Join the Preppy Anti-Defamation League Today!

Yes, it’s that time of year again. With Memorial Day just over, you should consider joining or renewing your annual … More

Wofford College Student (1966)

This Wofford College student (c. 1966), an entertainment editor for the campus Old Gold and Black newspaper, exemplifies the way … More

Nattiness Personified: Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.

One of the leading candidates for “Nattiest Dresser of the 20th Century” might well be Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. He graduated … More

Wofford College Fraternity Men (1980s)

My alma mater, Wofford College, was a bastion of natural fibers long before The Official Preppy Handbook was published. Fraternity men … More

Gentlemen of Hampden-Sydney

I’ve listed Hampden-Sydney again this year as the most preppy college in the South. It was founded in 1775, when … More

Top 20 Preppy Colleges in the South

In 2011, I published my first list of the top preppy colleges in the South. It was limited to 10 … More

J. Press Moving Sale: 70% Off Selected Merchandise

Of note to all bargain hunters: while not quite as satisfying as a good thrift find, you can get 70% … More

J. Press Grosgrain Ribbon Watch Bands

One of the most practical and usable accessories to have in the wardrobe is a grosgrain ribbon watch band. These three … More

Preppy 80s Flashback

Portrait of me with my cousin, Brandon, in 1986. He was not quite a year old when this photograph was … More

Ratty Sweatshirt from the Yale Co-op

I have a very old sweatshirt from the Yale Co-op that I bought as a grad student in New Haven in … More

Preppy in New York City

My wife took this photo of me looking at books among the vendors at Union Square near 17th Street in … More

Join The Preppy Anti-Defamation League

Pete and Trudy Campbell invite you to consider joining or renewing your annual membership with the Preppy Anti–Defamation League. Summer is go–to–hell season, … More

Kennedy Home Movies in Color

President John F. Kennedy and his family defined classic casual style, whether on the water at Hyannis Port, Massachusetts or … More

Poll: Should WASP 101 Return?

It’s been a couple of weeks since WASP 101 was taken down. I wasn’t a regular reader of that blog, … More

Summer Classics – eBay and Thrifting

A Madras plaid tie makes a sharp addition to the summer wardrobe. The one I’m wearing is from Ralph Lauren. … More

JFK in 1946 – Ivy Style

John Fitzgerald Kennedy’s first political campaign came in 1946 when he ran for Congress in the 11th District of Massachusetts. … More

Preppy in the 90s

1999 – A professional headshot of me taken by a photographer in Tribecca when my wife and I were living … More

Thrifted Summer Clothes

At The Nearly New Shop in Greenville, SC last week, I found a very comfortable Madras plaid short sleeve button … More

Andy Warhol: Button Down Man

Andy Warhol, the son of Polish immigrants, left his hometown of Pittsburgh and arrived in New York City by train … More

Rothko, a Cigar and Strong Black Coffee

Hub City Bookstore is a great independently run bookstore in Spartanburg, SC. On a rainy Saturday morning not long ago, I … More

Thank You Notes and Threadbare Rugs

Tad Friend, author of Cheerful Money: Me, My Family and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor (Little Brown and Company … More

Preppy in the 80s

I recently opened a box of old photographs and college annuals and blew off the dust. The images here are … More

Thrifted Brooks Brothers Poplin Suit

Since the move to South Carolina last summer, I’ve had a chance to scout thrift stores in my area and … More

Tad Friend – A True Wasp

Tad Friend, in his 2009 memoir Cheerful Money: Me, My Family and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor, reveals in … More

WASP 101 Blogger Exposed?

This week Christian Chensvold of Ivy Style received a tip from an unnamed source concerning the identity of the person … More

Meeting Whit Stillman

Going through my digital photo archive, I found a shot of me with director Whit Stillman (left) last May at the … More

Bleeding India Madras

Today at the Nearly New Shop in Greenville, SC, I found a great bleeding India Madras, patchwork plaid, short-sleeve button … More

My Blogging Hiatus – A Move and Such

I’ve been out of the blogging and thrifting loop for some time. Moving to another state – from New York … More

Cotton Rules: Madras is King

Now that we’re past Memorial Day, the color barrage begins. It’s full on madras go-to-hell season, and the colors run … More

Thrifty at the Races – Middleburg, VA

My wife and I recently made a trip down to Middleburg, VA for the spring point-to-point races at Glenwood Park. … More

Preppies Protect Yourselves: Join PADL Today!!

Now is the time to consider joining or renewing your annual membership with PADL: Preppy Anti-Defamation League. Summer is go-to-hell season, … More

There’s Preppy – Then There’s Ridiculous

Preppies like to have their belts and pants embroidered with various motifs. There are spouting whales and signal flags, lobsters … More

Upper Class Twit of the Year

Monty Python’s Upper Class Twit of the Year Show suggests that the landed gentry – at least in England – have … More

Paul Fussell – Ties and Social Class

In his book Class: A Guide Through The American Status System, cultural critic Paul Fussell presents a concise analysis of … More

Real Hunter or Actor Boy Poseur?

I’ll lay odds this clown couldn’t hit the side of a barn with buckshot at 20 yards, and I’d let … More

The Classic Style of William Eggleston

This is a portrait of William Eggleston – one of my favorite photographers. It was shot by his cousin Maude … More

Confessions of a Preppy Tie-o-Holic

“Hi, my name is Preppy Croc, and I’m a tie-o-holic.” If you’ve never been to this meeting before, the correct … More

Follow Thrift Store Preppy on Twitter

Help spread the joy of preppy thrifting. Follow me on Twitter.

Thrifted Nautical Flag Belt – $3.99

My latest thrift purchase was a nautical flag belt – embroidered on leather with a webbed cotton backing and a … More

Thrifted Ralph Lauren Madras Plaid Tie – $6.99

I always check the tie rack of any thrift store because there will inevitably be a gem lurking among the … More

Interview with Lisa Birnbach

Matt Nelson interviewed Lisa Birnbach for Borders a few years back when True Prep was published, a book she co-authored … More

Class: A Guide Through the American Status System

In his unmercifully accurate 1983 book Class: A Guide Through The American Status System, Paul Fussell wrote about a fashion … More

Real Estate – Beach Comber

Beach Comber is from Real Estate’s 2009 debut album. They’re one of my favorite indie bands, a bit like the … More

Thrifting Plus Smart Retail Shopping

Thrifted items can be paired well with items purchased at retail, but it is always best to do your retail … More

Prepsploitation: Making The Grade (1984)

Making The Grade is another of the 80s preppy movies, but it was particularly bad, follwoing a cliche format of upper … More

Preppy 10 Commandments – Episcopal Style

Note: You need not be Episcopalian to follow these blessed commandments, for we are both traditional and prepumenical. We welcome … More

WASP Lessons – From People Like Us

PBS aired a fascinating documentary a few years ago: People Like Us – Social Class in America, taking on one … More

Thrifted Ribbon Belt, Polo Shirt and Khaki Shorts

For a total of $17.97, I recently thrifted a navy/cyan grosgrain ribbon belt ($4.99), an all cotton J. Crew polo … More

Know Your Prep Accents: Boston Brahmin

In the last few days, I’ve been focused on New England, posting about Nantucket Reds and their connection with sailing. … More

Brooks Brothers Madras Shirt Bought on eBay

I’ve been gearing up for summer lately. Some recent buys include a pair of patchwork madras shorts, a ribbon belt … More