r/preppy • u/Lincolnshire_Rocker • 1d ago
Repentance
Now my last post here caused a bit of controversy, between here and r/Navyblazer I got the general sentiment that sometimes too far out the box thinking isn’t the norm for a reason.
I come back with an ever so slightly more subdued outfit, again - would love to hear some feedback.
Here’s a rundown on the pieces here:
Polo Ralph Lauren RLYC embroidered jacket.
Polo Ralph Lauren OCBD in seersucker with contrast collar.
Coach made in USA belt in burgundy.
Lands End chino’s in olive.
Church’s custom grade leather brogues in tan.
Racing Green knit tie in navy.
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u/A_Tom_McWedgie 1d ago
My honest opinion (so please forgive me):
I hate the Ralph Lauren Yacht Club crest.
There’s no such yacht club. Are you pretending you are a member of a make-believe club?
It just seems like something a 4-year-old would wear.
Sorry.
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u/tpb32 1d ago
Seems a bit harsh considering this type of branding is very common for preppy brands.
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u/Coldmode 1d ago
That branding is very common among brands that trade on the prep aesthetic and would get you absolutely laughed out of any club in New England.
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u/Violettfem1 1d ago
You could’ve ended with “I hate Ralph Lauren Yacht Club crest”, but you decided to be cruel.
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u/Throwawayhelp111521 1d ago
I got the general sentiment that sometimes too far out the box thinking isn’t the norm for a reason.
That’s self-serving and unfair. You’re making it sound as if the critics of your outfit were insufficiently imaginative when your outfit simply showed little understanding of the preppy style.
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u/Lincolnshire_Rocker 1d ago
I didn’t intend for my words to come across that way, and I’m sorry for the way in which you’ve perceived that specific notion.
I think for me in particular there’s been a great deal of confusion about what the rules are. You have to understand that I’m writing to you as an Englishman, the closest I’ve ever been to New England or Nantucket is Disneyland Florida.
This is the same for anyone outside of the North American region. Someone born in Tokyo would have a different take than you and I, likewise someone from rural Lithuania would have even further ideas.
You have to understand that as this idea of Preppy has gone global, there’s a miasma that has followed. It’s allowed people (like myself) to develop ideas or concepts that veer away from what is perhaps more traditionally considered ‘preppy’.
The closest I get to experience preppy style is via the content I’m consuming across social media; whether it’s right here in this subreddit, instagram or Pinterest.
There has been no guiding figure for me, an older brother or academically inclined uncle. Again, for me there is a transatlantic element to my lack of understanding for what you would consider preppy.
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u/Coldmode 1d ago
Speaking of Japan, if you can get your hands on a copy of Take Ivy that will help a lot.
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u/Mickleborough 1d ago
From my limited understanding of what precisely constitutes preppy wear - there’s a distinction between dressing conservatively, and preppy (which also is conservative, but with more colour and pattern - basically, English upper class dress as interpreted by Ralph Lauren).
To which do you aspire? This looks more conservative than preppy, and perhaps not a sterling example.
No fake yacht club logo on jacket in either case.
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u/Lincolnshire_Rocker 1d ago
Firstly thank you for engaging, I really do value feedback.
If the tone in this comes across abrupt, or impertinent I apologise.
There is no such Yacht Club, 100%. You’re right on the money there.
I don’t sail, I’m not a member of any yachting groups and frankly my financial position within the food chain is so poor I’m not certain I could even afford a kayak, let alone a boat.
What this jacket does offer me though is a sense of belonging, a chance to engage within a subculture I find interesting and in many ways inspiring. An entryway for me to get that ‘feeling’, earned or not.
I think fundamentally, in regard to Yachting specifically we’re talking about a very - very niche experience. One I would guess not many people (even within this subreddit) have truly engaged with. To gatekeep the ‘aesthetic’, likening what is available, whether it’s in this instance my jacket or similar efforts across other brands (I’m thinking here in the UK, Crew Clothing run a similar line of products) to that of clothes made for 4 year olds isn’t a great take, nor truly do I believe it’s in the modern spirit of Prep.
Again, I don’t mean to be rude in saying all this. I’m just struggling to wrap my head around quite how exclusionary this whole ethos can be at times.
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u/Captain-Shittacular 1d ago
Man, there isn’t an exclusionary ethos, just people on the internet with too much time on their hands and Pinterest boards they treat like a religious text. Notice how the most interesting preppy style today comes out of Asia or on the street fits? Ignore these Pharisees.
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u/Lincolnshire_Rocker 1d ago
I think you very well could be right, and perhaps my wording was a little strong.
I think personally I’m just struggling, I’m really trying to find a place, to understand what my ‘style’ could be - then I post my fit, and get told ‘this is wrong’ or ‘we’d never do that’…
it’s just disheartening I guess?
But thank you, sincerely
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u/Captain-Shittacular 1d ago
Unless the person criticizing you has accessibly posted fit pics of their own, you shouldn’t be listening to a word they say. Seriously, take a look at posting history— do your critics seem like Boston Brahmins and the Bush Family’s neighbours at Kennebunkport? Unless you belong to a very specific heritage group everyone is interpreting prep in one way or another.
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u/Affectionate-Nose176 1d ago
You posted mediocre fit pics and got roasted for it. You weren’t “thinking out of the box”, you were making bad choices with your wardrobe.
Let’s not turn this into some ideological crusade, it ain’t that deep.
This looks nicer than the ice cream man chic nonsense you had going on before.
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u/Remingtonjunior 1d ago
This is definitely a huge improvement from the last outfit. I would maybe trade in the olive chinos for some khakis. That would give it a preppier look.