Polka Dots ~ by Kipp

I have always had a special predilection towards polka dots. They are one of my favorite feminine prints, and are a fun and flirty way to add an interesting dimension to any outfit. Although polka dots lend themselves more as a spring print they can be done in winter colors as well. Polka dots can even spread in to menswear as a print on a tie or pocket square. However, the polka dots must be very small and be in darker colors. Brooks Brothers always carries a wide variety.

I especially adore polka dots on a flowy silk blouse as in the image above. I love the combination that this woman is wearing, although I feel that the accessories are not quite on point. A white skirt with nude shoes is not the best idea. I also am not very partial to her black clutch.

A more romantically feminine look with embellishments such as ruffles and bows is very on trend this season. However, for those of us with WASPy/ preppy style, we know this is not a trend accent but an essential aspect of style.

Tweed With Yellow Socks - by Richard

I honestly think I may have an obsession with yellow socks! However, I think my obsession is a good one, because nothing is more preppy than pairing yellow socks with gray flannels, or today's choice, tweed. This image evokes the quintessential prep: tweed, yellow socks, loafers, and a club tie. Sure, the yellow socks go against the rules, but preppiness just happens to break a lot of those rules.

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

Penhaligon's - by Crawford

Penhaligon's, a perfumer since 1870, is situated in London, and it is a longstanding favorite of mine (and my wife). With several Royal Warrants and a long list of interesting clients (including Sir Winston Churchill, Princess Diana, and Prince William), Penhaligon's produces fragrances in England that are, well, wonderfully British. I enjoy wearing Blenheim Bouquet, English Fern, and Endymion (my favorite). To my wonderful wife (if she reads this), I particularly like it when you wear Ellenisia.

The Lights Must Have Been Dim While Dressing - by Richard

Even though I regard Edward VIII as a Jedi Warrior of classic men's clothing, I couldn't help but shake my head when I saw this picture. Either the man had a little too much to drink the night before, or the lights were out in his manor house while dressing that fine morning. Individually, the items are great, but the clustering is a bit much for my taste.

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

Striped Knit Ties - by Richard

Everytime I wear a knit tie (striped or not), I always get some astonishing comment. Is that tie made of a sock? What kind of tie is that? Regardless, I find them beautiful and highly appropriate with a navy blazer. Some of my favorites are striped knits, navy solid, and yellow solid knits. Don't worry about the silly questions, they just don't understand that you are the best thing going today!

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

Tennis - by Richard

Tennis is truly a WASPy sport, but I am afraid that today's player lacks the WASPy appeal that was once there until after the 1980s. Wooden racquets, tennis sweaters, and cream blazers are the hallmark of a once very preppy sport. And of course, grass is the preppiest surface to play on.

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

Madras Clothing - by Richard

The lack of winter in my area has made me look ahead to warmer weather, and this spring, I plan to sport more madras than I have in the past. Perhaps my reluctance in the past is due to the looks (displayed below) that madras can sometimes create. Without question, the cloth is not something the average chap wears, but when one wears a blazer or trousers made of plaid, look out (glares are coming). My rule remains consistent that only one madras item should be worn at a time, and the other pieces of outfit should be ultra conservative. In my opinion, red, yellow, and blue madras is the most beautiful.

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

Nothing Says I Am Preppy More Than A Grosgrain Watchband - by Richard

I have been a little under the weather of late, so I decided to throw in some bonus posts today. For this particular post, I think the title says it all. Don't be afraid to pair your high dollar Rolex, or my personal favorite (Hamilton Watches) with a grosgrain ribbon watchband. A good color that will go with most clothing items is a navy band with a gold stripe. A good second choice would be a navy band with a red stripe.

Good Words To Live By - Richard

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

The Duke - by Richard

The Art of Conversation - by Richard

WASPs and preppies always enjoy a good conversation, but I am almost certain that this art will soon be lost if it is not already. It seems only the purist still appreciate a good face to face conversation, as our newer generations surround themselves with instant chat, facebook, and cell phone mania. Heck, a lot of young kids today can't even find a date without going to some on-line dating service. It's sad, really sad............

Brooks Brothers Pink Oxford Cloth Buttondown - by Richard

Nothing says I am a prep more than wearing a Brooks Brothers pink oxford cloth buttondown, and in my humble opinion, the shirt is iconic. Furthermore, I think trolls would even look good in pink OCBDs, and the shirt is so versatile. It shines brightly with a navy blazer, and adds a bit of sunshine to my favorite tweeds. One could even prep their business suit out with a pink OCBD and by adding a club tie, ribbon belt, yellow socks, and tassel loafers, you will be so prep you will not be able to stand yourself. So don't be afraid, go out and buy one today.

Driving Gloves ~ by Kipp

Due to my lack of a driver, my driving gloves have become invaluable these cold winter mornings. Especially for those of us who prefer to drive a manual car, they are an essential accessory. Driving gloves are a classic accessory that have undeservedly lost a lot of their popularity.

However ladies, these gloves can look a little masculine if not done properly. Make sure that the sizing is correct so your fingers look more ladylike and that they have ruching at the wrist. I also suggest you purchase a classic brown or tan shade, and never black. I abhor black driving gloves. They will, without a doubt, make you look like you belong on a motorcycle!

The Duke, or Some Guy Pretending To Be Him - by Richard

From windowpane suits, gray flannel, suede shoes, and fair isle vest, the man was a genius. Of course we are referencing the Duke of Windsor. Esquire did a spread in his honor in their last Big Black Book. Here are a few of my favorite pictures.

One of My Favorite Brooks Brothers Ads

Though I have never been a big fan of Thom Browne, I really enjoyed this ad several years ago. The gray flannel suit is classic, and the tie was made famous by Jennifer Aniston's pose of the cover of GQ. Regardless, I think Brooks could do much better for Black Fleece than Thom Browne, but I obviously still support the brand.

Salvatore Ferragamo~ by Kipp

A girl never forgets her first pair of Ferragamos. These were even more memorable as they were not only my first pair of Ferragamos, but my first pair of heels. They were given to me by my mother one random afternoon when she deemed my feet to have stopped growing and that it was now time to learn how to walk in heels. I will have to admit that this was the incident that began my love affair with shoes, and especially heels. Salvatore Ferragamo is still one of my favorite makers due to the quality and style of the products. Their handmade shoes for men and women have a very timeless quality. I have had these for years and they are still in very good condition. The brand always has a number of heels and flats that are perfect for any occasion, durable, and very reasonably priced.

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

My Internet service has been down, but we are back and running again. In the photo above, I love a trench coat on ladies, and the pearls in combination make it perfect!!

Classic School Boy Looks - by Richard

Gray flannels, tweed jacket, and saddle oxfords are three good examples of attire needed to pull off the school boy look. The chap on the right has a look that is pure perfection in my humble opinion. Not to mention that the drape on those gray flannels is purely exquisite.

The Pompous Double Breasted Blazer - by Richard

Photo: Ben Silver's Shop in Charleston

The is nothing in the WASP wardrobe more pompous than the double breasted blazer, and I absolutely love them. We have featured them on the blog in the past, and today we are revisiting the subject.

The jacket can be worn with khakis, flannels, cream trousers, and even jeans. Heck, the jacket even looks pompous with jeans. At this point, I have spent all I can on my winter wardrobe, but next year, I may invest in a flannel four button double breasted blazer.



Photo Credit: Vanity and Vintage

Oxford Heels ~ by Kipp

Since I referenced Oxford heels in my previous post, I thought it would be the perfect moment to elaborate on the subject. Although most of my time is spent in flats, I absolutely adore heels. These are some of my new favorites. Classic flat Oxfords are also worn by women, however, I find them to be a bit too masculine for my taste. Oxford heels are a perfect combination of masculinity with a feminine edge. Although there are many popular color combinations of two- tone Oxfords, I much prefer the classic solid brown.

Oxford heels transition nicely between any season, except summer of course. They are easily paired with tights and a (longer) skirt. Oxford heels with a pencil skirt, silk blouse, pearls, and a cardigan come together to make the perfect ensemble for a casual dinner out.

An Almost Perfect Combination ~by Kipp

A plaid skirt and a white blouse with a black bow is probably one of the most classic combinations for women. It is simple, elegant, and can be drastically altered by accessories and by the choice of shoe. I am not a huge fan of this girl's bag or the shade of her heels but the skirt and blouse combination is perfect. I would recommend a pair of oxford heels to complete the look. They are another stolen from the boys item, but with the feminine addition of a heel.

Arse Resting 2012 - by Richard

I just arrived home from watching Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and I am exhausted from this film of paranoia and suspense. Therefore, I am resting my arse for the evening. See you next week!

Preppy Girl Theatre - by Richard

In the past, WASP 101 was criticized for its selection of "girls of the moment". They were critiqued for not being WASPy etc., even though I explained that I was choosing the girls based on beauty alone.

Today, I begin a new series called "Preppy Girl Theatre"! We will be featuring random and often times nameless girls that are all prepped out. Most will be beautiful, some will just be well dressed! Enjoy!

If I Were Designing School Uniforms, I Might Consider These - by Richard

If I were designing prep school uniforms, I would consider some of these coats as options. My personal favorite, is the gray flannel one of the left with the repp stripe piping. I wish I knew where this image originated, and if these coats are avaliable for purchase.

The Birkin ~ by Kipp

The time has come for me to pay my respects to the most classic handbag of all; the Hermès Birkin bag. Named after Jane Birkin, it is not only a beautifully handcrafted and perfectly functional handbag, but it is an absolute icon. The price and the waitlist on this bag also adds to its allure and makes it one of the most coveted items in women's fashion. Although recent pop celebrities have made the Birkin more popular, it has still been able to keep its classic and elegant style. It comes in many different variety of exotic leathers; my favorite being ostrich. Sadly, I have not yet made the investment, but it is soon to come!

Really... Hilfiger? ~by Kipp

As we made our way down 5th my friend wanted to stop in the Tommy Hilfiger flagship, so I begrudgingly accompanied her. I have never been a Tommy Hilfiger fan, but apparently it is highly well regarded in France for the younger crowd so she picked up a couple of items for her little brother. I knew that TH had been making an attempt at remodeling their brand image but I was surprised to see the extent to which they had changed. I saw pieces, especially in men's sportscoats that they were really quite the effort in improving the styles. However, you could still tell that the quality and detailing was not up to standards. What do you think of the changes to Tommy Hilfiger?

And Away We Go - by Richard

So, its our first post in 2012, and we will hit the road running with two versatile coats I received for Christmas. The first is a slender cut Polo Ralph Lauren sport coat with elbow patches, and the second is a Fitzgerald, Social Primer, Limited Edition Blazer from Brooks Brothers.

Of course the navy blazer is a WASPs exoskeleton, but this blazer is equipped with narrow lapels, slim fit, patch pockets, and a super awesome hunt scene lining.

The tweed jacket is equally versatile, as I was able to remove my exoskeleton and place the tweed jacket on without changing other pieces. This jacket is also cut in a slender build, and the lapels are also narrow.

Other attire includes:

Polo Yellow Sweater Vest
Polo Slim Fit Trousers
Cole Haan Pinch Penny Loafers (Christmas Gift)
Yellow Brooks Brothers Socks