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 | Sarah
Preppy Expert
The preppy look has come a long way since the 80's... and our Preppy Fashion Expert Sarah is here to keep you updated on this classic look. |
Summer is Over, Quick, Let's Go Shopping!!
10/04/99
Sarah's my name, shopping is definitely my game! California girl that
I am, I've adopted what could be called the "California Preppy" fashion
style. When you think of the preppy category the first thing that comes to
your mind are those sweater vests and those khaki and denim ensembles right?
Well things have changed a little. The preppy style is evolving into an
exciting world of capri pants, cute floral dresses, and shirts with 3/4
length sleeves.
Like many of you, my senior year has FINALLY arrived. For me that
means only one more year of wearing those dull plaid skirts and boring polo
shirts. And though I try my best to make my uniform unique it is very hard
to let my fashion creativity run wild when it is silenced by
school rules and regulations. So, this only means that on those few chances I
have to wear my only clothes I have to go all out wearing my latest
up-to-the-minute fashion trend.
Like I said before, and I hope you will all agree with me, the preppy
style has branched out a lot. It is hard to define what exactly
the preppy category includes. But just because our closets are filled with
stuff from Banana Republic doesn't mean that we can't have our wild days and
go for something a little crazy and "un-preppy," but we always return to
our white sneakers and fitted t-shirts.
If you scan your television you'll find many stars have
adopted the preppy style on their show. Friends is a good example of a cast
of "preps." Courtney Cox and Jennifer Aniston both take their preppy fashion
from the show into their real lives. "Kelly" and "Donna"
on Beverly Hills 90210 are also guilty of being "preps." Kelly wears kind of low key, soft,
feminine, floral outfits while Donna is into the more mainstream preppiness
which is where I'd place myself. So now that I've told you way more than you ever wanted to know, it's time to prepare for that summer shopping spree to pick the best and bypass the worst.
School is officially back and we have to set aside the Cliff's Notes and Geometry cheat sheets and focus on what's
really important- our summer fashion!! With the warm weather still lingering,
their is no shortage of cool and comfortable clothing to help us get through
these long, sweaty days. When the temperature really heats up, we all know
the best place to cool down is at the mall! And even though I know you
all love to meander in and out of the stores searching for the latest trend
and finding what's cool, I'm going to try and make life easier for you and
give you a few tips on what to look for.
Naturally, with warm weather comes all those trips to the
beach, and with that comes the never-ending search for the perfect bathing suit.
It's a tireless game but we can't stop until we succeed by finding the
perfect bathing suit that highlights our high points and just plain hides our low
points. A very new, hot trend coming to sandy shores near you is
the "Tank-ini." This nifty little invention provides more coverage than a
regular bikini and it's still cute and sexy. Instead of the
typical two-piece, the "Tank-ini" is a tank top paired with bikini
bottoms. The tank is made of the same material as a regular bathing suit. I love
this new trend, now all you have to do is find the right color.
I'm sure you all remember last summer's "new trend" was
the boy shorts instead of the itty-bitty bikini bottoms. This fashionable
look seems to have carried over into this summer with cuter designs and
patterns. It is definetly a must-have. If you get the right size the bathing
suit shouldn't ride up in the back if you know what I mean. A nice snug one
will probably stay in place. Of course, we can't forget what to wear over
our bathing suits. Board shorts have remained a summer must and no surprise, they are
still the in thing this year.
Now that we've taken care of our beachwear we have to find something
cute to wear during the day. This year there are endless possibilities for
you fashion divas. Many of the trends from the last couple of years have
stayed in style but might have a face-lift of sorts. Designers
have slightly changed the design in order to keep you interested. Last summer,
capri pants made their appearance and continue to be a major hit this summer.
However, if you want to be slightly different, instead of being one of the
zillions of girls who will be wearing this cute idea, try the latest look for
capris. The new style of that pants is a little looser and many cuff at
the bottom. It's very cute and very "I Love Lucy" inspired.
Two new additions to the world of shirts are the tube top and the
shrug. Now the tube top is not really a new fashion discovery.
I'm sure if you asked, you'd find that many of your mothers wore this hip
fashionable item when they were your age. In fact, many of you may score big
if your mom saved all of her clothes from her flower power days. Now is the
time to search the attic. The tube top receives it's name because it is
in fact a "tube" of fabric. But unlike the one's our mom's wore, today's
tube tops come in a range of fabrics, colors, textures, and designs. They
are especially cute when paired with a pair of capris and a cardigan
of the same color.
However, if you want to be on the edge of fashion, ditch
that passe cardigan look and get yourself a "shrug." These cute little
cover ups are perfect for summer evenings or those cool days when the sun just
doesn't want to shine. Shrugs are similar to cardigans; they have long
sleeves (some may have 3/4 length sleeves) and are worn just like a cardigan
except they only cover the shoulders. These cute little sweaters are all the rage
amongst Hollywood's fashion elite.
Well ladies, I've provided you with some summer fashion
knowledge so get your wallets and your keys and start your engines! The race to find
the perfect summer outfit is on! Good luck and have a great school year! If you find or spot a new trend in your own hometown send it in and let me know about it, you could be featured in one of our columns!
-Sarah
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