With NY Fashion Week in full swing and the start of fall upon us, if you who thought the clothing industry might be on the verge of something new for a change, brace yourself for yet another “reinvention”. According to nearly everyone even remotely connected with style, the big thing in men’s fashion this fall is going to be the return of the preppy look. Don’t worry though, it might be as bad as you might think.
So, if what the fashion pundits say is true what should you be expecting to see in the coming months? The simple answer is: prepare yourself for plenty of madras and check print shirts, button down collars, brightly colored polos, tweed blazers, argyle vests and white penny loafers. As the name for this style suggests, the prep look derives from the styles worn by preparatory school students, who were typically the pampered scions of wealthy families living in gated communities.
At first glance, prep – a style synonymous with the WASP-y elitism and trust fund-fueled frivolity of 1980’s – seems out of sync with today’s more diverse society and the realities of a harsh economy. But while the preppy look of today still retains something of the aspirational qualities of its Iran Contra-era progenitor, it also promises to be much more accessible to the masses, thanks in large part to a more tolerant and democratic fashion climate.
Of course for some people, the preppy look never exactly went away. If you own a yacht or a house in the Hamptons, you can probably stop reading this article now. Similarly, anyone who’s joined a fraternity within the last decade or so has likely seen (and purchased) more than their fair share of popped-collar polos and frayed khakis.
Really this trend is aimed at men who might have earlier felt alienated by the stuffiness of prep style. The prep look can now be approached by nearly anyone with either a sense of irreverence or a straight face.
For slightly older, mid-career guys who have a hard time finding stylish casual clothing that still suits their age, this trend could provide an alternative to the frumpy flannels and uninspired “active” wear normally marketed towards the 40+ crowd.
Younger men who don’t feel comfortable wearing the vintage-inspired tailored fashions which arose in the aftermath of metrosexuality could look at the return of preppy fashion as an ironically snarky opportunity to grow-up their wardrobes without compromising their foothold on cool. Adding to the irony though is the fact that many of the late-20’s/early-30’s guys who might adopt a preppy appearance today are in fact the same Gen-Xer’s who originally helped topple Beverly Hills 90210-themed fashion years ago.
Today fashion is not so much about buying into a lifestyle or showing off your status. In the end it doesn’t matter how you label your clothing; what matters is how you feel wearing it.
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