THE OFFICIAL PREPPY HANDBOOK

The Official Preppy Handbook was the book that was there to guide the helpless like a lighthouse light blinking in a storm for the boats needing a guide to get through the fog. Fog can really get some off course.  Some lose their way if they have no course charted and some get lost without a tide chart while others are able to stay on course instinctively, thanks to their history and hands on skill.  They are naturals, not as in earthy crunchy granola naturals, to the core.

Thankfully, my family history allowed me the privilege of knowing instinctively what I like and whether or not the quality will hold up to my standards.  I need no book to guide me through.  Actually, I enjoy a guide but I need to sometimes think outside the box!

While I love the classics and the traditional, from clothing to home furnishings,  it pleasures me greatly to enjoy seeing how the rest of the world lives.  I choose to enjoy the challenge of the shopping world unguided, open to many possibilities....sticking with the classics nevertheless.  We have all of the best stores available to us and sometimes we still venture to a mall....i really don't care for malllls.






I do have a teenager who loves to shop. At a certain point in her life, Bitsy just needed to experience the mallllll.  She had heard of this strange place from other children who shopped in mallllllls.....it was a basic elelment of the teen culture to understand a malllllll.   I grew up learning that many of the stores at the malllll were chain stores!  The Horror!

Eventually, malls became the way Americans spent their days, nights and weekends.  mummy always said, " It's America's therapy.  It's not shopping, it's people watching."

Where we live now, it's more convenient to go to the outlet "malls" to shop. There are very upscale names with nice people and it's not really a place to "hang out" which keeps down the riff raff factor!

Lots of name brands with prices that are less.  Less and certainly many of the stores have their lesser quality lines in the outlet stores.  So, no matter where we shop, we all have to know what it is we are looking for.

Is the item a wardrobe staple?  Will this article of clothing be something for the long haul or are you a bit more fickle with your individual pieces?  Do you go more upscale on accessories or do you scrimp?  Lots to consider!  Whether you need to be guided through the channel or you prefer to go it alone, confident of your ability..

Just like any sailor knows, Navy and White are staples in the sailing world!  The same is true in the Prep world....Prep or Prep Alike!

Beginning with the L.L. Bean Norwegian Navy and White Birdseye Sweater....now that's a staple.  It is unacceptable to try Prep Alike with this classic.  There are no exceptions.  This is the real thing.  No need to look further.

As one of our friends proved true, this sweater is such a staple to any prep wardrobe that it is considered acceptable in any condition.  While boarding at Govenor Dummer Academy, now The Govenor's Academy,

Biff's friend Sully wore his L.L. Bean Norwegian Navy and White Birdseye Sweater until it was ripped, tattered and almost threadbare.  That same sweater was a staple as a basic staple in his college career.  He was known for that sweater.  Did the sweater make the man or did the man make the sweater?  i presume it was a little of both!

Biff still has his wonderful sweater.  I wore Biff's while expecting our second baby, it was the perfect sweater  for me and Biff had no concern of me stretching it.....he knew that sweater would make it through thick and thin.  Is it coincidental or a right of passage that the same baby wore  L.L. Bean Norwegian Navy  and White Birdseye Sweater like a uniform with his red Talbots Kids corduroys?

Navy and White to be continued tomorrow.......