Preppy Accessories

No classically preppy look would ever be complete without a few accessories. Whether that be jewelry, the perfect bag or the footwear you choose, you will need some accessories for a completely pulled together look. Below I will go through and highlight some of the most classically preppy pieces you should have in your wardrobe.  

Pearls

First and foremost, of course, you can never call your look preppy without owning a string of pearls or some pearls studs at the very least. The preppy look puts pearls with absolutely everything from jeans to dresses. This small addition can instantly elevate a look from basic to classic. 

My grandma's string of pearls is one of my go to pieces. I wear them with absolutely everything. I wore them in a heat wave to the county fair to visit the horses.

I wear them with nautical stripes.

 I even wear them on casual days with my Vineyard Vines Shep shirts. 

Print Scarf

Another important accessory is a good quality scarf. I don't just mean for warmth in the winter, although not much can beat a good quality cashmere scarf with a wool coat for warmth and style. I am referring here also to silky scarves, whether a square tied around the neck or a Twilly on your bag or wrist as a bracelet or even in your hair.

Leather Handbag

The next must have is a good quality leather handbag. This doesn't have to be a designer piece but should be the best your budget will allow. If you are going to stick with mainly only one bag, it should be in a neutral color as well such as tan, white, or black. You may also want to at least have two options. One being a larger tote like everyday bag to carry all of your essentials and a smaller cross body bag for going to events and activities where you would want to be more hands-free. 

Monogrammed Tote

Another essential is a monogrammed tote of some sort. I am not referring here to anything like the LV Neverfull referenced above but rather an actual canvas tote. This piece will be handy running errands, heading to flea markets and farmers markets, as well as just organizing things in the car. Having a piece as well that is monogrammed is the perfect step above to make this a preppy must-have! One of the perfect places to find something like this is at Marleylilly. Of course, you do not have to have the monogram and can find very stylish totes in cute prints almost anywhere, but a monogram just adds that little something extra. 

Footwear

Another common dilemma is trying to decide on the essential footwear pieces you will need if you are just beginning to build up your classic preppy wardrobe. Footwear again is a place where you should buy the best quality you can afford; these are pieces you will wear often. The cost per wear typically outweighs the initial sticker shock. Below are some of my suggestions. 

Riding Boots are almost quintessential during fall and winter especially. These can be styled with leggings, dresses, and pulled over straight leg jeans for classic looks. 

Another important "boot" style that will be worn in every season, is a good pair of Wellies. These can be high or low, depending on your preference. I wear my Wellies out on rainy days to run errands as well as when working in the garden. A quintessential brand for the preppy look is Hunter, but of course only buy what your budget allows. I wear my Hunter brand boots running errands but have a drug store pair for garden use.

Loafers are another essential footwear piece. In this category, I am not only including traditional penny loafer styles but also the Sperry boat shoe style. Both are my go-to slip on shoes that I wear constantly. 

For summer footwear, nothing beats a pair of Jack Rogers, made famous by Jackie O. or some espadrilles for a dressier look. 

Comment down below: What are your favorite preppy look accessories? What else should I have mentioned?

Is Coastal Grandma really just the new Nautical Preppy?

 Before we move away from the nautical prep look,  must address a new "trend" that emerged this summer called the Costal Grandma vibe. Not that this aesthetic is actually new at all.... 

So let's reexamine the nautical vibe... 

This style was derived around leisure activities such as sailing, yachting, island hopping in New England or being at a lake house. This color palette includes a lot of blue as well in a nod to the sea. Staple pieces for this Nautical Preppy look include: Chinos, cable sweaters in a slimmer fit, Sperry boat shoes, anchors, stripes, along with blue and light green tones. 

I recently went to the Berlin lake area to take some photographic examples for this post and have a perfect example of a nautical prep outfit below. I paired white cropped jeans with a simple blue and white striped tee adding a scarf I recently picked up from Chico's. Of course I finished off the look with my trusted Jack Rogers sandals. 

The Costal Grandma vibe has many of the same elements. To me the only difference is really the lighter color scheme, leaning less toward navy and more toward white, beige, and cream, accented with more muted beachy blues and greens inspired by the sea. Staple pieces here include: raffia bags and accessories, drawstring pants, and seaside hues. 

Below for this aesthetic I wore a simple white tee with beige and white striped drawstring capris from Amazon with an Amazon linen button up. To finish off the look I wore Beige leather slides and a raffia hat. For both looks I wore the same bracelet stack of delicate gold, pearls, and anchor accents. This has definitely been a go to outfit for me this summer, but is it really so different from my usual nautical looks in summer?

I pose that the 2 styles are truly not so different. Both are classic looks taking cues from being near the water. The new Costal Grandma is simply a more elevated and mature version of the classic nautical look with its more laid back seaside styling and muted hues. Staples of both include: striped boat necks, white jeans, cotton and linen fabrics, cable knits, boat shoes, leather sandals, seaside hues, and canvas totes. 

Which do you lean more towards? Are you nautical in navy or costal Grandma in beige? Comment below on your favorite looks. 

Classic Transitional Outfits for March Weather!

 If you are anything like me, you will find this time of year one of the hardest to dress for as well. The mornings are still chilly but it's starting to warm up as the day goes on. Spring fever is setting in but it's not warm enough yet for the cute floral dresses or nautical wear and too warm for the chunky winter sweaters still. 

I have thrown together some outfits from my closet that fit this seasonal shift from winter to spring and I hope they bring you some inspiration as well. 

1. Equestrian Look outfit- incorporates fall/ winter colors with some elements of spring. 

Here I took a pair of olive-green jodhpurs I have had for years, an orange rust color cashmere sweater from a local boutique, and two-toned Ralph Lauren riding boots. I accessorized with an Hermes inspired silk scarf (also from a local boutique) and an LV cuff bangle. I used my Neverfull as my bag for the day. 

2. An "un-spring" floral dress- again some fall/winter colors but elements of spring with the fabrics

Here I paired a lightweight floral dress that I picked up at Maurices at the end of summer last year with a linen blazer from Ralph Lauren and brown boots also from Maurices last season. I replaced the tie belt that came with the dress with my more structured H belt. 

3. Traditional Preppy Look- An even closer to spring look with lighter colors

Here I paired a new lightweight flouncy blouse from a recent Shein haul with Kancan white jeans and an H&M basic cardigan. I finished off the look with a white belt and a Chanel pearl crush mini crossbody bag.

What are some of your go to transitional looks during this period before spring? Comment below and make sure to hit subscribe for notifications of future posts.