As reader question:
Dear Editor,
First, I really enjoy your blog! As a teen and college student, the clothing you mention on your blog were fixtures of my wardrobe. I am also a native New Englander, born and raised in Connecticut.
Since my high school and college years, I moved away from the preppy clothes, but have gained renewed inspiration through your blog.
So, my question is: If one were building a summer capsule preppy wardrobe for women, what are the essential pieces to have?
Thank you for considering my question.
Kind regards,
Love this question. Going to share it with my daughter who is finishing up her 1st year of college in Boston....
ReplyDeleteSince the women are so quiet, I'll describe my wife's summer wardrobe. Lots of shorts, mainly linen or cotton. A lot of loose fitting linen shirts. A few loose fitting J. Jill tee shirts with pleated backs. Johnny Was dresses. Toms in numerous colors. Eliza B flip flops.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your input. Very much appreciated!!
DeleteI love this question too. I am disappointed that the constituents of this blog have not summoned themselves to answer the gentle reader's excellent query. :)
ReplyDeleteI'm a man and would not dream of opining about the essential pieces a woman should possess. But I do live in one of the epicenters of the "the thing before preppy" after decades of living all over the US. For what it may be worth, I will venture that the socially prominent women of Salt Water New England have a look that is completely different from any other part of the country. In my experience, its elements include,
1) Exclusively natural fabrics (cotton, wool, linen, silk, etc.)
2) Absence of logos on clothing an accessories
3) Colors found in nature
4) Moderation. Nothing is noticeably short or long, tight or loose, or in bold patterns
5) A sporty nonchalance. Although items are clean, neat, and in good repair (obviously), nothing looks fussy or uncomfortable. Except at the most formal events, a woman could go for a sail without changing clothes. (This principle applies from 8 years old to 80, I've noticed.)
6) Accessories, hair, and makeup are understated in the extreme
I think there could be a good comedy about a woman from Wellesley, Massachusetts and another from the Highland Park, Texas who somehow become neighbors. "Bless your heart, darlin'. Did you forget to put on your face today?"
Priceless comment, I would buy tickets to see a Pi Phi from SMU or UT who is married to FIJI become acquainted with a woman from Wellesley. The Pi Phi would teach her how to shoot a Perazzi 28 Gauge Shotgun & clean birds on their family ranch. The arcane etiquette would overwhelm Muffy.
DeleteBeautifully written note. Nothing's changed. Carry on.
ReplyDeleteI would advise some nice casual dresses for everyday; currently my favorites are the nap dresses by hill house as well as anything by tuckernuck or Veronica Beard. Hermes Oran sandals go nicely. Some Nantucket red shorts and classic oxford cloth top for puttering around the garden. Superga tennis shoes or tretorn. Agolde white shorts are all the rage with my friends this year- especially paired with something super classic like an old school navy blazer with gold buttons or a French sailors shirt or even a St. John cardigan thrown casually over a James Perse tee. Old school Lacoste and many of the made in England lines will always serve you well and I know Muffy would probably have a fit but a Kelly bag or a Birkin would be a timeless addition to any wardrobe.
ReplyDeleteAgree with all then blown by the Hermes Birkin bag. Since there introduction I believe in the 80s they became a reflection of the “following the Jones’” crowd. A true New Englander being frugal, investment minded would not waste a dime on a Birken rather buy shares of the Birken manufacturer if public and watch the fools who buy the Birken make them rich…
DeleteThat’s whai I did. Stock symbol is HESAY.
DeleteNo, I am not from New England.
Class will out!
ReplyDeleteI'm in South Carolina, not New England, so I have to dress for the heat and humidity. I order most of my clothes from Talbots, since I don't like to go shopping very often. I love cotton and still like to iron my clothes. I prefer solid colors instead of patterns which makes it easier to put together an outfit. If I do buy a print shirt, it's a blue and white, vertical stripe button down. I wear a lot of t-shirts and I like bright, clear colors. The drab, muddy colors which are so popular now, look terrible on me. I like light weight chinos in khaki, stone, and navy. The same colors work for midi skirts, along with a white linen skirt. I still have some cute knee-length patchwork madras skirts. Cotton bermuda shorts are fine when worn around the house but I don't wear them when I go out in public. Solid color cotton cardigans are great for restaurants with frigid air conditioning.
ReplyDeleteAs for shoes, even though the Jack Roger's sandals look good, they aren't very comfortable. However, I still think Birkenstocks are ugly! With pants, I wear Sperry boat shoes and Tretorn tennis shoes, both of which I wore in college back in the 80s.
My favorite handbag in the summer is a small boat and tote canvas bag from L.L. Bean.
A cotton, fit and flare dress is nice for dressier occasions, and I will buy something with a pattern but still prefer a solid. I'm still wearing a pair of white mule sandals that I've had for at least twenty years which shows you how seldom I have a dressy occasion.
You sound very much like my wife in the way you both dress, she in Austin, also hot and humid (today's forecast is 90F with a 40% chance of thunder storms). She also wears a lot of tee shirts and used to buy mainly from Talbots. A couple of years ago she shifted to J. Jill and likes them better. I think they look better, too. They seem a little longer, a little looser, and a little lighter with more minor detailing.
DeleteThank you. I'll take a look at the J Jill T-shirts.
DeleteIf I may, I would suggest that you use the "Search This Blog" function on the right-side panel, as this topic has been covered several times over the years and I suspect that is probably why you're getting a bit of the radio silence.
ReplyDeleteI am not from New England; I am Eurasian that has roots in the American South, New York City, and have lived in Europe for 30 years (and a few of my forebears were European). I don't use labels like "preppy" (so overused and has lost its original meaning) to describe my style, but I do agree that I am traditional or "classic" in my style with a mostly northern European aesthetic.
I think what would help is if I tell you what I pack in my luggage when I go to Lucca for my summer holidays: 1) a couple of "marinières" or Breton shirts; one long-sleeved and a short-sleeved one, and only navy stripes please, 2) a navy blazer in lightweight wool, single-breasted with brass nautical buttons, 3) a white linen blouse, 4) chinos, 5) white sailor pants, 6) a pair of simple gold creoles/hoops, and 6) my South Sea pearl stud earrings (Akoya is also good). I bring other things, but these are my staples.
A quick word about logos: try to limit or eliminate them. They shouldn't be very obvious or you would be seen as pathetically show-offy. Even for those that can afford the Hermès Birkin, carrying such an accessory is deemed a bit too "m'as-tu-vu" and invites ridicule in some tony circles. If you have that kind of dosh and really want the brand, get a Constance instead. In principle however, I prefer to give designer logos wide berth when it comes to bags; it's preferable that your accessories have some practicality. The best advice I can give however is to not be too concerned about all of the above, to find your own style (but hopefully with some classic pieces) and to enjoy your summer!
Oh; what a coincidence! I was look at the shirts mentioned in #1. Have you ever worn the shirts from Saint James? If so, thoughts?
DeleteI did and I do and I love them!
DeleteI bought the first one on Madison Avenue (I think), 15 years ago when visiting NY. It lasted forever. They are light, still very good quality (although now made in Portugal, not in France), and pretty. I plan to get some again while traveling to South of France soon.
Mariniere is my favourite.
Saint James' marinières are okay, but they are entry-level, in my opinion. Much better quality can be found at Le Minor (the orgininal, and made in Brittany!) or Orcival (Lyon). I especially love how Le Minor's shirts look. Here is a blog post (in French) from a guy who knows and who himself also produces Breton shirts: https://goudronblanc.com/blog/mariniere-homme/. I have also bought shirts from The Breton Shirt Company, from across the Channel in the UK, and they can monogram the shirts if you wish.
DeleteTo Anonymous at 6:20PM: Sorry, Mariniere is from another brand, it's Minquiers and Galathee which I purchased, few of them over the years, always very happy with quality and design. Isabel
DeleteTwistyTree: Saint James is manufactured in Brittany, since 1889 to be precise.
DeleteWell, I will stay with hm..."entry level", we are simple people, Saint James is just fine. In Europe we wear Breton shirts mostly in the summer time, and if a shirt lasted for over 5 years, so it's good enough for me.
It's light cotton, perfect for warm but windy spring/summer days or evenings at the seaside or in the city.
At Le Minor I don't like the finishing of the neckline, looking like Petite Bateau children's (and adults) t-shirts.
I.
To TwistyTree: I am not sure if you are a Hermes customer, or writing your preferences or recommendations based on the visual content of Instagram or other SM.
DeleteConstance can't be treated as an alternative to Birkin bag. One of the canvas totes could be (especially if we are talking about understatement and less "show-offy"), Evelyne is a wonderful and so convenient cross body, or one of the leather totes, but surely not Constance.
Popular among younger generation, proudly showing-off the huge H as a closure.
In the summer time I am always carrying a Provencal market basket with me. If I want to something "more", it's a vintage Herbag canvas with natural leather (my late mother's bag, btw!), but a simple, good quality canvas bag will also be perfectly ok.
I really do hope logo mania is gone and a discreet luxury (not an absurd "quiet luxury" how the neophytes name it), will stay with us for longer.
Kind regards from Vienna! I.
Yes, I., Saint James is "just fine". My first marinières were Saint James before I discovered other brands. It's a matter of preference. I like the more classic and boxier look of Le Minor.
DeleteAs far as Hermès, my family were buying saddles from them in the 50's (we still have my grandfather's dressage saddle in a trunk somewhere). Once again, it's preference. My first handbag was the 'Kelly'. I have used the 'Evelyne' crossbody as well as the 'Constance' (I find it amusing that there has been a resurgence of the style); I just think the longer straps suited my lifestyle better and were easier to carry. That's in the past tense because I've not carried any Hermès since they became too popular and too ubiquitous and a favourite of the nouveau riche. In the noughties, it was more Bottega Veneta, although I had been using their evening clutches are early as the early 90s when I was living in New York. Thanks to this blog, I also own a Lotuff hobo bag. However, I am now in my early 60s and don't really give a toss about leather bags, especially after having fractured my shoulder 6 years ago.
And by the way: I don't use social media. Greetings back to you from Switzerland.
DeleteJust seeing this. Not sure of your age or lifestyle (for instance, mostly casual walking the dog and gardening, or active sports, or office job, or super-social?). I'd recommend American Giant for linen and cotton (made in US!). I also really like the Wrap London collection. They have a beautiful long madras dress on sale right now. They also have a broderie anglaise shirt/skirt combo perfect for special occasions, as well as many linen and knit pieces that look great and are proper for summer without being too stodgy. Frank & Eileen is great too...nice poplin shirts. My summer staples includes a seersucker skirt, and a pink chambray dress (midi length), linen, poplin and seersucker shirts. I tend towards plain and casual and outdoorsy. I dress the same now as I did 50 years ago and try to keep a very minimal selection of pieces for each season that I wear a lot. Work for me is gardening, so I have sturdy things I wear for that with a focus on sun protection.
ReplyDeletePatsy Kane monkey fist earrings. They go with everything and look very nautical/classic at the same time. Plus they are lightweight and comfortable.
ReplyDeleteRebuilding your "preppy wardrobe" from your high school and college years is an admirable goal and beginning with Summer is a great idea. Follow (most of) the excellent advice above. Reinvest in what you remember from those earlier years. You'll find that things have not changed very much; it's Classic style, not fashion. Think quality over quantity; you'll pay a little more for real clothes that last. Keep it simple. Make wise choices and you'll be rewarded by the confidence that comes with always knowing that you look great.
ReplyDeleteFor me, it's cotton and linen shorts, no pleats, plain colors. Cotton and linen shirts (long & short sleeves), cotton cable knit cardigans, a couple of dressy cotton dresses, Jack Rogers in 6 colors, dressy sandals, Keds, pearl earrings, string of pearls, slim fit cotton and linen pants (again no pleats), plain cotton tee shirts, cotton Breton stripe tops in navy and red. --Holly in PA
ReplyDelete