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Posts Tagged ‘The Official Preppy Handbook’

While the book may have been written and published before I was born, the day I stumbled upon TOPH was no less life altering (or affirming) than the day it hit the streets in the early 80’s for the First-Generation TOPH devotees. That fated afternoon in June 1997 is one so vivid, I almost can feel completely engulfed in the moment if I stop and close my eyes. A friend was over and I can’t recall why we were digging through the bookshelves in the basement, but the second my eyes caught a glimpse of the faded madras cover, I knew it was a moment I was to remember forever.

Immediately, I dove in. I could care less about needing to be the most gracious hostess as possible to my guest (as things would later pan out, the friendship would part ways over the course of the next few years- she was much more earth-crunchy-hippie than I cared to be or put up with). I like to think of it as my thirteen year-old self having my priorities in order. The real friend was the one that I found that afternoon.
For the first time in my life, it was as if I was “home;” it explained and affirmed so much it was almost terrifying. For instance, why my sister and I (and all of the kids we were very close friends with) played tennis and golf in the summer instead of t-ball. Why we would go ski Taos over Easter vacation instead of going to Disney. Why my mother bought Talbot’s with the proclivity of a stockholder and why my father had a penchant for sports like golf and pheasant hunting. Why “do-goodness” was a key virtue in my family; whether it be chairing the junior golf program at the CC, serving on governor-appointed committees or serving as a delegate at presidential conventions. It affirmed my parents as the Cute Guy and Girl (doesn’t get much more cute than the head cheerleader and a varsity football star ). And it certainly helped to explain why all of the pj’s I wore as a toddler had those little crocodiles on them.
TOPH immediately seized command over my life thanks to its many avowing powers. Because it clarified so much, I would use it to chart my life’s course. I did not care that it was over fifteen years out of date, if it wasn’t stamped with Miss Birnbach’s seal of approval, my life did not have room or want for it. I especially remember taking issue with the fact that purple was not a preppy color. I liked the color and even ended up attending both high school and college at schools with purple as one of their colors. Nonetheless, I did my best to steer clear of donning large amount of purple whenever and wherever I could. My only concessions were when I had to wear the school-issued athletic apparel and the purple and grey school tie belt I own and would wear with my travel clothes to regattas. *Since then, I have come to terms with the preferences of my color palate and have incorporated more purple into my wardrobe- if only because purple is the color of royalty. I even read in an interview of Miss Birnbach, that it was noted that the High Priestess of All Things Prep was wearing a PURPLE, of all colors, polo.* I also recall being REALLY worried that my body did not clearly fit, as a thirteen through about eighteen year-old, into any of the three female body types. And worse- who I was destined to pair off with as a result. Thankfully, a pairing of my love for fitness and many reassurances from close friends has since lead me to believe that I am a Cute Girl.
I don’t know that I dare go as far to say that this book is an unqualified oracle, but there are so many of the minutiae of details which TOPH contains that consciously or not have transpired in my life. Who was I to know that I would be cut from the golf team in college to find myself immediately on the rowing team as a coxswain? That I would in the same year of my early twenties join Junior League AND one of the clubs listed in the weekly social diary section for the metropolis in which I currently live. Thankfully I also found and began worshiping the mighty alter of Lilly Pulitzer (I think it is the fact that I’m from the Upper Midwest- not exactly Prep-Central- paired with a golf-intensive childhood- more ponies than palm trees are found on the labels of golf attire). I would come to form a firm opinion on which of the Big Three produces the best gentlemen (Princeton, by far; it’s the most Southern of the Three and there is no party like an Old Nassau party) via firsthand knowledge of said young gentleman that walked those harrowed halls. Even my non Preppy fling was excruciatingly preppy; a Scandinavian national team oarsman, who I did realize would unfortunately have to amount to nothing more than a fling upon discovery that he did indeed wear a gold chain (like nails on a chalkboard to my little pink and green heart), as Miss Birnbach noted.

I smile when I think of the first few moments upon running into TOPH and really, ran into myself; past, present and future. I find myself wondering from time to time just what else is fabulously crammed into those pages that is yet awaiting me. Will my future husband have attended one of the schools listed? Is he nicknamed Tripp? Did he almost make an America’s Cup team? Will I live in one of the approved towns and take up needlepoint? What rowing trophies/accoutrement of mine will my children take and jam into their college dorm rooms? I can only wait and hope with anticipation that TOPH and its kid-sister, True Prep, the book I’ve waited for ever since about a day after finding my mother’s underlined TOPH will hold even more than my wildest dreams can imagine. And that Miss Birnbach for once and for all, officially allows the color purple back into all of our wardrobes

The sun’s shining, the hemlines are begging to be shortened, and my iPhone beeps every thirty-seconds escalating the debate on the day’s P.T.H. (Peak Tanning Hours for those who don’t speak Preppy Handbook); all this mean’s that my closet is way overdue for an assessment.

I made a list of basics that need to be replaced, obvious gaps and gaffes, and a wish list of what I’d love to add.

Last fall, after discussing the lack of quality and questionable recent taste, a friendly fashionista (the Carrie to my Charlotte) and I swore off J. Crew until we see a significant change in production. Like a superhero, Land’s End Canvas has shown up and saved my basics. The prices are right, the quality seems high, and the pieces appear timeless.

True preps never follow trends; they know enduring and quality are always spot on! I admittedly am young, fickle, and I get a slight rush with an unexpected accessory that borders on trendy; such as my current obsession Stella and Dot. Also, it was hard not to get excited over Zac Posen for Target. Question my taste, I know when I look at pictures in ten years, I will.

It hurt, but I just had to leave my madras in storage. Every shop I’ve walked into lately has their own version. I understand the difference in quality between Brooks Brothers and the blue light special, but I just feel as if they are too trendy. I won’t judge others for wearing them and I fully intend on adding a new skirt or two to my collection, but I won’t be wearing them till their popularity wanes. So long madras, may we meet again under less trendy circumstances come late summer.

Lilly Pulitzer’s early summer line recently hit their website and helllooo Sandra in Classic White Lady Luck. What a perfect date dress! I also have a soft spot for the Worth Shift, who doesn’t look gorgeous in them? I just can’t wait to get my hands on one in Stuffed Shells. Really, I’m shivering with anticipation thinking about it! Now to decide on a swimsuit…

It’s the perfect time to add a pair of oh-so-coveted Bonanno sandals. The sale is fantastic! I feel ready for the warm weather from my newly lightened highlights to my bright pink polished toes! Sigh. If only finals were over.

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Isn’t this a great article? Well said Ms. Paige!
You can visit Paige on her Blog; Monograms and Margaritas!! Stop by, become a follower and let her know you found her through the Preppy Mafia!

Collars Up!!

The beloved New York Times published an article last week. Read it HERE. The article announces “True Prep,” a sequel to TOPH. I’m of course overwhelmed with excitement. I simply cannot wait to get my copy, after all TOPH was the inspiration for my novel, Social Climbers.

My favorite bloggers, Summer is a Verb and Monograms & Manicures were quoted – Congrats girls!!

BUT….there are 84 comments on the article. And most of them are SO MEAN!

“The Official Preppy Handbook” is a classic and best seller, “True Prep” is sure to be as well. And I’ll do everything in my power to celebrate the prep lifestyle. We spread pink and green cheer and preppy love. To the haters who felt the need to leave a comment, WHY BE MEAN? Why’d you even read the article? Why bother to leave a comment? What is your problem? Do you feel better now that you got your negative comment onto the www?

I’m not interested in politics. So if a book on said category comes out, I simply won’t read it. I wouldn’t read articles and then leave seething comments. I’d simply turn my head.

Let us like what we like and leave us alone. Are you jealous? Why so angry? I don’t get it.

Collars up!

The Preppy Mafia LOVES the blog MonogramsAndMargaritas and Paige, the author, is a preppy college student. It is always nice to hear what the “younger” generations are thinking about things like The Preppy Mafia. So without further ado I present Paige’s thoughts on The Lost Generation!

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The future belongs to the young. Unfortunately Muffy, it’s scary how ill versed the youth are in preppy past.

I attend a major southern university where we still have a thriving Greek system, we wear dresses in our school’s colors on game days, and we worship at the alter of Lilly Pulitzer. We appear cool as cukes as we pop our collars up, but ask the majority of us what kind of preppy girl we are and the façade fades as, more often then not, you’re greeted with blank stares. Personally, I’d considered myself the cute girl, I do tend to take one in every color, or maybe the girl who enjoys a good party, I feel I’m always claiming, “I really shouldn’t” and then I proceed to indulge in another margarita.

The Preppy Handbook hasn’t pierced my generation as it did in the previous; in fact I’ve found it to be regarded as something akin to an urban legend. I’m not claiming everyone in my generation is ignorant of the tome; it’s just disheartening to see so many imitators living the farce, who are completely unaware they were outed decades ago.

Things have arguably changed since its publication in the early eighties; Lilly left us and returned with an incredibly increased popularity, Ralph Lauren created a universe of style that is uniquely a prep’s own and has become a major player in ones closet, and monogramming your car is now entirely acceptable.

Yet, should we forsake the masterpiece whose ownership was almost mandatory twenty years ago? As I hoard and dispense copies to loved ones on holidays and special occasions, I can only hope this deed causes a slight ripple of change. Or perhaps my lost generation’s best hope is the arrival of True Prep in August and the further hope that it lives up to the original.