Preppy men's style: this is how you combine shirts, knitwear and jackets

Preppy men's style is all about classic garments that are easy to combine with each other: Oxford shirts, polos, knitwear, chinos or trousers, loafers and neat casual jackets. You don't have to wear one brand or one 'old money' uniform from head to toe. A few well-chosen components make the style wearable.

What do we mean by preppy style?

Preppy men's fashion is strongly linked to American college and casual clothing: neat basics, sporty influences and lots of layers. Think of button-down shirts, polos, cable sweaters, V-necks and blazers.

In a modern wardrobe you can use these elements separately without copying a historical outfit.

Start with an Oxford shirt

A white, light blue or striped Oxford shirt is an easy base. The button-down collar keeps the outfit casual enough for everyday wear.

Combine it with a trousers, chinos or jeans and only then add additional layers.

Polo shirts: sporty but well-groomed

A polo is exactly between a T-shirt and a shirt. With a casual jacket or with smart trousers you can quickly get a preppy look without being formal.

Check out our second-hand polos or read how to choose a good second-hand polo.

Spencer over a shirt

One spencer or slipover is almost made for this style. Wear it over an Oxford shirt with jeans or trousers.

With a checked or colored spencer you prefer to keep the shirt calm. With a plain model, a fine stripe or diamond can work.

You can find more combinations in spencer men wear.

Cable sweater and V-neck

Knitwear adds texture to preppy outfits. A cable sweater, V-neck or round neck above a shirt works especially well in cream, navy, gray, burgundy and green.

With a V-neck, leave the shirt collar neat and prevent too much fabric from accumulating under the sweater.

Quarter zip as a modern layer

A quarter zip gives the same layering but feels a little sportier. Wear it over a shirt and combine with trousers or dark jeans.

A quiet model also works under a jacket or loose jacket, as long as it is not too thick.

Jacket without full suit

A preppy outfit mainly uses the jacket as a separate jacket. Tweed, checks, corduroy and softer constructions often fit better than a sleek formal suit jacket.

Check out our jackets or read how to combine a jacket with jeans.

Waistcoat: classic, not necessarily formal

One waistcoat works well in a classic/preppy wardrobe, especially in tweed, checked or calm colours. Wear it over a shirt with trousers or jeans.

You don't automatically have to wear a matching suit jacket over it.

Which trousers go with it?

Chinos, wool trousers, corduroy and relaxed jeans all work. The most important thing is that the trousers match the top in terms of formality.

A cable sweater with gray trousers looks neater; the same sweater with jeans becomes weekend casual.

Color combinations that work easily

• navy + light blue + gray;
• brown + cream + olive;
• burgundy + navy + white;
• green + beige + denim;
• gray + white + dark blue.

Use one accent color and leave the other parts calmer.

Patterns: diamond, stripe and argyle

Preppy doesn't have to be plain. Checks, stripes and argyle work well, but let patterns vary in scale.

For example, a finely striped shirt would look great under a larger check or argyle spencer.

Ralph Lauren and the preppy association

Ralph Lauren is strongly associated with classic American men's style, but preppy clothing is much broader than one brand. A good Oxford shirt, cable sweater or jacket can come from all kinds of brands.

If you are specifically looking for the brand, read on second hand Ralph Lauren men.

How do you prevent it from becoming a costume?

Don't wear all the classic clichés at once. An Oxford shirt, cable sweater, tie, blazer, chinos and a striking loafer can quickly be thought of.

Choose two or three clear elements and combine them with regular clothes that already suit you.

Preppy second hand at EcoGents

You will find many second-hand parts for this style: shirts, knitwear, spencers, waistcoats, jackets and trousers from different periods. This means that a preppy outfit does not have to come from one collection or season.

Do you want to mix vintage and modern pieces? Also read combine vintage men's clothing.