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Preppy is Back!

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Biff and Buffy are back in the form of author, Lisa Birnbach and graphic artist, Chip Kidd. Together, they have created an update to the The Official Preppy Handbook, which came out while I was in the midst of my own preppy phase….let’s just say “Bows Brown” was a nickname I can not believe I ever had. 
Bows – because I wore them LONG after I was in elementary school
Brown – that’s my maiden name
Or….”shirts up to here, skirts down to there” which is how the Student Body President at my preppy, Southern alma mater described me to my now husband before our initial blind date. By that point, thankfully, I had finally discovered how much thinner/better I looked in higher heels and shorter skirts.
But, I digress. 
True Prep is a humorous look at how the old guard of tennis playing, pearls wearing, Gin and Tonic drinking crowd has embraced the internet, cell phones, reality tv and polar fleece. And, how truly diverse the preppy crowd is these days. 
Included in True Prep is jewelry designer/philanthropist, Jessica Mindich with the official True Prep crest. Available at Brooks Brothers and www.jewelryforacause.net. A full line of True Prep jewelry will be out in the coming months.
Lisa Birnbach and Jessica Mindich at Bloomingdale’s Book Signing, NYC
For the preppy in you or someone you know, Jessica has offered 3 True Prep bracelets to Pretty Pink Tulips readers. So, make sure you follow and leave me your pithiest preppy comment by Sept 29th to win one! 
Madras anyone?

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Comments

  3. I think everyone had to go through 'preppie' to get where we are today. Some people liked the phase and stayed there. I zoomed through preppie and landed straight in eclectic-hippie-comfortable. I still appreciate someone who can pull off 'prep' and do it right.

    Connie
    (For a time, my high school nickname was 'Cheer Wench' … it was a phase the football guys were going through, and it stuck.)

  4. Too funny! I just picked up a copy and started reading this last week! I love it…very entertaining! From Bows Brown to Pink Tulips, you are always styling (dahling)!

  8. At my prep school, our bows could only be in navy or hunter green in order to match our uniforms.

    You have progressed from "Bows Brown" to "Pink Tulips," a wonderful evolution.

    Cheers.

  9. Just found you via mrs. blandings – and so glad i did! have been scrolling through and love many of your varied post subjects. as for this one – i remember the original preppy handbook oh so well. now that the obsession for updated prep is back (note the reissuing of take ivy, the new tommy campaign etc), the timing is perfect for lisa and the very talented chip kidd's book to be a hit. looking forward to receiving mine – should be most amusing!

  11. Dahling…preppy never went away, it was just overpowered by grunge, prostitots and lady gaga.

    We have always been there…no actually concerned about a comeback as it's not like we were striving to be in fashion anyway…the masses simply copied us for a trend or two before moving on :O)

    So Bows…I would so love one of these! I will be taking my TOPH (1980 printing no less) to the True Prep book signing so I can show LB that even tho Canadian girls dont often get to prep and dont have an American alma mater…it doesnt mean we aren't born with a pink and green heart!

    Thanks for hosting this faboo giveaway!

  13. Dear Elizabeth:
    Thanks for stopping by my blog. I love your Header, also by the wonderful and talented Patricia.
    I've scrolled through some of your past posts, and I like your optimism and joy.
    As for preppie, I am not. However, I do love madras and docksiders.
    Happy day to you!

  14. Fun post, I need to pick up the book. I wore ribbons in my hair for way too long as well. I remember the original book being a bible in middle school. I went to a very traditional all girls school in St. Louis at the time. We'd read this in the library when we were supposed to be studying. Brings back fun memories!

  18. I always admire those that can embrace their inner prep during every style phase that roves on by.
    Long live prep! Waspdom lives on!
    Thanks for the swell give-away.
    pve

  22. Can't wait to read the book. I remember seeing it in the bookstore as a kid next to Real Men Don't Eat Quiche and Real Women Don't Pump Gas. I get to spend so much time on Nantucket that I can honestly say there are places where preppy never went away. I hope they have a paragraph in there about Nantucket Reds and how they've never gone out of style either.
    Oh, and do they talk about the difference between old school preppy and new preppy?

  23. Preppiness lives on in small ways in our family….my husband loves his Weejuns and the men wore Vineyard Vines ties when my daughter married last year. And we all love our Polo shirts. It's also funny that young moms today think they invented monogrammed children's items!

  24. How about I, like totally, like own that book and have it in my lefty right now. Way!

    So here's my entry, a quote straight from page 128 MUMMY KNOWS BEST: The Look for Women

    (who knew?!)

    #3 states: DON'T WEAR BLACK. With the exception of evening clothes (never say "gown") and the little black dress, black clothing (shirts, sweaters bathing suits) make you look like a fast woman.

    Ummmm, if that makes you a "fast woman" I am lightening honey! I have apparently strayed far from my prep manual and southern upbringing!!

    My how far we've traveled in the prep mobile. I HAD to look…the 1st printing of this was in Sept. 1980.

    Way!

    Can I win the bracelet…the supreme prep accolade?!

    FUN XO,

    Kelly

  25. To quote my vintage Preppy Handbook (thank you to my mom Peggy who keeps everything!), "Look Muffy, a book for us." So glad there is a new addition for us old Preps!
    Those bracelets are as classic as signet rings, button earrings and Bermuda Bags…Love them 🙂

  26. I still have my
    original Preppy
    Handbook and every
    once and a while
    will get it out
    and relive the fun
    times that it
    recalls for me : )
    I read about he
    updated version
    last week and need
    to get it! I LOVE
    this bracelet and
    it would be divine
    to win. Thank you
    for the opportunity!
    xx Suzanne
    PS: My hubby's
    nickname is Chip!

  29. Follow publicly via Google Friend Connect (Chrystal)

    I love the preppy look. One of my favorite tv characters is one of the preppiest of them all, Andy Bernard on "The Office".

    chrystaljns (at) gmail (dotcom)

  30. The preppy look is still very much adored by myself, along with my preppy polo-tshirt-wearing classmates. Adore these bracelets, fingers crossed for me!
    starry_skies(at)live(dot)com(dot)au

  32. There's a difference between "preppy" and "dated"–if it could pass without notice at all in the 1980s, you might want to rethink wearing it un-ironically, or at least add a modernising accessory.

    Thanks for the chance to win!

    –Liza

    ejm6x (at) yahoo (dot) com

  33. I still have my Duck boots from 1985. Two kids and 30 years later (all my friends and I bought them when we were 16) they don't fit me but maybe my daughter will wear them someday. One of my favorite preppy lifestyle bloggers is Summer is a Verb – love her!

  37. What a *lovely* blog! I just found it and love it!! I'm following you know on GFC 🙂

    I think brand new white KEDS remind me of my preppy style days 🙂 I used to LOVE getting that new pair!

  43. Thanks for an idea, you sparked at thought from a angle I hadn’t given thoguht to yet. Now lets see if I can do something with it.

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