Preppy Fashion is back this summer of 2025, but not as you remember
Something new is happening in the luxury fashion space, and it’s not limited to high-end.
It’s not quiet luxury. But not loud logo mania either. Instead, a sort of style limbo, somewhere in between. It’s classic, a bit collegiate, mildly chaotic, and increasingly everywhere. Call it preppy purgatory.
This isn’t the crisp Ralph Lauren catalogue from the early 2000s. It’s a little less polished, and more modernised. It’s the girl with the cardigan tossed over her shoulders like she’s on the rowing team, the guy in the oversized striped shirt tucked into vintage chinos, the sudden flood of tartan skirts and butter yellow jumpers showing up in your feed. Like it’s trying to whisper tradition and still be noticed in the TikTok scroll.
It’s familiar - borderline nostalgic - but something about it feels off-centre in the best possible way.
Why preppy is trending in 2025, plus the stats:
InStyle reports a sharp resurgence in collegiate-inspired looks - pleated skirts, button‑downs and polo shirts - with a “beach to country‑club” appeal.
PureWow calls this “Gen Z’s preppy”: crisp silhouettes, strategic layering, loafers and crew socks - a more relaxed, inclusive twist on Ivy era kitsch.
Vogue Business forecasts that Autumn/Winter 2025 menswear will feature Ivy‑League prep, polo shirts (up 10 %) and modernised boat shoes (up 100 %).
According to recent trend data, search interest in preppy fashion jumped more than 60% last month compared to the previous 12 months. But this isn’t about private school cosplay. This is something more relaxed. Less rulebook, more remix. Think collegiate structure meets post-recession caution, with a little playful layering thrown in to keep things interesting. Two T-shirts instead of one. A rugby shirt styled with a silk scarf. Loafers with white socks and a mini skirt. Nothing ground-breaking, but somehow… it feels new again.
Preppy fashion now flirts with contradiction. It’s polished but not prim. Familiar but not dated. It wears colour (pastel yellow, washed-out olive, a hint of navy) but rarely shouts. Logos appear, but they’re quiet - stitched in a serif font you’d miss if you weren’t paying attention.
The runways take - Dior & Celine leading the way:
Jonathan Anderson’s debut menswear collection for Dior captured this perfectly. Small logos, embroidered like a school crest. Desaturated tones. Layers of plaid and pinstripe, nodding to tradition without going full campus-core. It was wearable, but still considered. Not boring. Just… behaving.
Fashion, after all, isn’t immune to the wobble. Dior’s parent company LVMH numbers has seen a dip. Brands are responding accordingly - pulling back, regrouping. The response? Clothes that can sell; wearable, and don’t make headlines for the wrong reasons.
Meanwhile, at Celine, things were a little less shy. This collection wasn’t safe. This was preppy with teeth. Think logo overload styled like jewellery, vintage furs thrown over clean basics, belts upon belts. It said, yes, we love a classic silhouette, but let’s have fun. Let’s break it a little.
And that’s the tension now. People want pieces they recognise. But they also want to be surprised. Preppy fashion sits right on that line - a familiar formula reworked for the restless.
Preppy, but for everyone - what makes preppy style different this time?:
So where does that leave us?
This new-style prep isn’t about being posh. It’s not about belonging to some exclusive group or recreating an old-money aesthetic. It feels more democratic. Less about money, more about mood. Brands like Miu Miu, Wales Bonner, and Séfr are reworking these silhouettes in a way that feels relevant, wearable and just slightly off-kilter.
A pleated skirt with a distressed hoodie. A polo shirt tucked into cargos. A shrunken jumper that looks borrowed from a sibling who went to boarding school. The details are clean, but the energy is a bit chaotic.
If you want to tap into it, don’t overthink it. Start with something classic - a striped shirt or a pastel knit - and wear it wrong. Tuck it weird. Layer it badly. Add boat shoes if you dare.
Best preppy fashion brands to shop now:
Look to brands like Aligne, and Wales Bonner for refined twists on prep. Lemaire for quiet collegiate cool. Abercrombie - the poster child for early-2000’s prep, with a recent rebrand which has been incredibly tasteful - less moose logo, more minimalist polish. Or dig through the archives - Margaret Howell or APC - for the understated staples that defined British prep long before it became a trend again.
Alternatively, have a sift through our directory - the perfect place to find brands that are nailing this trend, and a whole spectrum of style to discover.
How to wear preppy fashion in 2025:
You don’t need to own a boat, a campus wardrobe, or an elite alumni badge. Wearing preppy fashion in 2025 is about nodding to tradition, then flipping it just enough to feel current.
It’s less about recreating The OC and more about curating pieces that feel crisp but not rigid, classic but not costume-y. It’s taking the rules and folding them into something that feels relaxed, a bit mischievous, and most importantly - wearable.
Here’s how to do it:
Start with a classic base. A striped shirt, a crisp white tee, or a pastel cable knit. These are your building blocks.
Layer, but layer playfully. A rugby shirt over a polo. A cardigan slung over the shoulders. Two T-shirts - as dubbed as “double-dipping” - instead of one. It’s the details that give it energy.
Let your bottoms balance the polish. Wide-leg trousers, tennis skirts, cargos with a tuck—make sure there’s contrast. Preppy doesn’t have to mean prim.
Socks matter more than you think. Crew socks with loafers. White socks with ballet flats. They give structure without trying too hard.
Mix in subtle rebellion. A silk scarf with a sweatshirt. Vintage fur over a schoolboy blazer. A shirt that’s half-tucked and wrinkled. It’s not about perfection—it’s about personality.
Play with accessories, but keep it grounded. Leather belts, pearl earrings, canvas totes. Nothing too loud, but nothing too expected either.
The goal? To look like you got dressed with intent but not instruction.
Our picks - shop the preppy look:
The low-down - Prep fashion Q&A
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Preppy fashion is a style rooted in collegiate and Ivy League dressing - think button-down shirts, blazers, pleated skirts, and loafers. In 2025, it’s been reimagined: still crisp, but with softer silhouettes, playful proportions, and a wink of rebellion.
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As fashion moves away from extremes - no more logo overload or sterile minimalism - people are leaning into nostalgic styles with structure and personality. Preppy fashion hits that sweet spot: wearable, familiar, and remixable.
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Mix classic pieces with something a little off. Try a rugby shirt layered over a tee, or a blazer thrown over cargos. The goal isn’t to copy a uniform - it’s to take the formula and twist it slightly.
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Easy: start with a staple (like a striped shirt or knit jumper) and pair it with something relaxed - wide-leg trousers, beat-up trainers, or a tote bag. Preppy doesn’t have to mean polished. It can mean laid-back too.
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Not anymore. Today’s prep isn’t about exclusivity - it’s about mood. You don’t need a yacht or a private school background. It’s more about how you mix your pieces than what brand they are.
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Absolutely. Preppy silhouettes today are looser, layered, and much more size-friendly. Look for oversized knits, relaxed button-downs, and wide-leg trousers. It’s all about finding balance and pieces that feel good on your body.
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Break it up. Pair your pleated skirt with a slouchy knit, or your blazer with joggers. Add something imperfect -socks with loafers, a cardigan tied like you don’t care. A little chaos keeps it from looking costume-y.
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Stick with heritage hues - dusty olive, butter yellow, navy, soft grey. Think pre-washed pastels and worn-in neutrals. Patterns like pinstripe, plaid, and cable knit bring texture without being too loud.
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Not at all. The beauty of modern prep is that it’s fluid. Borrow from any section - rugby shirts, pleated trousers, V-neck knits - and style it your way.
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Wales Bonner, Miu Miu and Abercrombie are nailing the modern preppy mood. For understated staples, check out APC and Margaret Howell. You’ll find more in our fashion directory - curated with style and substance in mind.
