College Tours: Who/ What/ Wear

So Spring Break was last week, and I was of course touring colleges! (Gotta love junior year!).  I went up to Virginia, and just let me tell you it is BEAUTIFUL up there.  We passed through plantation country and it was to die for- honestly I may have found my true calling as a plantation owner.  I toured William & Mary, UVA, and Washington & Lee, and fell in love with two out of the three (feel free to guess).  However while on these tours I realized something very upsetting. Students on college tours do not dress well. I cannot begin to tell you how many people I saw following after the tour guides in stuffy, tight t-shirts with shoes lacking supports on their feet. There is no way they were comfortable, so I have decided that for those of you who do not know what to wear on college tours I will create a fall and spring guide :)

Spring: "Springtime the only pretty ring time"- William Shakespeare/ Willy Wonka

In the springtime wide legged jeans are the way to go!!  Pair dark bootleg denim with a sleeveless button down shirt and wear comfortable Sperrys.  You'll be comfortable, look cute, and best of all you may find your dream school :)








Fall: "Dear College, I am writing to inform you that I am rejecting your rejection letter.  Sincerely, see you in the fall"- Dear Blank Please Blank
In the fall, there is nothing like a soft, comfy sweater to keep you warm on a chilly day!  My suggestion? A heavy cable knit or soft cashmere sweater!  Throw on skinnies and flat boots (heels will kill you). Add a statemtnt necklace. You're gorgeous- now worry about getting in :)








Preppy Living Ya'll!
(PS- My Favorites were UVA and Washington and Lee)

Discovery!

I. HAVE. MADE. THE. MOST. AMAZING. DISCOVERY!  This may come as a shock to some of you (it came as a shock to me!) but I did not know what Rue La La was until today! Rue La La is a website that each day opens "boutiques" which are open for two days only.  The boutiques sometimes focus on a specific designer.  Lilly Pulitzer boutiques have been opened, and there is a 7 for all mankind boutique open right now!  The boutiques offer clothing, jewlery, and other accessories (SHOES), at private sale prices.  Heck, there are Olivia Riegel picture frames on this website, for almost half off.  I am in love <3  You need an invite to join, so click on my link and sign up!  http://www.ruelala.com/invite/anhnzkyt
Note to self, buy Milly Ecru and Black Absrat dress for more than half off. <3

Preppy Living Ya'll!

Snow Place Like The South

     Hey Ya'll, it's that time of year again in the South! Thats right, it's snow time :D On account of the "Impending Inclement Weather" school has decided to give us the day off and so in order to honor this decision I have spent my snow day the preppy way! I've been wearing pajamas all day, watching classic movies, and soon I'm going to bake some cupcakes! Hmm should I make pink and green vanilla cupcakes or chocolate cupcakes with pink raspberry icing? In other news, Duke (<3) beat Maryland last night! This was a tough game for me to watch because I have family connections to Maryland- my mom went there for a while, my cousins go there- but I have a deep love for Duke University as my potential future home.
     Have any of you started thinking of summer plans? I'm still waiting to hear back from the NC Governor's School (cross your fingers that I get in ya'll), but if that doesn't work out hopefully I can do some more traveling. Last year I went to China with Margo, and we had the most amazing time :) Someday I plan to go back!  For your special enjoyment readers I'm going to post some pictures of our Chinese summer exploits to remind you that summer is just around the wintery, frigid, snow day corner!

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co- Victoria Harbor, Hong Kong

Oh, what is that? Why yes sir you're correct,
we ARE Victoria's Secret models

DADDY!!! (Oh, and the Great Wall of China)

The Vintage Lilly Project

I am in quite the predicament!  Since purchasing my vintage "The Lilly" dress over the summer I have spent hours searching for information on it.  This dress seems so unique, and with its fairly calm coloring, lack of lace, and woven upper it is very unlike the Lilly Pulitzer we are all used to seeing today. And so I am officially launching The Vintage Lilly Project in an effort to not only learn more about this dress, but to also learn more about Lilly Pulitzer's early dressmaking history! I am pleading with all of you- please please please do whatever you can to help me in my pursuit of this knowledge.  If you find anything pertaining to this, or other dresses similar to it please comment on this post. 

The Front View

The Back View

Oh How Charming!

Hey guys, sorry it's been a while- exam season and all.  But here is a post about two things I LOVE!  A- My Juicy Couture Charm Bracelet, and B- My Pandora Charm Bracelet.  With Christmas coming up, I really want some new charms for each bracelet so just for the fun of it I think I will post the beautiful new (and old) charms I find my self drawn to :) And if the urge strikes any of you to gift me with a beautiful new charm, DO NOT RESIST <3

1. Kangaroo Charm a la Juicy Couture

2. Juicy Couture Bengal Tiger Charm- They're only available on ebay, but as a Bengal myself I really want this charm so I can represent!

3. Juicy Couture Pink Football Helmet Charm.  Again this one is vintage (as in 2009 :P) and I'm totally in love with it.  However it came out before I bought my bracelet and I've always kicked myself for not buying it when I had the chance.

4. Pandora Sterling Silver Snake Charm.  For some reason I am just really drawn to this cute little snake charm <3

5.  Pandora Sterling Silver Football Charm!!!

... And thus ends my lovely post on charms and charm bracelets.  Tell me which one you like best, and I'll buy it for myself :)  Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Preppy Living Ya'll

OMJ

Oh, My, Jeggings.  Today's post is going to be about jeggings because I am sick and tired of seeing them worn the wrong way.  First off- JEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS.  If you would like to wear pants, please go buy some real ones.  Secondly- IF YOU MUST WEAR JEGGINGS, WEAR THEM THE RIGHT WAY.  Please, if you must wear jeggings wear them with a shirt long enough to reach the top of your thighs.  Keep it classy.  So here goes my guide to the dos and donts of the jegging trend.
1.  What jeggings actually are:  Jeggings are not actually denim, they are LEGGINGS styled to look like tight denim jeans.  Therefore they must be worn as leggings instead of jeans. 
2. Which Jeggings to buy: Please please please for the love of God do not wear bright colored jeggings.  Bright colored pants that are not cordoroys are bad enough on their own, but skin tight colored pants?  Don't do it.  Buy a nice dark pair of indigo jeggings with good contrast stitching and make sure that they fit you well.  Few things are worse than having a foot of jeggings bunched up at your ankles.
3. What shirts you can wear jeggings with:
       a. Tunics. 

          b. Mini Dresses (Sometimes)- This Twenty8Twelve dress would be very cute over jeggings if it
              didn't have that gaudy bow on the bottom!

         c. Oversized Sweaters

4. What shoes are acceptable with Jeggings:  Flats  only! Wearing heels with jeggings looks trashy- Not prep appropriate.

Follow this guide and you may be able to get away with a classy jegging look! (But you probably still will not see me wearing them).
 Bisou Bisou- Gossip Girl...   oh wait, wrong logoff! Preppy Living Ya'll!

Time for a New Coat!

I am obsessed with Pea Coats.  Honest to goodness obsessed.  Like I own 5 in Navy Blue, Black, Kelly Green, and White and Black Check obsessed.  This obsession has lead me to realize that many of my contemporaries are in great need of a hand when it comes to picking out this certain element of preppy !  So in the best interest of everyone who reads this blog I present my LIST TO PERFECT PEA COATS- The Top 5:

1. Victoria's Secret Wool Double Breasted Pea Coat.  Oh my goodness I just love this one- It is wool, so it will keep you warm no matter the temperature and it is red which is the perfect standout winter color! Did I mention it is on sale for $99?

2. Tommy Hilfiger Double Breasted Coat- Teal.  I love how different this color is!  Most pea coats are Navy Blue or Black and I just love it when I see an unusual color on a classic silhouette- it is innovative preppiness!

3.  Michael Kors Short Black Pea Coat.  Now for the classic.  A Black Pea Coat never goes out of style, so investing in a good one will keep you looking good for years to come!

4. Bird by Juicy Couture Wool-Blend Military Pea Coat.  Well yes this coat is expensive, but you get what you put into it!  Military inspired outerwear is always trendy and always classy, so give it a try! 

5. L.L. Bean Classic Lambswool Pea Coat in Camel. While camel is not as classic as black or navy, camel is just as wearable as these classics!  It is important to make sure that you can pull off camel colors though, pale people are often washed out by such colors. 

Regardless of whether you choose a classic pea coat or a more modern prep approach, choose one that is warm and well made. Trust me, you will use this piece of clothing for years to come and you will want to make a solid investment.  Enjoy! 
Preppy Living Ya'll!!!

Just For Fun

Hey Ya'll!  I've always wanted to do one of these 100 Truths things, so here it goes...

What was your:
1. Last beverage: Water
2. Last phone call:Some random person asking for BB&T
3. Last text message: Lexi Ritz
4. Last song you listened to: Here Comes The Sun- The Beatles
5. Last time you cried: November 14th!

Have you ever:
6. Dated someone twice: Nope
7. Been cheated on: Yeah...
8. Kissed someone & regretted it: Yes
9. Lost someone special: Yepp
10. Been depressed: Like clinically? No.
11. Been drunk and threw up: Never.

List 3 favorite colors:
12. Pink
13. Navy Blue
14. Green

This year have you:
15. Made a new friend: Yes :)
16. Fallen out of love: Yes.
17. Laughed until you cried: Almost once a week
18. Met someone who changed you: Why yes I have
19. Found out who your true friends were: Indeed
20. Found out someone was talking about you: Yep
21. Kissed anyone on your friend's list: Mmmhm
22. How many people on your friends list do you know in real life: The majority of them
23. How many kids do you want: Not sure how many, but I do want them.
24. Do you have any pets: 2 cats and a dog
25. Do you want to change your name: Nope
26. What did you do for your last birthday: I went up to New York!
27. What time did you wake up today: 9:45
28. What were you doing at midnight last night: Watching Duke vs. Kansas State <3
30. Last time you saw your Mother: 15 minutes ago
31. What would change about your life: I would make myself less shy, because in reality I am a very shy person.
32. What are you listening to right now: Tower of Terror
33. Have you ever talked to a person named Tom: I think so.
34. Who's getting on your nerves right now: Ummm, no one.
35. Most visited webpages: Facebook, Perez, Youtube
36. Whats your real name: Lauren Nicole Watson
37. Nicknames: Blondie, Barbie, LoLo (KENESHAAA <3), Blonde Child (Margo :D), Wat-Wat
38. Relationship Status: Single
39. Zodiac sign: Libra
40. Male or female:  Female
41. Primary School: St. Pius
42. Secondary School: St. Pius
43. High school/college: Bishop/ GDS
44. Hair color: Blonde
45. Long or short: Short
46. Height: 5'3"
47. Do you have a crush on someone: Yepp :)
48: What do you like about yourself: The way my eyes change color with the light.
49. Piercings: Ears, Bellybutton for about a day
50. Tattoos: Ha NO!
51. Righty or lefty: Righty

Firsts:
52. First surgery: Adenoids
53. First piercing: Ears- 4th grade
54. First best friend: Tied between Margo Lexi and Katie
55. First sport you joined: Soccer!
56. First vacation: Disney World
58. First pair of trainers: If by trainers you mean sneakers then I had little pink baby ones :)

Right now:
59. Eating: Nothing.
60. Drinking: Nothing.
61. I'm about to: Post this!
62. Other pages you're looking at: Facebook
63. Waiting for: The world to change.

Your Future:
64. Want kids: Yes.
65. Get married:Of Course.
66. Career: Prenatal Genetic Counselor or Pediatric Transplant Surgeon or Lawyer

Which is better?
67. Lips or eyes: Eyes always
68. Hugs or kisses: Kisses
69. Shorter or taller: Taller.
70. Older or Younger: Older.
71. Romantic or spontaneous: Both, but I love spontaneity
72. Nice stomach or nice arms: Umm both if I could have them, but I care more about the person than their looks.
73. Sensitive or confident: Confident
74. Hook-up or relationship: Relationship always

Have you ever:
76. Kissed a stranger: Sadly that is a yes
77. Drank hard liquor: Nope.
78. Lost glasses/contacts: Don't wear them
79. Blahblahblahblahblah: Coming out ya mouth with ya blahblahblah, zip your lip like a padlock yeah...
80. Broken someone's heart: Not that I'm aware of.
82. Been arrested: Goodness no!
83. Turned someone down: Not that I remember.
84. Cried when someone died: Of course.

Do you believe in:
86. Yourself: Usually
87. Miracles: Always
88. Love at first sight:Yes.
89. Heaven: Its all there is to believe in... the only thing that differs from person to person is how they think of it.
90. Santa Claus: Oh how I wish I still did.
91. Kiss on the first date: Depends
92. Angels: Yes- I call them friends

Answer truthfully:
94. Had more than 1 girlfriend/boyfriend at a time: Never
95. Did you sing today: Loudly and Proudly :P
96. Ever cheated on somebody: I would never
97. If you could go back in time, how far would you go: To the 60's...
98. The moment you would choose to relive: I wouldn't change a thing.
99. Are you afraid of falling in love: A little, but overcoming fear only makes you stronger.
100. Are you afraid of posting this as 100 truths: Nope!

Well, now you know more about me :)  Preppy Living Ya'll!

Embracing New A Trend.

So I have to admit, I'm trying to get into a new style for formal events.  Example A- my Homecoming dress.... (Shame on you if you actually thought I'd post a picture on here! You have to wait like everyone else!)
Real example A- I have a formal event coming up, and instead of going to my usual standbys of bright colors and fabrics I am hoping to try something new!  Although I used to dislike it, the beaded dress has begun to have a special place in my heart.  I think they're pretty, because while they are conservative and colored with subdued shades these dresses manage to stand out because of their delicate sparkle.  So I have to ask, what do ya'll think of this dress? Because I'm really feeling it!
Example A-  http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3082354?origin=category&resultback=658#reviewAnchor
   I just might get it... we will see.

Preppy Living Ya'll
PS- If you're not already, go watch the Duke/ Kansas St Game!!!

Busy Busy end of school week!

Hey yall, I'm super busy but I just want to share with you a few links that I find help me de-stress! 
1. http://www.lovegivesmehope.com/     This website always makes my day better.  Do you believe in love?
2. http://perezhilton.com/    Its sassy.  Its Celebrity.  Its Perez.
3. http://www.dukeblueplanet.com/default.asp  I probably spend too much time out of my day on this website, but its Duke and that makes it okay right?
4. http://cwtv.com/shows/gossip-girl  Gossip Girl, the preppiest show on TV provides me with hours of stress- free entertainment!   

Sorry this is so short, but I hope you'll enjoy these links while I slave away over school stuff (Just one more day!!)
Preppy Living Ya'll!

Lets Get Inducted!

Why hey there ya'll! Its National Honor Society Induction day, and in honor of all the lovely game day dress we are wearing today (Me: Navy blue Lilly Pulitzer Adelson Shift with Gold Lace/ matching gold Nina heels/ gold rings, heart necklace gold and pearl hoop earrings) I would like to do a post about casual dress up- prep style. Now of course I am wearing Lilly Pulitzer which I find is always a great option, but there are so many combinations and different preppy outfits that can be worn!  I have found that the most important part of an outfit is the shoes, so I will be posting a few of my favorites. (PS. The shoe numbers will correspond with the clothing numbers etc. so match them up for a fabulous outfit!)
 SHOES:
1. Tahari Lonnie Pump- Nude- My friend Hannah Browne has these shoes, and let me say they are ADORABLE!    

The Perfect Heel- Classy, Comfortable, and Versatile!

2. Tommy Hilfiger Tania Flat- These are beautiful!  As I was just told "These are Blair Waldorf meets Chuck Bass shoes!".  So of course I love them.  Wear them with black tights and let them really stand out.

Chuck: You know, they say that you love something you should set it free.
Blair: Uh! They say if you hate something you should slam the door in its face.
Chuck: I love it when you talk dirty Blair.

3. Jessica Simpson Alany Boot- I'm not a fan of boot with skirts or dresses, but for a few people I can make an exception.  For those of you who like the boots with skirts look, I present these beauties!

Perfectly Tall, No Painful Stiletto, And they're cute! Win!

DRESSES:

1. Finn Shift Pointe- It looks like something Elle Woods would wear.  Love <3

 2. Snowfall Sweater Dress- Vineyard Vines and Sweater? Comfort and Cute! PS. I like it in black best. Add black tights.

3. Knotical Printed Skirt- Its preppy. Its boat-y.  Its Vineyard Vines.  I wish it was mine. Wear with a white turtleneck and white tights- be white hot.

HEADBAND:
1. Don't leave that  perfect pink dress feeling all lonely!  Add some more color with a turquoise and white headband and it will look more lively than imaginable :)

2. Tie your outfit together from your head to your toes with a purple headband! Purple goes with anything and it is the color of royalty so be a queen in this headband:

3. Because you have such a simple and classic outfit keep your headband small and tie it in.  A simple brown leather headband will keep your look classy and preppy!

FOR THE BOYS:
All I have to say is wear a Oxford Button down shirt, some sort of colored khaki pant and Sperrys (or dress shoes) and they'll look great.  However to really stand out I have one simple suggestion- Dress like Chuck Bass (You'll have my eternal love!):

Blair: Are you happy now that you've humiliated both of us?
Chuck: It's in your own bloody hands, Lady Macbeth.

 

Hope this has given you some new preppy idea for the next time you have to dress up!
Preppy Living Everyone!

Realizations...

Hey Ya'll!  So I'm watching The Clique (I know, I know) and I just realized that I have a MAJOR Scarlett O'Hara complex!  What does that mean you may ask? Why it means that I want to be the best at everything, and don't care how much work it takes.  This realization came to me as I watched mean girl teen movies and realized that I identify the most with the determined, often mean ones!  Plus someone told me that I seemed like one of those girls from teen movies the other day- still not sure if that is a compliment or not... Anyways in honor of my teen movie queen aspirations here is  list of my favorites along with their best quotes :)
1. Regina George- who would forget the EPIC Regina George of Mean Girls Fame? 
Regina: Oh my God, I love your skirt! Where did you get it?
Lea Edwards: It was my mom's in the '80s.
Regina: Vintage, so adorable.
Lea Edwards: Thanks!
Regina: That is the ugliest f-ing skirt I've ever seen
2. Blair Waldorf- Gossip Girl. My addiction. Enough said.    
Blair: Pathetic! Suburban moralists in mom jeans. I'd pity them if I wasn't worried they'd spill orange soda on my Christian Louboutins.
3. Scarlett O'Hara- Okay, sure she didn't go to high school but I still want to be the teenage her!
Rhett Butler: You're like the thief who isn't the least bit sorry he stole, but is terribly, terribly sorry he's going to jail.
4. Elle Woods- Again not in high school, but Harvard and high school are just alike right?
Elle: Is that low-viscosity rayon? With a half-loop top stitching on the hem?
Saleswoman: Of course. It's one of a kind.
Elle: It's impossible to use a half-loop stitching on low-viscosity rayon. It would snag the fabric. And you didn't just get it in - I saw it in the June Vogue a year ago. So if you're trying to sell it to me for full price, you've picked the wrong girl. 5. Hillary Duff (Lizzie McGuire!!)- I will admit this was the first TV show I watched religiously.  I miss it so much!  Lizzie and her antics always made me smile, although my favorite character was always Kate! Kate and Ethan Craft just belong together!
Gordo: "I guess Kate does sortof give off some visual signals which imply a biologically nuturing capability."
Miranda: "We get it Gordo! She's stacked!"
Gordo: "Yes, yes she is!"
      AND
Lizzie: What would help you study?
Ethan: Cheerleaders.
Lizzie: OK, Cheerleaders, Ethan needs cheerleaders.
6. Last but NEVER least is Kim Possible-  Kim Possible was the last animated series I ever got into before I out grew them, but it may have been the best.  Teen cheerleader/ prom queen/ saving the world from Shego and Dr. Drakken?! Almost too much to bear.  Not to mention the fact that she dates a super sweet SMART guy with a pet naked mole rat (with its own RAP).  So not the drama...
Kim: Do you know what I really hate?
Shego: That your... date melted?
Kim: Nah... you.

Well that concludes this post.  Preppy (and teen queen) Living Yall!

Its the Best Day Ever!

Cue obnoxious Spongebob Squarepants music, the best day ever has truely been reached!  Not only have we finally learned that Prince William and Kate Middleton are finally engaged (ROYAL WEDDING TIME!), but the Beatles music is availiable on iTunes!  To be perfectly honest im torn on both of these events.  Yes I'm beyond excited that I get to watch a royal wedding (I've been hooked on the idea of royal weddings since I was in the 7th grade and stayed home sick on the day Charles and Camilla wed.  Most amazing experience ever!)  and yes I like Kate Middleton but at the same time Prince William is every girl's teenage dream!  Each commoner wants to be a princess and each Southern belle deserves princess status and Prince William had those good looks that just made us gravitate to him.  *Sigh* on to Prince Harry :P  Another thing that I am unsure about is the sale of the Beatles music on i-Tunes.  I'm all for having easy access to the Beatles and their music which is the defninition of classic! (And therefore preppy).  However I still feel that the Beatles are a group who are worth more than $1.29 per song.  Buying their albums and listening to them all at once is like taking a musical journey with them , and now that the music can be picked and chosen from I fear that some of their best, lesser known songs like Matchbox or Rain will be lost into obscurity.  Oh such a wonderful day in music and in life!  Now all I have left to wish for is my own princess title (Watch out Kate Middleton :P) and to meet all of the Beatles together in heaven some day- A girl can dream! 
Preppy (And Beatle-y and Princessy) Living Everyone!

I'm an Anglophile... Really.

Yes, the title says it all. An Anglophile is: a person who favors English or British culture over their own. they consider British history, arts, music, culture, etc. (modern or historical) to be superior to their own. this person may use preferred British spelling for common words such as colour instead of color, favourite instead of favorite, centre, instead of center, grey instead of gray, etc. (Urban Dictionary).  I am an Anglophile born 50 years too late.  Born after the "British Invasion" from which we got the Beatles and Mod fashion with which I am obsessed.  Born after the prime years of New Musical Express (the ORIGINAL music magazines) and its British music charting.  I was instead born into an era in which England means Princess Diana or Russell Brand, and an era in which the Beatles have their own video game.  I was born in an era in which the Anglophile culture has fallen into a somewhat obscure crevice of culture within the United States. 
Your'e probably wondering why I am talking about being an Anglophile when this is a blog about the preppy South! Well here are just a few of the reasons:
    1. England had to good sense to start American Colonization in the SOUTH- in Virginia!
    2. England gave us Vivien Leigh, the goddess who in 1939 brought the original southern belle Scarlett O'Hara to life in Gone With The Wind.
    3. England gave us Amy Winehouse whose music and exploits entertains our little Southern hearts- just dont try to make her go to rehab!
    4. England gave us Princes William and Harry to stare at/ fantisize about.  Because every southern belle needs her beau... ahem prince.
    5. England gave us Liberty of London.  Its the funkier, less pink and green, British version of Lilly Pulitzer!  Not to mention they have a collection this year that copies some of the Mod fashions from Carnaby Street in the 60's. Vintage is always preppy!
It may sound crazy, but I'm an Anglophile through and through and hopefully I've converted you to a Britain lover too!  Preppy Living Y'all :)

Accessories and More!

Hi guys! So I've noticed that alot of my posts are about preppy accessories like scarves, and as much as I love my preppy clothing I honestly do think accessories make or break an outfit.  So today I present to you the preppy guide to accessorizing! 
       1. The Necklace:  A quintessential element of the wardrobe, the everyday necklace is a key piece of accessorizing.  In terms of a preppy necklace you have many options!  Pearls are of course the classic preppy option, but to be honest I prefer the look of pendants and simple monogrammed chokers.  For the more trendy (and funky!) preps out there I suggest anchor necklaces, animal necklaces, or even Tahitian black pearls :)
       2. The Bracelet: Now Im not a huge fan of bracelets.  Don't get me wrong, I think they're beautiful but for some reason I can never wear them as often as I like.  Probably because they tend to interfere with typing and writing!  However there are a couple bracelets that I feel fit into the preppy lifestyle, and that can be worn in everyday life.  Such bracelets include vintage bangles, charm  bracelets, and Pandora bracelets.  These are so wearable and preppy because they are classic, and therefore the foundation of a preppy lifestyle.
     3. The Ring:  Preppy rings are simple rings! Anything ostentatious (fake hot pink cocktail rings!!) and worn with something other than a little black dress at a party does not qualify as preppy.  However small rings with delicate detail are the perfect complement to any preppy wardrobe!
     4. Earrings: You can work almost any earrings into a preppy wardrobe so long as you don't try to be like Ke$ha and wear feathers or those weird spiky gel things for earrings.  Keep it classy and simple and your earrings have will go with anything :)
     5. The Belt:  Oh there is nothing better than a preppy belt.  My favorite preppy belt is my Lilly Pulitzer Men's belt, and believe it or not those belts will really fit girls so long as you buy them in a small size.  Another kind of cute belt is a grosgrain belt, or a Vineyard Vines patterned belt.  I love the way these belts look with a plain top, leave everything else simple and let your preppy belt be the center of your object.  in contrast, with a brighter shirt or one with a pattern I suggest a brown or black leather belt to add an element of simplicity and class to any outfit!
     6. The Headband: I couldn't do a post on accessories without talking about my love of headbands.  I have so many headbands that I have had to make a special place for them in my room!  I love them so much because they are the perfect accessory.  Regardless of how your hair looks, regardless of how much or how little time you spend on your hairstyle, putting a headband on with instantly make your hair look better.  My personal favorite headbands are the simple leather ones, perhaps with a bow on the side, but honestly any headband is preppy.  Just google Blair Waldorf for proof of that :)
“Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and remove one accessory.” -Coco Chanel
Preppy Living (and accessorizing) Everyone!!

Its getting cold outside, scarf time!

So those of you who live in North Carolina may have noticed the dropping temperatures lately (I know I sure have!) and the smarter of you may have decided to break out your winter scarf collection!  Now I love a good scarf as much as the next girl but if there is one thing I hate seeing more than summer dresses after labor day it is an improperly worn scarf.  And so, in an effort to help those of you out there who are thinking "Why I don't know how to tie a scarf!" I present to you the French Guide to tying scarves!  Now you might think I'm crazy for  giving all you Southerners a French guide, but remember aside from being the baguette capital of the world the French were the first to popularize the scarf from a fashion standpoint, and to elevate it from an accessory to a necessity. Therefore their neckwear knowledge is indispensable!

 
 French Outfit Guide:
1. Wear skinny jeans with some cute flats.
2. Wear an earth toned shirt with some sort of cute, possibly ruffled design.
3. Alternatively you can wear a navy blue and white horizontally striped boat shirt.
4. Wear a cream colored scarf tied in the French style :)
5. Add a large bag, simple jewelry, and over sized sunglasses

Dress like a French girl, and make even Bridget Bardott proud :)  Preppy Living Everyone!

	Center the scarf in front of your neck. Wrap around, crossing ends behind neck and pull forward.
	Tie a single knot centered underneath chin.
	Finish by tying a double knot and let ends hang loosely.

Preppy of the Past!

Hey guys, sorry it's been so long since I updated! Life (and Evita) kinda got in the way of anything other than school and rehersal!  Speaking of Evita- the Andrew Llyod Webber play based on the life of Eva Peron, I think it would be interesting to look to the icons of the past to get a glipse at the evolution of the preppy style! So let the historical prep journey commence!

1.  The first, and perhaps the original- Rene Lacoste!
        Born in 1904 Rene Lacoste was a French tennis champion!  He was nicknamed "The Crocodile" by his fans because of his tenacity on the court.  After years of wearing stuffy tennis shirts Lacoste had had enough and he decided to create his own tennis shirt.  Thus the Polo, thus called because after the shirt spread through the tennis crowd polo players adopted the attire, was born.  Lacoste's original polos, like his pre- polo tennis shirts features a crocodile on the left breast area.  Nowadays there is a great controversy regarding whether or not the animal is a crocodile or an aligator, however I feel we can all agree that Lacoste and Rene himself will be remembered not as the crocodile but as the "Innovator"!
2. My personal favorite- Jackie Kennedy!
     This beauty, although Northern born and bred, is the original dress code for preps everywhere.  What made her style unique was its embrace of all the best of the past and the best ideas of the future. Jackie knew what worked for her, and she never strayed from the clothes that worked.  As a socialite Jackie grew up with bi-yearly trips to Paris for clothes and meetings with Coco Chanel!  When she married and became first lady a few things changed; the first lady still loved her Parisian fashion but as the first lady she had to use American designers.  The solution to her Parisian problem? Oleg Cassini.  This Russian born Parisian trained upcoming American esigner was discovered by Jackie and she quickly put him to use. Over the years Oleg Cassini's designs would become synonimous with Kennedy Camelot fashion, as with Jackie's beauty!
3.  And now for Jackie's contemporary- Lilly McKim Pulitzer Rosseau!
     Lilly atended school with Jackie in New York and would eventually go on to dress her and have her dresses promoted by Jackie during her First Lady years.  When she was a young woman Lilly eloped to Florida and began to run a juice stand.  As she made the juice she realized that the juice was staining her white dresses and was inspired to create brightly colored dresses which would disguise the stains and allow her to dress fashionably. As demand for the dresses grew it was out with the juice stand and in with the design studio and the company grew to be the standard of Southern prep fashion while Ms. Pulitzer became the idol of preppy women everywhere!
4. 90's prep= Carlton Banks
    This "Fresh Prince of Bell Air" star took preppy to the west coast and became the king of sweaters tied over the shoulders and oxford shirts tucked in!  For the true representation of California prep look no further than the recent cultural icon, and study his famous "Carlton dance" to relate :P
5.  The preps of today are represented by none other than Blair Waldorf of Gossip Girl fame!
    I could go into why she is the perfect prep for hours but instead I think I will post one picture.  This should say it all!

Preppy Living Yall!

Football for the preppy crowd.

Sometimes there are those days.  You know the ones I am talking about- the ones where your tennis racket is in your other car, your field hockey stick needs to be rewrapped, you've shattered your cricket mallet, and your caddy has a day off.  Your shooting party has been cancelled, and there is no one around to practice lacrosse with! But never fear your trusty football team will always be around to entertain you!  Although few think of it as such football is a preppy sport, there are certain elements that make it count as such.  One such element is the tailgating. Football is one of the few sports that can have both a pre game party, a party during the game, and (if you win) a post game party and each party is an excellent opportunity to show off some of your "preppitude".  First order of business for prepping up a football game is the perfect football outfit.  Obviously the easiest way to dress for a football game is the old t-shirt and jeans routine, but why not wear a polo in your team color and some animal print shorts (preferably some with an animal representative of your school's mascot)?  Top the entire look off with some Bonannos and a Vineyard Vines college collection purse and you have the perfect casual football game look.  Of course there will always be those games that require a dressier look (Lilly Dress Anyone?) and those that require a more casual look (sigh, i guess t-shirts and sweats could acceptable here) but all in all your preppy clothes will never fail. The second order of business is getting your peppy, happy attitude on to support your team!  No one likes a Debby Downer in the 4th quarter when the team is down by a touchdown!  Keep up a supportive, optimistic attitude worthy of a true prep!
I hope this helps ya'll both in your enjoyment of football and in your pursuit of preppiness!  Preppy Living Everyone!

Margo's Weekly Post #1

Hello everybody! This is my first post, so of course I'm starting with a nice short bio. First off, I'm Margo and I am going to have a weekly post about the hotties of the week and the jerks of the week. I love things such as NFL football, college basketball and gossip. And of course my best friend Lauren who started this blog. So down to the good stuff. In the world of sports and hollywood there are hotties and jerks. This week there were so many hotties it was hard choosing, but I choose my personal favorite, who can work any accent or clothes.

Jake Gyllenhaal

Now this hottie is definitely a hottie. He is adorable plus a talented actor. My personal favorite movie of his is Prince of Persia, his british accent is to die for! Also he has dated beautiful hollywood starlets (Reese Witherspoon) and he is rumored to be dating Taylor Swift. Jake is in high demand, and we all know why.

The jerk of the week was a easy pick; meet:
Charlie Sheen

This jerk may be cute and funny on Two and a Half Men, but in real life he is a JERK. Some of you may have heard of the incident at the Plaza hotel this week in an incident in which he trashed his room and had to go to the hospital. Long story short, his actions were GROSS. I hope this is all resolved, but for now he is my jerk of the week!

First Post!

Hey guys, so here is my first post!  This blog is going to be all about being preppy south of the Mason-Dixon line! But first a little background info: I'm Lauren, affectionately known by some (ALOT) as barbie.  Just keep reading and you'll probably have figured out why :P I have several loves in life including the stylings of Lilly Pulitzer, the basketball prowess of Duke University AND on most years The University of North Carolina, and the southern bible: Gone With The Wind. Oh, and my darling little dog Cinnamon!

So first topic: Southern Summer Clothes
So its starting to get really cold down here in the south (Why it only hit 59 degrees here today! What a terror!) and this has me longing for a little taste of summer.  So what better way to reminisce than to review some of the summer's preppy staples, and reinterpret them for winter wear!
1. The Lilly American Alligator Print Skirt!  As part of the Lilly Loves Green Campaign this skirt is   not only gorgeous but also good for our animals! If you're like me you spent the entire summer running around in this little number.  But this piece is kinda hard to work into fall...

2. Vintage Lilly Dresses.  Why not own your own little piece of Lilly history you can show off to all of your friends? I know I sure do, and because it is over 50 years old I wear it around as much as possible to show off just how much I love my Lilly! Not to mention you can just throw on a cardigan and WHAM a cute fall outfit!
3. You didn't think think whole thing would be devoted to Lilly Pulitzer did you?  Oh no, Ralph Lauren has a tradition in luxury and quality that can make any summer day just a little brighter :) And one of the best ways to prep out your summer is, of course, the classic polo.  My favorite is a black polo with a lilac pony. And again you can just put a cardigan on top of the polo and wear it into the fall!

4. Rainbows.  I don't care how preppy you say your Jack Rogers are, rainbows are the ultimate in comfort as well as the everlasting show.  Season after season your rainbows will last you, and isn't the foundation of all the is preppy the "classic-ness" of the wardrobe?
5. Last but not least come the jeans.  Contrary to popular opinion skinny jeans can be worked into a prep wardrobe, just roll them up at the bottom or balance out the "edginess" with a collared shirt, Sperry Topsiders, and a headband to tie it all together. Again this may be moved into the fall/ winter season with the addition of a cardigan, boots, and/or a sweater.  If you're feeling really bold the true preps out there can try out sweater vests!

Well it's Gossip Girl time! (AH Chuck and Blair forever <3) Preppy Living everyone!