A reader question:
I recently read a reference to yuppie, and I started thinking about how often it is erroneously confused with preppy. Perhaps a question for the SWNE Brain Trust is how are the two cultures similar, and how are they different?
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
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Huge difference. Are there still yuppies? The yuppie was a phenomenon of the 1980’s. It referred to “young urban professionals.” They were, in the eyes of societal observers, young people fixated on their careers, their salaries, and the consumer goods which their salaries allowed them to afford. Some of them were very nice people. Has not the yuppie culture passed on? The thing before preppy is forever. Thank goodness.
ReplyDeleteI think Yuppies morphed into Bobos. As I recall, they were extremely juvenile “Bros”, who gravitated around four things: BMW’s, AMEX Gold cards, Moët & Chandon Champagne and Cocaine.
ReplyDeleteThe YUPPIE crowd morphed into DINKS- dual income no kids. This is the reason why they are no longer around…social Darwinism!
ReplyDeleteSome DINKS morphed into a SITCOM; single income, two children, outrageous mortgage.
ReplyDeleteI wish there were more Lionel Hardcastles around these days.
ReplyDeleteGentlemen like Lionel Hardcastle are now a very rare breed
DeleteYes, and in way it makes them even more special. My father was very much like that.
DeleteLife with him was wonderful. I guess to sum it all up he was a grown-up. He was a gentleman.
My father too. I learned much from him.
DeleteYES! My aunt was a female version of Lionel. Her nickname was "The General". Or maybe she was more like Mrs. Bale? Regardless, it was a standard to be respected.
DeleteI haven't heard the term 'yuppie' in a while. While it technically means 'young urban professional,' it carried a negative connotation of being materialistic and driven by money. I don't think most young professionals fall into that category now; those that do spend as much time on Instagram and Tiktok as they do working (my opinion/exaggeration). I don't consider either of those characteristics to be consistent with 'preppy.' While preppy literally evokes an association with private preparatory schools and colleges, I think of its ethos as not overtly focused on wealth or materialism...though in fairness, that could be because most people who can afford preparatory schools and private university educations already have money and the things that go with it, so they're not so overt and greedy-sounding about it.
ReplyDeleteTechnically, all three of our children could have been yuppies - New York City bank trading floor, law student heading there in a few years, and the only remaining college student probably heading for big tech. They all work hard and are interested in professional advancement. However, their excess money is invested intelligently, not being lavishly spent on excess clothes or baubles.
American Psycho, to me, is the best media representation of a yuppie. There aren’t many accurate media representations of preppies, but perhaps Moonrise Kingdom is close. Once you know the difference, any comparisons between the two subcultures seems comically incorrect.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Gordon Gecko
DeleteSo true-anything regarding Wall Street is pure yuppie
DeleteWith preppies the striving is not as obvious.
ReplyDeleteArchies are strivers.
Delete"Yuppie" is pejorative term that people who attended college in the '60s fastened to the next generation to punish it for not wanting to smell bad, look awful, have ugly possessions, and romanticize left-wing radicalism while enjoying the highest living standard in history. "Preppy" is an aesthetic and a set of attitudes characteristic of alumni of the nation's elite boarding schools.
ReplyDeleteSo we don't like yuppies and we don't like preppies and we don't much care for the people who are moving into our neighborhoods. If only everyone were more like us...
ReplyDeleteI struggled with whether or not to say anything about the topics and comments here of late, and you summed up my feelings in a phrase. Thank you.
DeleteAh yes, if only. How happy everyone would be (as if!)
ReplyDeleteThe Yuppie phenomenon and the prep revival had a lot of overlap. At that time I was working in a large bank, and the yuppies I knew were invariably wearing Brooks suits with 3 roll 2 collars, BB OCBDs, and very expensive English cap toes. They were straight out of the OPHB.The Ven diagram had a pretty large overlap.
ReplyDeleteThe 3/2 suit, button-down shirt and cap-toed shoes, all from Brooks Brothers, certainly describe my wardrobe as a newly minted lawyer in Washington during the that era. It was also the more or less the look of professionals from my parents' generation, even in smaller towns. And, although I am no longer young or urban, it describes what I am wearing in the office today. One good thing about J. Press and the old Brooks, the clothes last for decades. I only wish that The Thing Before Preppy were still the standard, but alas, it seems to be an ever-shrinking subculture.
DeleteMy uniform as well. I think a lot of the hostility against yuppies (and preppies for that matter) was (is) envy.
DeleteI agree perhaps because you can’t just become one( specifically the thing before prep) no matter how much money you have or how hard you try. Hence all of the arguing.
DeleteThe Yuppie struck me as self-promotional for materialistic ends only, resulting in a relatively trivial and forgettable existence. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I differentiate Preppy as enjoying the material, yes, but ultimately keeping an eye toward stewardship of a particular way of life and values. A Prep will have regional ties and cultural roots that a Yuppie would have mocked.
ReplyDeleteA few years back a friend who had long lived in the Bay Area told me he had to get out because tech had been overtaken by people who he recognized as Yuppies, even if more spiritually than aesthetically: crass, superficial, rootless, and in it for nothing but money. They are not Bobos (in David Brooks's sense of being fundamentally creative and open minded), they're the leeches who inevitably follow them around, trying to make transactional money on the Bobos' creativity. My friend did get out, and he has definitely not regretted it, except perhaps during the occasional blizzard he now endures.
ReplyDeleteI believe I was a well waspy prep in high school when the term "yuppie" appeared on the cover of Newsweek, perhaps? From that day forward, I identified yuppies as reckless, materialistic strivers wanting the shiny new things--cars, clothes, houses, and overt professional recognition. Yuppies are me people. While preppies or, really, waspy folks, were attracted to things where the shine had worn to a nice, faded patina---comfortable traditional clothes, historic decent sized houses, old cars, antiques, old ways, and working hard for its own merit, rather trying to be upstage their co-workers. Preppies are we people. Of course, there are exceptions. Preppy/waspy folks had/have the privilege of some family money--of various degree, so they could pursue occupations, if they desired, out of the Wall Street rat-race--government service, academics, publishing, smaller law firms, the clergy, etc. Now that I am well into middle age, having worked for 35 years, the people I have encountered professionally, could clearly be divided into the ME PEOPLE (yuppies) and the WE PEOPLE (preppies, waspy folks, and just decent middle class folks). Just my humble observations.
ReplyDeleteThe lines of courses can be a bit blurry
DeleteVery well said.
ReplyDeleteYuppie was a lifestyle focused on financial and social aspiration. Preppy is an American style focused on tradition and quality. A yuppie often dressed preppy and a preppy can be acquisitive. Yuppie was a trend. Prep/Ivy/Trad is forever.
ReplyDeleteNothing is forever. Part of what we are all noticing and what is bothering a lot of people is the fact that even from generation to generation things can change. Things do change. I’m not offering my opinion of whether or not that is a good thing. But change is a fact whether it happens slowly or quickly
DeleteAn edit: Prep/Ivy/Trad endures. In other words, this style is not dead yet.
DeleteMaybe we should all reread “Diary of a Yuppie” by Louis Auchincloss. If any one would know the difference, it would be him. I read it when it first came out, but don’t remember much about it except that the protagonist was a very unpleasant fellow.
ReplyDeleteYuppie, came and went!
ReplyDeleteNot here. They just wear shorts, tee shirts, and flip flops and have switched from BMWs to Lambos.
DeletePreppy is a style standard like Edwardian, Victorian or Hippie.
ReplyDeleteIt is represented by a conservative clothing look with loafers and a swoon for madras.
Yuppie is, IMHO, a 1980s mindset that faded as they grew older and took on their generational label. It is represented by gross shoulder pads and coke.
Back in the day~~ "Preppy" evolved from the lifestyle, esp. clothing, popular (often required) among the post WW2 upper & rising social class
ReplyDeletees attending preparatory schools. Hammered home a bit later, of course, by Erich Segal's LOVE STORY. Yes to above Salty Pumpkin's a style standard. ** "Yuppie" burst on the scene later as a derisive term & exaggeration of preppy def for social climbing, materialist, well paid "young urban professionals."
Having been both, I always thought the only difference was a preppy was a student and a yuppie had entered the workforce. Yuppie meant "young urban professional" or "young upwardly-mobile professional." My yuppie period was similar except I was embarking on my career, earning a good salary, starting a family, and being target-marketed by everyone. It was as if my preppy days ended and my yuppie days began at my June 1978 college graduation, although the term "yuppie" didn't appear in print until May 1980.
ReplyDeleteYou mean you were “crass, superficial, rootless, and in it for nothing but money,” living a life of “conspicuous consumption” for “materialistic ends only, resulting in a relatively trivial and forgettable existence”?
DeleteYour comment is a welcome antidote to the narrative. Never trust the narrative.
I had many friends in college, who are so excited to be going out to make their own money. Their preppy parents were so cheap that they didn’t want to spend a dime on anything. They were turned loose in the world(mostly Wall Street) with lots and lots of money. It was sheer rebellion
DeleteYuppy:Conspicuous consumption /Preppy: Inconspicuous consumption
ReplyDeleteYuppy: Rolex/
Preppie: Timex
ReplyDeleteYuppie: Mar-a-Lago / Preppy: Monticello
-JM, VA
Tangently to this conversation of preppy vs yuppie, and change vs tradition is my observations regarding neighborhood character. I live in Washington, DC and all of the old historic neighborhoods, such as Georgetown, Wesley Heights, Spring Valley, Cathedral Heights, and Chevy Chase probably have residents that are both preppy/old money and yuppie/newer money. Sadly, all of these neighborhoods, except Georgetown, have experienced tears downs of great historic houses for new houses that don't fit in. But as someone mentioned, there is a blur and I know old money families that have torn down houses, while we generally expect that from newer money. The preppy/yuppie mix can be found in the private schools and clubs as well (both city and country). And churches. I don't think any neighborhood or institution is all strictly old money or preppy, in 21st century. I would venture it's the same for all cities- I know it's like that in Atlanta and New York. Just my observations.
ReplyDeleteWashington, DC is a tough call, being so inescapably tied to the federal government (which is not preppy). But you're right; there are islands of preppiness like parts of Georgetown and also in Maryland (Chevy Chase, Potomac) and Virginia (Fauquier County - foxhounds and vineyards). My dream is to summer in Maine and winter near Middleburg (I need the weather cold enough to justify a fire in the fireplace).
DeleteOff-topic, I know. I prepped; I didn't "yup", but I still wanted to go to Wall Street (I love markets). But I chose a different path, and I've never regretted it.
I should add: J. Press still has a store in Northwest Washington, DC, and Congress still has Seersucker Thursdays. The Senate passed a resolution declaring June 13th, 2024 as "National Seersucker Day". It's nice to see some traditions live on.
DeleteHere's the Washington resident again: I must disagree with the comment that the federal government is not preppy- perhaps not as a whole but you can find many true preps/old money scions in government- loads in the State Department, National Galleries, Smithsonian- considered part of the federal government, and Department of the Interior. And in regards to the neighborhoods, Potomac is far from preppy or old money- the definition of nouveau riche . The neighborhoods I mentioned such as Spring Valley or Wesley Heights have far higher percentage of old money than Potomac- which has a Real Housewives show set there.. But I agree, Middleburg and Upperville are plenty prep and old money. And the J. Press store downtown is wonderful!
DeleteTouche! I must have confused Potomac with the countryside further west; I remember attending polo matches there as a teen. (It must have been closer to Poolesville.) And I erred in making too broad a comment about the federal government - my parents worked for State for many years. Smithsonian makes perfect sense, but Interior never occurred to me.
DeleteMea culpa. :-)
All is well amongst us!
DeletePolo matches are generally not preppy or old money.
Delete...funny, King Charles played polo, and his money is "older" than most in the New World...
Delete