prep "Prep" is short for "preparatory." But unless you are doing "kitchen prep" before making a meal or getting ready for a test, the word usually refers to people who look like they could belong to the elite world of American preparatory schools. The old-time New England prep schools--Andover, Phillips Exeter, Hotchkiss, etc.-- modeled themselves on English "public" schools like Eton (where Prince William graduated and Prince Harry still studies). The idea was to prepare the children of wealthy, WASP (white Anglo-Saxon Protestant) families for top colleges and life in the upper crust of society. At this point, you don't have to be a WASP or travel to New England to go to prep school, and you certainly don't need to go to "prep" school to be labeled a "prep." Nowadays, it's more about how you look: understated but classic, wearing khakis maybe, and always lots of cotton. "Preppy" fashion is famously low-key because it is inspired by a class of people who don't care to flaunt their wealth. (Except for the not-so-subtle message of wearing clothes that suggest constant skiing, tennis and sailing--and the occasional loud plaid or hot pink.) When the term "preppy" developed in the 1960s, it was with a mix of awe and annoyance. What was not to like about the clean-cut looks and the tastes of the "old money" prep-school crowd? But they were so insular, so spoiled... Preppy pride soared in the conservative '80s, when Lisa Birnbach published "The Official Preppy Handbook," which extolled the joys of living among the best and brightest while dressed in navy blue and kelly green. Birnbach was kind of kidding, but a backlash followed with books like"101 Uses for a Dead Preppie" and the "I Hate Preppies Handbook." Preps and their trappings have made a lot of enemies along the way. "The Catcher in the Rye"'s Holden Caulfield railed against the "fakes" at his New England prep school and ran away to the less stifling confines of New York City. Hip-hop's embrace of Tommy Hilfiger and other preppy brands has always been part poking fun at the status quo, part appreciation of the quality. Meanwhile, there always seems to be a preppy fashion moment around the corner...

Comments

[Zombiegrrl]

Most preps are mean and bitchy, but not all.
All different types of groups have good and bad people, it's unfair to say that all preps are mean. I'm goth and even I'm standing up for preps, that's because I've known a few nice ones myself.

[anon]

i hate labels it's like assuming that "white people" like rock and indie etc and black people are asummed to like r&b and hip-hop. But that's a load of crap in my opinion, i am white (i hate to say it) but i hate rock, indie and all that crap. I am not on the dole, my hair is never greasy or a mess and I just r&b, soul and hiphop. I wouldn't be seen dead in wearing tracksuits or long slung trousers or with a guitar. (unless ocoustic) I'm definitely not a retard and I'm definitely not pregnant. (That would be impossible) I hate Jeremy Kyle, Trisha and morning tv.

[Janae]

Jeez, why can't we all just get along? I hate labels so much. People judge so many people based on what they wear or how they act. Never really getting to know a person. One person is responsible for how they act and what they do. Not a whole group of people, jeez.

[A]

a live in england and we dont have "preps" in are school but we do have those wannabe emo kids,who complain about there lives on facebook. it's just a phase. i dont evean think hollister is that good. topshop<3333333333333333333333333333333333333

[liz sayz we just ppl]

So I'm half britsh half Spanish! I go to an international school! And I just wanna say that american peeps r making a bad impresion of themselves! I have nothing wrong with americans, i'm so not racist!

I'm just saying that ppl r so stereo typical! Cuz some1 might b prepy but that doesn't make them mean or bitchi. U can't catagorise or label people cuz we r all different and it's not like every1 is the same. Like me I'm kinda geeky cuz I luv science and i wanna go into medicine when I'm older, but I have popular friends, I'm so not rich, I love some sports like surfing, I'm skinny and blond but I've neva been out with any1 cuz i'm 2 shy. All my bffs are asian. So what stereotype am I? I'm none, no1 deserves to b labeled...right?!

[Lina]

wow. chill out everybody who cares if you are wearing a nice & proper j.crew cardigan with a ralph lauren kaki skirt or some edgy colored skinny jeans and a concert tee from hot topic we are still all pepole

[melody]

everyone here needs to toke a bowl
calm down take a chill pill
preps are preps emos are emos
there settled

MMFWCL
JUGGALO PRIDE

[HEY]

NYC PREP @ BRAVO

[kaylee]

uhmm. . . preps rnt bitches @ all, i hang out w/every prep in my skoo an they happen 2 be tha coolest chicks ever. i am called a prep all the time, when ppl dnt even get the definition, just cuz i shop in stores that others dont doesnt mean im a bitch, jus cuz im a cheerleader, an all tht good stuff doesnt mean ANYTHING. we rnt wat u guys classify us as!! we r actually jus lyk u!! so w.e. PEACE AN LOVE!! ~Kaylee Anne

[DramaHater]

Well..I dont think all cheerleaders are snobby and what u think they are..Yeah they are sometimes snobby but heck they are cheerleader;which means they try to be the best, they try to be noticed.You dont just try out for the cheerleading squad and sit there and think you are not going to do anyting.Its not tru..I have alot of cheerleader friends and im not even a cheerleader.I tried out for it but i didnt make the team..That doesnt stop me from living my dream.My BFF made the squad and that made me feel horrible and jealous..but when i thoght about i knew that if i made the squad and she didnt then she would prolly feel the same but we just have to get over it.The Cheer Captian "Cheyenne Henry" is like a great friend to me. And cheerleaders dont just sit around and do their nails.My and my cheerleader friend just went ridin 4wheelers then fishing..Some are preepy and some are down 2 earth..All they want to do is show a lil sprit..come on;;leave em alone all u ppl who wanna talk about em ..=)

[FoolForYou]

Geez, theres so much bitching here isnt there?

The thing is, I dont really mind preps as such, in the actual, literal definition of the word.
What I cant stand is the superior attitude that many, but not all, hold.
Because, quite frankly, what gives some people the right to lord over others, and treat some as if they are nothing but objects of ridicule?
So your father might be a bit richer than mine. So what?
That really doesnt justify you treating someone who isnt as rich, or whatever as you, like shit now does it?

You have to remember that it isnt the clothes one wears, or the amount of money they get a week, or where they shop/live that makes a person a total bitch, or alternatively, completely friendly.
Its their character. Judge/hate/love someone on that, and nothing else.

Remember the words of MLK dears.

<3

[wendy]

yeah uhm okay, ashley?
yeah, people like you
are the reason why
NO ONE LIKES PREPS.
because you LABEL YOURSELVES
by how much money you
spend on your fur coat
and where you shop and live.
but that doesn't make you
anything but a bitch.
mmkay? have fun with that,
babe. and if you don't
want to hear the truth,
don't be a cuntt. <333

[jordan]

hay all u preps i m goin to laph when ur seRving a felo nerd at a low buget rerturant

[maria]

i think a prep is all that was said up top AND i also think it's someone who talks, like, valley girl-ish. i admit that i can be very preppy!

[James Doyle]

Hollister clothes are great. I not only think they are stylish but they are also extremely comfortable, dont you think? Well, anywase I get my Hollister Clothes from http://www.HollisterClothesOutlet.com. Where do you get yours from?

[Nicole]

Ok, I`m not sure if Whatever was aiming his/her arguement at my last coment, but if they were:
Wow.
You`re pretty fucking retarded.
(And if not, then take this as a general comment.)
Noooooo fucking shit A&F and Hollister are stores. THAT was my point; that a social comment expressed through clothing can now be mass produced and sold to people with no concept of what they truly mean.

Example: torn jeans. People can now purchase pre-torn jeans, some even having the nerve to feel like and call themselves "punk". It`s true the torn jean thing started with punks, but do you know why? Because back when the subculture of punk actually meant something, those who followed it had the main objective of rebeling against society. This included shunning corporations. So, in order to attain clothing without funding "the Man", they usually bought secondhand clothing or went looking in the trash for some. Thus, the clothing was usually torn and ripped.
Now teenagers call themselves punk while hypocritically supporting the very thing punk fought against. And that`s called posing, which is pretty fucking lame.

And, FYI, if you dont belong to a certain stereotype, it DOESN`T mean you pertain to another one. You can be like, you know, original.

Unless you like getting dry-fucked up the ass by the cock of corporate America. If so, then by all means keep adhering to superficial social groups.

[PonPon]

Sorry, but I hate preps. I'm not emo, but alot of my friends are, and the preps are always making fun of them and acting like they are all super awesome and like they are better than everyone else. Like one time this girl in my school, Sidney, was making fun of my friend Lucas, just because he's emo. I wanted to destroy that stupid know-it-all. I've met a few nice preps but not many. Sorry.

~Ponny~

[Ashley]

you guys all are duumb

[prepandproud]

I think it is completely unfair to say that you hate all preps. I am a prep and proud. I get called a prep practically everyday and I really don't care at this point. I love pink, I love hair and makeup, I play sports, I am a cheerleader, I dress cute, I have had popular boyfriends, and I am popular, and I am smart. I care about how I present myself. I am friends with some emos, I am friends, with some jocks, I am friends with some sluts. You can judge me all you want but its not going to change who I am.

I am Proud to Be A Prep
Cause At Least I know I Match
And I won't forget the chinchilla that dies who gave me my coat(not really)
I'll proudly stand up in my high heels
A defend my pink and green
Cause there ain't no doubt I love Juicy
God bless the mall

[[COPYWRIGHT]]

[Evie]

Ok like u guys are soooo lame. I go to a prep school. I'm rich. I love Aero, A&F,Hollister, and American Eagle. I'm a cheerleader. U gay emo kids need to shut up, stop whining and go cut ur self or something. and i agree with THEPREP. I've probably been through a ton more than you emos!! GAY BITCHES!

[xxxnooneno'sxxx]

i hate preps just b cuz im emo they like to walk all over me and ppl think i just do it so i look kool (the saying i hate preps ) and i dont i have tryed to be friends with them and they used me to get to a really hooottt guy so ther 4 i hated 1 prep then they all atarted to go all out and wear all pink around me and act like i waz the most un-naturel thing on this earth they laugh to much and wear tooo much pink they are to bratty to notice no one cares and they should have their credit cards taken away and burned just for the crap that they put other ppl through ! i personaly think that all preps are the same now and should go make a islland and live on it lol =P i only have 1 prep friend and even she doesnt wear all pink EVERY day she is also my cuz so i exept her more easily any way my point is mostly all preps are the same and i am never cought dead with one only my cuz lol

[Isabella]

I can't stand preps they are flirty hoes who are anorexic and wear size 0 jeans and are vain when it comes to looks. They have fried hair due to all the flat ironing and over processing their hair. They wear all the preppy brands like Hollister and crap like that. They look down on anybody who isn't like them and I want to punch them all in the face so hard it screws up thier looks forever. These preppy hoes aren't anything without makeup I swear. The funny thing is that the less time they spend on their looks the better grades they would have. I'm rich and live in a mansion and I'm not like that at all.

[GABBS]

I love H&M
i Love Kira plastinia
I hate Abercrombie
I HATE Hollister
I LOVE aERO
i love Juicy Coutoure
I love Hot Topic
I am Punk
I love both pop and punk and screamo music
I love plaid and stripes
I HATE ALL BITCHY PREP GIRLS WHO THINK THEY ARE THE SHET.

I especially HATE the fact that people now call me a poser for this year i'm starting to wear a mix of prep and rock clothes. I AM SO SORRY that last year i was too fat and ugly (according to them)to wear the nice clothes they had. But now that i lost weight i can wear and eat anything i want BETCH

[whatever]

wow stupidest thing ever. REALLY? A&F a store so is Hollister and all that crap. So who cares? Get over it if ur not a prep u define urself as somethin else "Oh im a straight up GANGSTA" or "I'm punk don't try and stereotype me." Or my personal favorite "I don't limit myself me and ALL my friends shop at Hot Topic and put pins on our clothes not to mention piercing parts. And don't judge and label me ya little stuck up prep." IF your not a prep ur something else and you're like all the other little clicks runnin around talkin crap about every other click. SO instead of bein all those preps y don't you all just SHUT UP!!

Unless of course u agree with me :P

[Nicole]

Honestly, the original "prep" was kind of cool. Higher education, classy attire without being show-offy, it was respectable. But this neo-prep, A&F, Holliser shit? It`s exactly what "emo" and "ghetto" are: superficial trends and social devices that adolescents use as self identification and companies use as a major market.
Corporations that own stores like Hollister, Hot Topic, and Against All Odds have commercialized fashion statements that used to mean something for subcultures with social complaints and concern for the current istitutionalized values and norms of society. These corporations have taken them and cheapened them, milking it for everything they have by using cheap labor and ridiculously high prices.
Honestly, I hate a good portion of the American population. Our culture is flimsy and manufactured by those who want to profit of the stupidity of Americans who will buy into any bullshit projected from those of higher power/status.