So, I got this idea bouncing around in my head lately – trying out that classic 80s preppy look for women. You know the one. I kept seeing bits and pieces of it pop up again, and thought, why not give it a whirl myself? See if I could actually pull it off without looking like I raided a costume shop.
Getting Started: What Even Is 80s Preppy?
First thing I did was just… think back. And then I did a bit of lazy searching online, just looking at pictures mostly. What stuck out? Okay, lots of:
- Polo shirts, often with the collar popped (had to remember that detail!)
- Khaki pants or skirts
- Cable-knit sweaters, sometimes V-necks
- Sweaters tied loosely around the shoulders or waist
- Loafers or those boat shoe things
- Simple stuff like maybe some pearl earrings, nothing too flashy
It all seemed pretty clean-cut, kinda sporty but neat. Not too complicated, which I liked the sound of.
The Hunt for Clothes
Alright, armed with a vague list, I started digging. Didn’t want to spend a ton, so first stop was my own closet. Found an old navy polo shirt hiding in the back, score! And I definitely had some basic khaki pants. Good start.
Next, I decided to check out a couple of thrift stores nearby. Lucked out and found a decent cream-colored V-neck sweater. It wasn’t exactly cable-knit, but it had the right vibe. Finding shoes was trickier. No boat shoes that fit, and the loafers all looked a bit too… well, old. Decided to just stick with some simple flats I already owned for now. Close enough!
Putting it Together: Trial and Error
Okay, time to actually assemble an outfit. I laid things out on the bed.
Attempt 1: Navy polo, khaki pants, V-neck sweater worn normally. Looked in the mirror. Hmm. It was… okay. A bit bland maybe? Definitely needed something.
Attempt 2: Popped the collar on the polo. Okay, that definitely screamed 80s preppy. Felt a bit silly at first, not gonna lie, but it made a difference.
Attempt 3: Took off the sweater and tried tying it around my shoulders. Now we’re talking! That instantly gave it the look. It felt a little impractical, like it might slip off, but visually, it worked.
Attempt 4: Swapped the khaki pants for a simple A-line navy skirt I had. Paired it with the polo (collar still popped) and the sweater tied around the shoulders. Added some simple stud earrings. This felt better! A bit more feminine and less like a uniform.
Wearing It & How It Felt
I decided to wear the skirt-and-polo combo (minus the popped collar, chickened out on that for everyday wear) out for a coffee run. Honestly? It felt pretty comfortable and put-together. Nobody stared or pointed, which was good. It just felt like a neat, classic outfit.
The sweater-tied-around-the-shoulders thing? I tried that just around the house. It’s definitely a look, but maybe not the most practical for actually doing things. Still, fun for the experiment!
Final Thoughts
So, my little dip into 80s preppy fashion was kinda fun! It wasn’t as hard to piece together as I thought, especially using basics I already had or could find easily secondhand. I don’t think I’ll be popping my collars or tying sweaters around my shoulders every day, but some elements are definitely keepers. A good polo shirt, a simple skirt, a classic V-neck sweater – those things never really go out of style, do they? It was a nice reminder that sometimes looking back at older trends can give you fresh ideas for today. Worth trying if you’re curious!
