The 7 most famous types of preppy styles

The preppy style is known for its versatility and elitism. Though the preppy style stands as its own, many types of it look quite different. But what are the types of preppy?

As a general rule, there are more than 15 types of preppy styles but the most prominent ones are classic preppy, sporty preppy, nautical preppy, country club preppy, and preppy chic. These types of preppy style cover most outfits and clothes. 

As these styles may cover most of the outfits you will find out there, others will be more specific in their orientation. To get a complete overview as well as a list of all types, read the full article. 

The Preppy Style

The preppy style is an elitist and extravagant style that emerged during the 1950s and 1960s in the upper-middle- and upper-class in the United States. It likes to express wealth and a certain, rather conservative style of living. As popular as it was during the 1950s and 60s, it took preppy a while to make a comeback. 

In the 1980s this comeback happened as Lisa Steinbach published the “Official Preppy Handbook” to make fun of the preppy style. This led to the hype though and to this day people still follow the rules and ideas of this book. 

The preppy style went through some changes in its history, developing different types of it. As in the 1950s and 60s, the classic conservative style of preppy was trendy, in the 1990s more alternative items like linen shirts and pants and flannel were in trend.

In general, many different types of preppy emerged. This list will cover most of them: 

• Classic Preppy
• Sporty Preppy
• Nautical Preppy
• Preppy Chic
• Country Club Preppy
• East Coast Prep
• Southern Prep
• California Preppy
• Vintage Preppy
• Ivy League Preppy
• Modern Prep
• Beach Prep
• Urban Prep
• Euro Prep

7 most popular types of prep

Though this list features 15 different types and variations of the preppy style, this article will only write about the 7 most popular ones. These describe the preppy style the best and cover most of the outfits that are associated with it. 

The types of the preppy style that will be covered more deeply are:

• Classic Preppy 
• Sporty Preppy
• Modern Preppy
• Preppy Chic
• East Coast Preppy
• Southern Preppy 
• Country Club preppy

We will share some backstories and trademarks of the seven types of preppy as well as some tips to style them. Though there are some differences in preppy style for men and women, this article will not divide between males and females.

Classic/collegiate preppy style

The classic preppy style emerged in the Ivy League universities which is the reason of its name “collegiate”. It features conservative cuts and clean and simple lines to make the clothing fit well to the body. Patterns like plaid and checks are widely featured to express the elitism and class that the classic preppy style stands for. 

Also, you can see the American culture in this style as it likes to address values and typical hobbies for the rich like golf. 

Clothes that express this style are Button-down shirts and Oxford shirts as well as khaki pants, polo shirts, blazers, crew neck sweaters, and loafers. For accessories belts and watches are the way to go.

Sporty preppy style

Sporty preppy style is a bold departure in terms of color, blending athletic wear with classic pieces. Designed for comfort during activities like tennis, golf, or sailing, this style also maintains a neat and elevated appearance, making it suitable for casual occasions as well.

Typical colors are bright ones like pink, white, yellow, green, and so on. Patterns are not typical for this style. The fabric must be good for performance and to dry off sweat quickly and accessories must be functional. This leaves us with sunglasses, baseball caps, and sweatbands. Common clothes for this style are tennis skirts, polo shirts, sweaters, white sneakers or boat shoes as well as windbreakers and sweatshirts.

To get a detailed guide for the sporty preppy style, check out this article about mastering sport preppy in 2023.

Modern style

The modern preppy style comes with its unique feature of combining the classic preppy garments like Polo shirts, pleated skirts, or Chinos with contemporary items like Hoodies, Linen shirts, or Turtleneck sweaters. This trendy but timeless blend offers a variety of outfits you may want to check out.

Find out more about the modern preppy style here.

Preppy chic

The preppy chic style tries to formalise the classic preppy style. Therefore, tailored clothes with clean lines are key elements. Like the classic preppy style, this one also keeps its color scheme neutral but opts for patterns like plaid and stripes. 

The typical preppy chic wardrobe consists of blazers, medium-length skirts, loafers, wool sweaters, silk blouses, and chino pants. For accessories, necklaces, belts, and rings will work perfectly.

East Coast preppy style features nautical elements and inspirations. Many of the outfits are suited for an adventure at a boat and will withstand rough weather and physical labour.

Typical east coast preppy clothes include items like sweaters, blazers, loafers, dresses, skirts, and chino pants but also button-down- and Oxford shirts.

You’ve decided you want to know more about the East Coast Preppy style? Find out more about it in my article here.

Southern preppy style

Unlike most of the other styles on this list, the Southern preppy style uses bright colors to evolve a bit from the classic preppy style it is based on. As the name already tells, this style originates from the southern region of the United States. Generally, it is more relaxed and practical than other styles on this list. 

This starts with lightweight fabrics like linen or cotton. Especially, as the climate in these regions is usually pretty hot, this fits perfectly. For clothes, this style is about sundresses, boots, denim shorts, button-down- and Oxford shirts, polo shirts, and seersuckers.

Country Club preppy style

The Country Club preppy style is a type of preppy that is very much about the elitist, sophisticated aesthetic of the upper class. It expresses this through high-quality conservative clothes that are appropriate for a semi-formal setting. 

As the name already tells, this style is inspired by the Country Club culture. It features neutral colors and preppy patterns like plaid or stripes. For clothes, sweaters, Khaki pants and shorts, white sneakers or loafers, but also collared shirts and mid-sized skirts are a thing. 

Final thoughts on the different types of preppy style

As we’ve seen many different types of it, it becomes clear that the preppy style is way more versatile than originally expected. All these styles can be combined though to create your unique preppy style. If you found this article helpful, don’t hesitate to write me a comment and read my other blog posts.