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First, let me apologize again for the Internet going down at my home yesterday! The winter weather has been havoc on modems and high speed Internet, and again, it failed me yesterday and most of today.
Now, on to the subject at hand. Chensy over at Ivy Style has referenced me again with a post entitled something like WASP vs. Trad. But, to avoid more controversy between the two of us, I will avoid critiquing his work and just simply add my two cents worth. First, the term trad is an Internet term, and it simply means "traditional". Second, the term WASP is a style and way of life that was derived from the traditional lifestyle set forth by the English. It is an American interpretation so to speak. To further expand the discussion, preppy is another common term used by this genre and it to is another word for WASP that came about in the 1980s. Are the terms related? Yes, absolutely, and actually to me they are similar enough to clump together.
As far as style goes, all three seem to embody Oxford Cloth Button Downs, Tweed, Shetlands, etc. I would even argue that bit loafers and velvet slippers can belong to all three labels. The thing that separates the three is why one chooses to call themselves the label they choose, and how they acquire their clothing. WASPs do not generally buy the majority of their clothing from eBay. For example, yes, I shop at eBay but less than 5% of my wardrobe comes from this source. A WASP buys clothing mostly at the store itself because they have relationships with the salesman, and they buy high quality labels that last decades. Thus, the worn but not ragged look is achieved. Therefore, all the criticism from the Chensy's of the world is not deserved because of my age. I am only 32 and I plan to wear the clothes I buy today until I die. So, if I make it to 65, my clothes will achieve the worn but not ragged look.
Trads on the other hand seem to take offense to the term WASP. I could only speculate as to why, but maybe it is for a myriad of reasons. They also seem to enjoy the same garments that WASP enjoy, but acquire more than half their wardrobes from eBay and thrift stores. In addition, they will throw you out of their club in a moment's notice, and they seem to know more about classic style than in other group (in their minds at least).
Finally, preppies are basically WASP that don't want to call themselves WASP for two possible reasons. First, they are not protestants and the term preppy was another way to describe their style as opposed to WASP. And, the term is used mostly with the younger generation that knew or know little about the true Ivy League movement. They adopt wearing pastels and Lacoste polo's because it is the cool thing to do. But again, the style is derived from WASPs.
That is my two cents worth!
26 comments:
I believe that you are a member of the Trad-leaning WASPS, as opposed to those Preppy-leaning WASPs who wear outrageous, go-to-hell clothing that would get a man raped anywhere in the Third World.
Agreed (despite my online moniker). I'm steadily moving away from the fringes of the Trad cult, which is largely a movement celebrated by social outsiders, aspiring intellectuals, and "wannabes," and back to my WASP roots. Trad has left behind a distasteful impression.
As a WASP myself, (although I prefer not to use the term due to it's misconception nowadays) I must add that while the WASP "style" is mostly English, WASP heritage often includes Germanic lifestyle as well. You may already know this, I just felt I needed mention it, coming from German descent myself.
And I wouldn't always associate WASP's with Preppies. Most of whom people would call "preps" today are Catholic students at private Catholic institutions, while true WASP's are obviously Protestant, and would prefer not to be included in Catholic traditions.
Anyway, I enjoy reading your blog when I get a break from my studies. It's good to know there are people out there that still appreciate the WASP culture.
Quite possibly the most moronic thing you've written in this cavalcade of idiocy...
By the way, my friend Turk said to tell your wife he said "Hey."
WASP, Trad, Prep, Jet, Shark V13 Dukes, Malos, Culver City Boys, etc...it's all the same thing.
The best wardrobe consists of elements collected along the path of a lifetime of adventure, not a trip to the mall. Buy the best quality, wear what you love,wear it until it falls apart, have it patched and wear it some more, and then hand it down to your children.
...this sentiment takes for granted that you at least have a sense of style.
Richie, beg pardon...I forgot to mention that I dig the overall ensemble, especially the red pocket square...might I suggest a more straight-leg khaki? This cut makes you look a bit pear-shaped.
My two cents worth.
Worthington - The khakis pictured are J Crew straight leg khakis! The angle of the picture does make them appear pear shaped, but they do not look as large standing in front of a mirror. But, you are correct in a sense.
Brooks, Press, and Bean - Yes, you are correct to some degree, but I have an entire closet full of GTH items.
Don't you think some of the pastels mostly come from Southern Wasps/Preppy's.
Southerners, both men and women always wear more colors. Midwesterners do as well.
Mea culpa.
You may want to launder that shirt - what's it been, three days now? This post is definitely one of your top three dumbest/most inane. I actually agree with my dad here.
Well Tripp, believe it or not, I have many candy blue striped oxford shirts (4) to be exact. And who cares what you think about my post.
richard...are you (and worthington) mentally ill? this is reaching a level of strangeness that is nothing short of disturbing. maybe a quick pop into the therapist's office is needed.
I must address several erroneous statements in this post. First, WASP is neither a style nor way of life. WASP is a sociological acronym, coined by E. Digby Baltzell, a Penn Professor,to indicate a specific socio-economic sub set of society which was dominated by Anglo-German Protestants. It is only popular culture dilution that has led to the slang usage you propose.
Next, "Preppy" is a term that dates many years before the '80s as you suggest.Indeed, the term preppy was popularized by the useage in the Film "Love Story" when it was applied to Oliver Barret. It existed as a descriptive word long before to describe one who attend Chaote, Phillips Academy, St. Paul's et al. Suffice it to say your analysis is superficial and pseudo-intellectual in this writer's humble opinion.
By way of further analysis think of it this way...any Polish or Italian or Jewish kid who attends a Boarding School in New England could be deemed "preppy" and certainly not be a WASP. Likewise, a red-neck " cracker" or "white trash" individual living in a trailer park in Oklohoma who is of Anglo-German Ancestry and who is Christian and NOT Roman Catholic can be deemed a WASP by fitting the categories represented in the acronym...yet not be of the Upper Class Caste to which Baltzel was referring. Hence, avoid the labels and pigeon holes and just do your thing. Oh yeah...I think you need to move up a size in jackets...they all look too small....except the tweed "hunting" jacket from and earlier post..that was quite sporty and fit well...
We have a Son of Warhol?! *Dun Dun Dun.........*
you have no idea what you're talking about.....but it's entertaining to read!
Well explained, Richard, but I suggest that Preppy is actually a variation of WASPish Ivy League. A subspecies, as it were. Bruce Boyer has stated as much, calling it 'Post-modern Ivy League.' Preppy was, and is, a slightly fetishist revival of 1950s Ivy League. You can wear WASPish, traditional Ivy League styles without all the Preppy greens, pinks, accessories and brand logos. Lots of us wear tweed sportcoats, navy blazers, OCBSs, khakis and loafers (or boat shoes) without being Preppy so much as WASP or Trad. Especially those of us over 40!
Are you wearing argyles and Alden penny loafers here?
You got some of your definitions wrong.
WASP = White, Anlgo-Saxon, Protestant. Thus, by definition, it could have either English or Germanic influences. These Germanic influences could include Dutch because the only country that Germany over ran more was France. Here in America it tends to refer to people with names like Trowbridge or Winthrop. They practice their faith in Episcopal, Congregational or Methodist churches. Having been in this country a long-time, many WASP families have accumulated some wealth and many have lost fortunes. In any case, they tend to eshew the latest fads and fashions, purchasing classic/traditional clothing, furniture, etc. Since the stuff they buy never truly goes in or out of style, they will invest in quality so that it can last a lifetime.
A WASP can be a Preppy, but a Preppy is not necessarily a WASP. Preppy, as originally coined, described people who attended Prep School. This includes places like Phillips (Exeter or Andover), Choate Rosemary Hall, St. John's (Houston), Westminster (Atlanta), Roxbury Latin, Episcopal Academy, etc. It describes their lifestyle in which summer is a verb (i.e. I summer with my family in Chatham) and the way they dress, the most classic male representation being trousers,Weejuns (duck boots in the winter), OCBD, a school repp tie and a blue blazer. For women it includes skirts, flats and cable knit wool sweaters. They dress this way becaause 1) it is (or was) required at school and 2) Those old buildings are freaking cold in the winter (trust me, I went to the northern-most school on the above list). More recently, it has come to describe a style of dress, that designers including Ralph Lauren, Lily Pulitzer, Brooks Brothers, etc. cater to. I wore a lot of J Crew and Lands End in high school, because it was one of the only ways to get clothes in Exeter NH if you didn't have a car and could drive 45 minutes to Kittery.
There were a few shops downtown, but their selection was limited and shopping in them would have made too much of a dent in my allowance...it was easier to call Mom and say, please order me four new shirts. She would get them from Lands End and have them monagrammed, which was great because then I knew which one in the pile was mine.
I don't know what a Trad is.
I happen to be of WASP descent and also a preppy (by either the classic definition or its current incarnation).
You tend to have some interesting posts, but please don't get definitions wrong when you're trying to speak with authority.
Geez, this place stinks of faux WASP farts. Everyone knows that WASP is an extinct social class to which some internet users aspire, but don't belong. Preppy is now a meaningless adjective. According to current usage, it means that a male is wearing a dress shirt instead of a graphic t-shirt with his jeans and square-toed shoes. Trad describes the Japanese appropriation of traditional Northeast American dress. It is also a way that many describe the clothes worn by WASPS and preppies, avoiding the terrible connotations that those words can have, which are exhibited by some of the "WASP" gasbags that have commented on this blog. Unlike Laguna Beach Trad, I prefer the term "trad" because it allows me to discuss clothing that I like without having to put up with secret handshake, which-scotch-do-you-prefer, racial purity nonsense.
Hey Guys, instead of arguing, why don't we all sit around in argyle socks and have one huge circle jerk to make ourselves feel better. Its oh so very WASPy; I learned to do it in Skulls. Seriously, who gives a flying f*^& about what its called. Some of you-whatever-you-call- yourselves are close to committing the ULTIMATE sin- trying too hard. A cravat? Seriously?
I heartily concur with "Anonymous February 19@1:06 a.m."
"Trad" is a neutral term devoid of the offensive connotations that both "WASP" and "preppy" have.
I wish that this blog had been called "Trad 101", as one cannot teach anybody how to become a WASP--either one is or one isn't.
Trad seams to 'poo poo' the WASP eltisim, in the respect that a man of half the income can look twice as good,
I understand that people feel that they have choosen a life style with being a WASP, over what is a fleeting Trad trend,
but I've always been a fan of the underdog, I quite like to see the elite get their feathers ruffled,
like with many trends eg 50's teddy boys, the lower classes adopt certain items of clothing from the upper classes and make them their own,
they usually do it with a greater sense of style too,
which is why in your photo, you may have splendid clothes, but you look like a pear.
Style, unlike class, does not discriminate.
“the term WASP is a style and way of life”
No, its origin is as a comical pejorative.
“The thing that separates the three is why one chooses to call themselves the label they choose”
I prefer to call myself Tim.
“A WASP buys clothing mostly at the store itself because they have relationships with the salesman”
This WASP buys almost all of his clothing via mail order because it affords a near limitless variety, greater convenience and most often better prices, and because many clothing salesmen are tasteless cretins.
I think the years have blurred the definitions of these terms.
I spent many summers at Phillips Exeter for ice hockey camp.
I consider myself preppy (mostly b/c we're not religious).
You know? I tried to read your blog and enjoy it (as I generaly like traditional clothing blogs), but you really are one pretentious asshole.
Thank you.
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