If you’re like me and you spend way too much time on TikTok (which I really hope doesn’t get banned), and you watch a lot of fashion content on the app, you have probably seen a ton of Tik Toks on “preppy” outfits. However, this is not your typical preppy style. In fact it’s quite opposite. This new wave of preppy style is all about colors, beachiness, and summer vibes. This popular style is really prevalent on the East Coast although there are a few other pockets around the US where this style can be found, like in certain regions in Florida and Texas, for example. This is why I found this style to be a bit foreign when I started seeing Tik Toks on it, however I’ve done a bit of digging on it and wanted to share my favorite preppy trends and pieces. But first, I’m going to try and explain it for those of you who are unfamiliar with this style. 

To paint the picture, a lot of girls who wear preppy clothes aren’t the kind of preppy you’re probably thinking of. I don’t know why this style has taken on this name, but it is actually quite opposite from the preppy style we are all familiar with (pleated skirts, headbands, collared shirts, private school uniform vibes). Preppy style is all about bright colors and is very beachy. I’ve noticed a lot of preppy girls will use the AU5 VSCO filter (which is very colorful) and look like they’re straight out of an East Coast summer. A lot of girls with this style will also wear flouncy skirts and dresses, beaded jewelry, and very colorful and fun athleisure (but I will be fully diving into preppy trends a bit later in this post). It’s all about making colorful and beachy styles classy, and usually quite fancy. I think part of the reason this style is somewhat “exclusive” = is because of how expensive preppy clothing can be. It may seem as if all preppy girls own at least one item from Loveshackfancy, Isabel Marant Etoile, and Solid & Striped. However, this is very false! Although it may seem as though preppy style can only be obtained with very fancy, luxurious pieces when in reality there are endless amounts of preppy pieces that are very affordable and accessible. I will be sharing some of my favorites with you in this post!

In this post, I will be rounding up my favorite preppy trends, followed by a “Steal the Look” section where you can shop exact or similar items from some of my favorite preppy outfits. Enjoy the post!

TRENDS

1. Flouncy Mini Skirts

This first preppy trend is probably the biggest one I’ve seen thus far: flouncy mini skirts. This trend is the perfect cross between beachy, classy, and flattering. My favorite way to wear a flouncy mini skirt is with a fitted solid colored tank top or a tight body suit. This way the volume of the skirt can stand out without you looking like a cupcake. Whether you want to spend $300 or $30 on a flouncy mini skirt, I’ve got you covered. Shop my favorites down below:

2. Flouncy Mini Dresses

As you can see, flounciness is super hot right now. I love flouncy mini dresses because they’re super youthful. They can also be dressed up, with block heels for example, for a more fancy occasion but can also be dressed down with some sneakers for a casual daytime look. Shop my favorite flouncy dresses down below:

3. Matching Pajamas

I don’t know about you, but when I wear matching pajamas instead of the usual oversized tee and old pajama pants, I feel very put together and sophisticated. Matching pajamas have become a super popular preppy trend that I personally love. In particular, Roller Rabbit matching pajama sets are very popular and have been adopted by preppy fashionistas  (especially this set which I own and am obsessed with). Shop my favorite matching pajama sets down below:

4. Colorful Athleisure

Colorful athleisure (athletic leisure) is the ultimate comfy look for the preppy girl. Whether that’s sweatpants, leggings, or comfy shorts, there’s always some form of color and/or pattern involved to make the look extra preppy and cute. Shop my favorite pieces for the perfect preppy athleisure look down below:

5. Puff Sleeves

Puff sleeves are so cute and have become a closet staple for preppy girls. I used to think puff sleeves were too mature and made me look like a mom, but I’ve realized that this is false if you find the right pieces and can style them youthfully. A very cute and preppy way to style puff sleeves is to wear a puff sleeve mini dress, platform sneakers, and a pair of colorful sunglasses. However, I also love wearing puff sleeve tops with jeans, especially in colder weather. Shop my favorite puff sleeved tops and dresses down below:

6. Bracelet Stacks

Bracelet stacks, especially ones that incorporate colorful bracelets, is an adorable preppy style that adds an extra element of color and fun to an outfit. If you wear a uniform to school like me, adding some bracelets to your uniform is a super easy way to add some personal style to your look. Shop my favorite bracelets to add to your stack down below:

7. Colorful Swimwear

I was at first hesitant to cover this trend into this blog post because although it is preppy, it is also a universal trend. However, I’m adding it in because I’ve never met a preppy girl who wears a plain black or white swimsuit! Like I mentioned, color is a preppy girl’s best friend, so colorful swimsuits are definitely a preppy staple. Shop my favorite colorful swimwear pieces down below:

STEAL THE LOOK

This section is my personal favorite of this post because I get to help you all shop preppy looks that I love. There have been so many times where I’ve seen a picture on social media of a preppy outfit that I wish I could have for myself, so I’ve inserted a few of my favorite preppy outfit pictures into this post along with the exact pieces or dupes of items worn in the picture for you guys to shop. Just click on an item below the corresponding image picture to shop the item!

All images in this post are from Pinterest.