we use a third-party service which may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view this content.

Today prep is involved in a different cultural phenomenon: a subversion of the ideals it used to represent. Independent luxury brands like Chopova Lowena, Martine Rose, and Wales Bonner, but also industry titans like Miu Miu and Thom Browne, have co-opted the preppy aesthetic and turned it on its head, transforming it in a much more rugged, contemporary, and inclusive movement.

Tina Kunakey wears a striped zip-up jumper, straight blue jeans, and white tennis shoes.

Getty Images

While most of those brands focus on a more fluid and androgynous aesthetic, Miu Miu showed a girlier and nerdier side of prep for their SS23 runway, a side made of cashmere co-ords, frame bags, hosiery, and kitten heels.

View this post on Instagram

Instagram

To embed social media content, we use a third-party service which may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view this content.

In the words of Harper Bazaar’s Fashion News Director Rachel Tashjian, “Rather than reinforcing the lifestyle of prep and its trappings, [these brands] are swatting at them, playing with them, questioning them. Prep is back, and this time, it’s personal!”

If this new, rebellious prep tickles your fancy, here’s a handy guide on how to rock it.

1. Plaid and pleats

Yuzhen Wang wears a black leather jacket, a brown t-shirt, a midi plaid skirt with leather and metal belt details, and black biker ankle boots.

Getty Images

Absolute staples of the prep renaissance, plaid and pleats are ubiquitous in every prep brand’s collection. Pair your pleated skirt with rocker-style pieces to break away from the school uniform mold.

Antler

Large Cabin Suitcase In Antler Green - Icon Stripe

At Antler

£200.00

Delivery: free

Buy it here

Fat Face

FatFace Quilted Biker Jacket in Burgundy Red

Delivery: £4.95

£199.00

FatFace

Belstaff

Velocette Colour Black Leather Racing Jacket Size XS Green

Delivery: £5.00

£265.00

HEWI

-37%

Fat Face

FatFace Tessa Black Leather Jacket

Delivery: £4.95

£125.00 ~~£199.00~~

FatFace

Infinity Leather Womens Burgundy Biker Jacket - Delhi - Size 14 UK

-15%

BESTSELLER

Infinity Leather

Womens Burgundy Biker Jacket - Delhi - Size 14 UK Red

Delivery: £2.99

£79.99 ~~£93.59~~

Secret Sales

-37%

Fat Face

FatFace Leanna Black Leather Jacket

Delivery: £4.95

£125.00 ~~£199.00~~

FatFace

Reiss

Black Leather Collarless Biker Jacket, 12

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£328.00

Reiss

Ralph Lauren

Tan Leather jacket Size L Orange

Delivery: £5.00

£300.00

HEWI

VSP Leather Jackets, female, Red, S, Isla - Cherry Leather Jacket

-22%

BESTSELLER

VSP

Leather Jackets, female, Red, S, Isla - Cherry Leather Jacket

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£474.16 ~~£604.66~~

Miinto

More products

2. Statement coats

View this post on Instagram

Instagram

To embed social media content, we use a third-party service which may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view this content.

A statement coat should be structured but effortless, dandy but not pretentious. You are fancy, and therefore deserve the fanciest coat!

Saint Laurent

Suede trench coat

At Mytheresa

£6,115.00

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

Buy it here

-64%

Fat Face

FatFace Harley Burgundy Red Longline Puffer Coat

Delivery: £4.95

£50.00 ~~£140.00~~

FatFace

Rains Womens Rains Curve Long Womens Jacket - 03 Green - Size: 10/8

-32%

BESTSELLER

Rains

Womens Rains Curve Long Womens Jacket - 03 Green - Size: 10/8

Delivery: free

£80.75 ~~£119.00~~

lovethesales

Fat Face FatFace Bianca Grey Longline Teddy Coat

-43%

BESTSELLER

Fat Face

FatFace Bianca Grey Longline Teddy Coat

Delivery: £4.95

£69.00 ~~£120.00~~

FatFace

-51%

Reiss

Neutral Check Wool-blend Single-breasted Coat, 6

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£178.00 ~~£360.00~~

Reiss

Fat Face FatFace Harley Black Longline Puffer Coat

-43%

BESTSELLER

Fat Face

FatFace Harley Black Longline Puffer Coat

Delivery: £4.95

£80.00 ~~£140.00~~

FatFace

-31%

Ariat

Womens Ballston Cardigan Top Long Sleeve in Sorrel Horse Plaid, Size X-Small, by Ariat

Delivery: £5.00

£90.00 ~~£130.00~~

Ariat

-50%

Fat Face

FatFace Aubrey Blush Pink Structured Coat

Delivery: £4.95

£80.00 ~~£160.00~~

FatFace

-44%

Ariat

Womens Estrade Softshell Jacket Long Sleeve in Banyan Bark, Size X-Large, by Ariat

Delivery: free

£100.00 ~~£180.00~~

Ariat

More products

3. Chunky sweaters and cardigans

Diane Batoukina wears dark brown squared sunglasses, a pale blue cotton shirt, a white oversized pullover, a brown braided leather belt, baggy white linen pants, a camel brown handbag, and camel loafers.

Getty Images

Knitwear from a heritage brand like Ralph Lauren or Tommy Hilfiger is another prep staple. Pair your cable-knit sweaters and preppy cardigans with leather trousers or baggy jeans.

Wales Bonner

Adidas X Wales Bonner Stripe-intarsia Knit Cardigan - Red - S (UK8-10 / S)

At Harvey Nichols

£152.40 ~~£254.00~~

Delivery: £7.50

Buy it here

Bloch

BLOCH Ladies Bianca 3/4 Sleeve Sweater, Grey Marle

Delivery: £4.95

£39.00

BLOCH

Charles & Keith

Apolline Textured Top-Zip Wallet Black

Delivery: £4.00

£35.00

Charles & Keith

Bloch

BLOCH Ladies Bianca 3/4 Sleeve Sweater, Cherry

Delivery: £4.95

£39.00

BLOCH

-5%

Polo Ralph Lauren

Round-neck Knitwear, female, Blue, L, Round-neck Knitwear

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£177.70 ~~£187.05~~

Miinto

Charles & Keith

Apolline Textured Top-Zip Wallet Grey

Delivery: £4.00

£35.00

Charles & Keith

-30%

Polo Ralph Lauren

Cable-knit cotton sweater Blue

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£140.00 ~~£200.00~~

Mytheresa

-5%

Polo Ralph Lauren

Cable Knit Jumper Pink

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£177.70 ~~£187.05~~

Miinto

-50%

Jardin Des Orangers

Cable-knit wool and cashmere sweater Yellow

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£162.00 ~~£325.00~~

Mytheresa

More products

4. Shoes: from loafers to kitten heels

A Chopova Lowena model wears orange sunglasses, a printed button-up shirt, a metal bolo tie, a denim knee-lenght skirt, black and red socks, and black loafers.

Getty Images

Nothing says preppy like a classic pair of loafers: we recommend pairing them with thick white socks, to add a layer of ironic awkwardness. Speaking of awkwardness, Miu Miu SS23 made the nerdy girl with sheer tights and pointy kitten heels cool again.

Martine Rose

Lace-Up Ankle Boots - Unisex - Other Fibres/Leather/Rubber/Goose Down

At Browns

£230.00

Delivery: £5.00

Buy it here

Vagabond

Hillary leather lace-up loafers - Brown

Delivery: £10.00

£129.00

FARFETCH

Vagabond

Eyra - Womens Black Leather/embossed

Sold out

£130.00

Vagabond

Brittie - Womens Black Crinkled Patent Leather

Sold out

£135.00

Vagabond

Hunter

Womens Gloss Penny Loafers Blue

Sold out

£95.00

Hunter

Vagabond

Blanca - Womens Off White Suede

Sold out

£130.00

Vagabond

Russell & Bromley

FAIRYTALE Slingback Gem Kitten Heel Blue

Sold out

£275.00

Russell & Bromley

Miista

Mie snake-print leather sandals - Animal print - EU 35

Sold out

£280.00

The Outnet

Ted Baker

Womens Metallic Kitten Heel Sandals in White, Myloh, Leather

Sold out

£110.00

Ted Baker

More products

5. "Girly" accessories

View this post on Instagram

Instagram

To embed social media content, we use a third-party service which may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view this content.

Pairing your slacks, tweed blazers, and loafers with more feminine accessories is a great way to create a nice contrast. We recommend classic handbags, pearl jewellery, and sheer hosiery.

Miu Miu

Brown Logo Embossed Bucket Bag - Womens - Leather

At Browns

£754.00

Delivery: £5.00

Buy it here

-30%

Jil Sander

Goji Bamboo Small Handbag Black

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£1,180.00 ~~£1,690.00~~

Labels

Coach

Kisslock Frame Bag 16 In Crystal Signature Jacquard Multi

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£495.00

Coach

Charles & Keith

Enola Canvas Long-Handle Shoulder Bag Brown

Delivery: free

£79.00

Charles & Keith

-54%

Globe-Trotter

Handbags, female, Black, ONE SIZE, Centenary Case

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£691.65 ~~£1,508.58~~

Miinto

Coach

Large Kisslock Frame Bag In Crystal Signature Jacquard Brown

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£950.00

Coach

Marchesa

Black Crystal Embellished Satin Box Clutch

Delivery: £5.00

£215.00

HEWI

Coach

Kisslock Frame Bag 16 Black

Delivery: Delivery costs apply

£375.00

Coach

-40%

Saint Laurent

Grey Heart Mesh Mini Bag - Womens - Brass Silver

Delivery: £5.00

£981.00 ~~£1,635.00~~

Browns

More products

6. Statement glasses

View this post on Instagram

Instagram

To embed social media content, we use a third-party service which may collect data about your activity. Please review the details and accept the service to view this content.

A pair of wide-frame, rimmed glasses is another fantastic way to accessorise your preppy outfit.