Modern Prep

Sharing my love for all things prep. I'm a huge fan of the Classic Prep look, but it just doesn't work for me. Here's my take, my opinions on my type of prepster, the Modern Prep. Some of these images are mine, and some are not.

[georgianadesign]

[georgianadesign]

‘American summer home.’ James Schettino Architects, New Canaan, CT. Jane Belles photo.

[georgianadesign]

Napa farmhouse, CA. Artistic Designs for Living, Tineke Triggs.

[classic-and-gold]

[modernprep]

Boston Winters have my heart ❤️❄️

[modernprep]

New lake, who dis? 🌲 (at Coffee Pond) https://www.instagram.com/p/BnME9SGHYDL/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=sipyoxrgi7qg

[maninpink]

Style by @jj88fashionist

[modernprep]

I’m loving this take on a summer ensemble. That knitted tie in navy just screams Ivy League, while the fitted jacket with peak lapels in a thick pinstripe is so euro. With a jacket like this in a seersucker fabric, you’ll stay cool and fashionable during your third NYC rooftop happy hour of the week.

[modernprep]

As a hat tip to his time at Burberry, outgoing Creative Director Christopher Bailey designed this new rainbow check pattern for his final runway show (Spring 2018). Burberry announced that sales of this soon-to-be iconic pattern will go to support three LGBT+ charities. When asked about what the collection means to him, Bailey was quoted as saying,

“There has never been a more important time to say that in our diversity lies our strength, and our creativity.”

[modernprep]

Glimmers of Hope Out of New Albany

I’m going to try and not make this an Abercrombie blog, but anyone who knows me knows I’ve been an diehard Fitch boy since the early 2000′s.

New Albany, Ohio has been abuzz with change over the last year. While the Hollister brand continues to carry the majority of the profits for Abercrombie & Fitch, the company refuses to give up on their namesake brand.

In 2016, Aaron Levine was poached from Club Monaco to lead a redesign of the Abercrombie menswear line for S/S 2016. Well, let 👏me👏 tell👏 you👏. I’m in love with this new Abercrombie. This is not the brand that we grew up with. Is it full adult? No, but it’s getting to that college graduate/young professional stage. Potentially sliding up into the space vacated by Ruehl No.925, Abercrombie brand's J.Crew competitor that was shuttered in 2010.

Mr. Levine’s arrival has been so lauded in the halls of Abercrombie HQ, that he was quickly promoted to SVP of both men’s and women’s design. But it wasn’t just the brand’s C-suite that was impressed. In fact, for 2017 the “new” Abercrombie has comparative store sales of -2%. While still down, it is up from 2016 (-11%). Consumers are coming back to the brand, albeit, slowly.

I have high hopes for the Abercrombie name. Not just because it makes up 90% of my closet, or the fact that they are consistently running full store sales. This is a redemption story. From infamous high-school coed to a mature college graduate who’s just trying to get their friends back after a really bad drunk night.

[modernprep]

Every summer cottage on Nantucket needs an outdoor shower.

[modernprep]

If this photo doesn’t scream prep life, I don’t know what does.

Welcome to the Inn at Perry Cabin. This is one of my favorite weekend getaway destinations. Just about four hours from NYC and easily accessible by car (BWI - 90 minutes), this Maryland resort is located on the Eastern Shore in the small town of St. Michaels.

With their prime location on the Miles River, there is an abundance activities both on and off the water. Sailing, kayaking, wine tastings, and more. There’s definitel something for everyone.

The entire property, with only 78 rooms and suites, retains its at-home feel of the manor home that makes up the primary building. It’s so easy to find a quiet space, from a little bookcase nook to the Adirondack chairs lining the seawalll. You can be as involved as you wish.

Each of the rooms are uniquely decorated with both the garden view and water view rooms feeling as luxurious as the next. I mean, look at that bed! Did I mention turn-down involves cookies?

Right outside the main gate of the resort is the picturesque town of St. Michaels. This town just oozes mid-Atlantic charm. Like many coastal communities, St. Michaels has a very strong connection to the sea. The Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum outlines the area's strong oyster and crab fishing heritage while Lyon Distillery is known for its locally produced rum.

As a member of the Belmond Group, the Inn at Perry Cabin is part of a long list of legendary properties and experiences like the Venice-Simplon Train and the Khwai River Lodge. Needless to say, this property holds its own among the heavy hitters.

[modernprep]

Looking Good and Staying Comfortable while Traveling

As the weather begins to warm up here in the Northeast, Spring and Summer travel plans are just beyond the horizon. Can you feel those beautiful rays of sun yet? With summer travel comes all the travel headaches, long security lines, the waiting, and the dreaded middle seat (all the more reason to fly private).

If you’re anything like me, you immediately judge people on what they’re wearing the moment you get out of your Uber XL. Like any proper prep, you want to look good regardless what you’re doing. Looks mean everything. So the girl in the same pajamas that she rolled out of bed in and a neck pillow around her neck isn’t the look you would go for. But you’re not about to dress to the nines for your 26 hour flight to Phuket, even if you are sitting in First Class.

So that begs the question, how do you look good, and channel your inner preppy, while also being comfortable? Personally, I’ve always been a jeans or khakis type flyer, but I’ve been enlightened. Here my take on casual, yet appropriate airplane attire:

Pants: Think sweats, not the ones you slept in! Joggers and tapered sweatpants are a great option to keep you warm and stylish at 35,000 feet. Make sure they fit, none of this saggy butt and crotch nonsense.

Abercrombie & Fitch | $78

Old Navy | $35

Bonobos | $118

Tops: I like to stick with layers. Waffle henleys and thicker tees make great base layers. top that with a nice sweatshirt, or even your old college hoodie (as long as it’s spotless). I like to go with a something that’s slightly oversized so I can either keep it on or use it as a blanket. We all know those airplane blankets never get washed.

H&M | $15

John Elliott | $198

Banana Republic | $108

Ever notice how your departure gate is always the further one from security? Now you can at least look good while you lug your overstuffed bag to the gate at the end of the terminal.

[preppyandpreppy]

(via Pinterest)

[modernprep]

I don’t know what this preppy likes more, the Defender or the Barbour jacket. 🤣

[modernprep]

Throwback to autumn weekends at the Taconic Hotel in Manchester, VT. A perfect location for all your New England adventure needs.

[modernprep]

Summering vs. Vacationing, and where to do it.

It may be January and have snowed today in the northeast, but it’s the perfect time to begin thinking about where you’re summering for 2017. That’s right, it’s a great time to think about warm weather destinations. But summering isn’t the same as vacationing. Every prep knows this, but for those who find themselves scratching their heads, here’s a quick rundown:

Vacationing (verb): the act of traveling, usually with passport and multiple bags that takes place each summer where you jetset off to a far-flung destination with the purpose of education/embracing a culture other than one’s own.

Summering (verb): moving one’s life during the summer months (Memorial day-Labor day exclusively) to a location or secondary residence usually less than 3 hours from house #1 on Friday-Sunday, 3-day weekends, and summer holidays where you schmooze with the same people you work with, but over wine and cheese plates while rubbing elbows with celebrities and the who’s who of the region.

Neither are mutually exclusive.

Alright so now that we’ve gotten that little linguistics lesson out of the way let’s talk about where to summer and how to do it. Because I’m primarily New York based, we’re going to focus on that in this post, because that’s what I know.

Hamptons/Eastern Long Island:

Alright, the Hamptons & Eastern Long lsland are my favorite choice and here’s why: There are so many villages, each with their own personality and many of my favorite restaurants in the city have seasonal restaurants in the are and wine tastings, polo matches and art openings are a great way to spend summer weekends. You’re bound to run into someone famous at Hamptons Coffee Roasters or Golden Pear Cafe (be sure to “not” notice them!)

The beaches are heavenly. Wide, soft sand and blue Atlantic water that can often be warmer than the beaches closer to the city, not to mention less crowded. The south fork is home to two of America’s Best Beaches, Main Beach in East Hampton and Cooper’s Beach in Southampton so there’s plenty of options and will let you get a peek of the oceanside facade of the mansions on Meadow Lane.

I’m going to do a larger write up in a few weeks detailing some of my favorite villages of the Hamptons so stay tuned for that!

Connecticut:

Connecticut. The beauty of summering in Connecticut is that the shoreline is easily accessible via MetroNorth, which would allow for easy commuting into Manhattan during the weekdays. Filled with quaint Main Streets and probably Saturday morning soccer or something like that.

If you’re going for a more woodsy vibe with easy access to civilization. This might be a good option. However, there is the risk that you become mistaken for a local who just commutes to Manhattan, and that would be an egregious error we wouldn’t want to take the risk of happening.

On second thought, let’s just agree to pass on Connecticut, this section never happened.

Upstate New York:

The real question is what constitutes as upstate? For the sake of this post I’m going to assume that we’re talking north of Poughkeepsie. I love the idea of spending summer weekends in a modest 5 bedroom log cabin on a lake with a hot tub, chef’s kitchen and dock with boat. You can fill your days with hiking, swimming and boating and your evenings around your custom firepit roasting marshmallows and eating s’mores. It’s like summer camp, but more refined.

You probably won’t be mistaken for locals or year-rounders because your luxury SUV will stick out like a sore thumb in the market parking lot. So that’s a plus...that and the fact that you made no friends on the town council when you built your 5,000 sq. ft. “log” cabin.

Jersey Shore:

The only reason someone summers on the Jersey shore is because their family has a house that they’ve had for generations, it’s two blocks from the pier in Wildwood and they’re clinging to their childhood. Nothing good comes from summers at the jersey shore. Need I remind you of MTV’s Jersey Shore? Maybe just substitute one summer weekend for a besties weekend in Atlantic City when your favorite band is performing on the beach and call it a day? Yea, that’s probably the best for everyone.

Alright, so this post kind of went sideways, but I’m going with it. Stay tuned for my post on the Hamptons. Coming soon.

[modernprep]

Celebrating the conclusion of @the_atlanticcup in Portland! #⛵️ (at Portland, Maine)

[bowties-and-sweetdreams]

[modernprep]

A perfect outfit for a March spring day. Love the quilted jacket in olive green.

[modernprep]

Where to Summer: A Crash Course.

Memorial Day is roughly two months away and you have no clue what your going to do for the summer. Any true prep knows that you don’t spend every weekend in the city. How are you going to explain to your friends that you just hang around the city eating brunch alone? Let me tell you, drunk brunch alone while scrolling through Instagram photos of friends gallivanting around the world just isn’t fun.

While it’s a little late to be establishing summer roots in some far off location – The fractional jet ownership you got for Christmas is booked up every Friday-Sunday from now to Labor Day – There are still a few places you can get for a weekend here or there to at least make it seem like you have a life. Granted some of them may cost more for a weekend than your apartment in New York does for a month.

Look, I want you to be able to drunk Instagram your way through summer, I’m just not footing the bill.

Nantucket: What isn’t there to love about Nantucket, a small Atlantic island 30 miles from land and more than 3 hours (in Friday traffic) from Boston? With Nantucket’s distance from the mainland, you avoid daytrippers, giving you the opportunity to really immerse yourself in the local life. A car or at least bikes will help you get around and explore. If you’re visiting another one of your preppy friends for the weekend, be sure to fly into ACK, which gives you an excuse to ride in your friend’s G-Wagen.

In all honesty, Nantucket is great. It’s laid back nature and beautiful New England beaches are perfect for those looking for to rub elbows with New England elite.

The Hamptons & Montauk: Technically, I would separate Montauk from the Hamptons as the experiences between the two couldn’t be more different.

The Hamptons. Situated 90 miles and a world away from the hustle and bustile of NYC. The South Fork of Long Island, or the East End, as those who summer there call it, is home to so much culture and experiences that it’s so easy to be both touristy and blend in. World class culture like the Hamptons International Film Festival, ArtHamptons, and the Parrish Art Museum play bumper-to-bumper with beautiful soft sand beaches, expansive wineries and celebrity chef restaurants. Speaking of bumper-to-bumper, that’s what traffic is like to and from the region on Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. But it’s worth it. home rentals for the summer have mostly been booked since last November, but AirB&B and share homes abound if you don’t mind living with 25 undergrad coeds, which you should. Bridgehampton North and Water Mill will give you a true East End experience without having to contend with tourist traffic to Montauk.

Now on to Montauk. If you can make it through the Hamptons traffic, Montauk is only another 40 minutes away. Separated from the rest of the Hamptons by Hither Hills State Park, Montauk remains relaxed even in the height of summer. Why is Montauk separate? Because the wealth is old money. Small and expanded fishing cottages are tucked away in the woods or surrounding Fort Pond. Unlike the Hamptons where the housing construction has run rampant, Montauk has retained its original fishing village charm. Avoid the Sloppy Tuna and opt for Navy Beach, Solé East or The Surf Lodge for experiences fit for a prep, not a frat boy.

Maine: As a Maine native, I’m 100% admitting that I’m biased when it comes to summering. Why would someone go to Maine for summer weekends? To truly get away from it all. Maine is all about the solitude. Homes in the woods are more prestigious than those that are ocean facing. If you have a home in the woods, on a non-motorized lake? You’ve won the second home lottery. Maine is basically the opportunity to actually use all the stuff you ordered with your L.L. Bean boots to get free shipping. There are beaches to lay on, mountains to climb, outlet stores to max your AMEX, it’s perfect.

Miami: Now most preps don’t vacation in Miami, maybe Palm Beach, or Fort Lauderdale. But sometimes your frat big and grand-big are taking the whole lineage to stay at Grand-big’s family house on Key Biscayne. Don’t complain. Reconfirm your rental on the East End for the weekend after, suck it up and get drunk at someone else’s expense. We can’t all be prim and proper every day. ;-)

[modernprep]

GAPxA&F?

Is the conservative stalwart of Gap joining forces with the racy coed that is Abercrombie & Fitch?

Not quite. But, San-Francisco based Gap has just hired the former CMO of Abercrombie, Craig Brommers, to lead global marketing initiatives for the brand. Gap and other "legacy" brands, such as J. Crew have been struggling as of late as the battle against the fast fashion brands like H&M and Zara continue to heat up. These brands move quickly and have ever changing catalogs that keep the consumer interested. Cheaper materials allow these brands to pass steep savings on to budget conscious consumers.

In 2015, Gap brand posted a decline of 2% in same-store sales and a 4% decline in holiday sales. In fact, Old Navy, is the only brand in the portfolio making money. In the third and fourth quarters of 2015, the brand eliminated $34 million in marketing budget and shifted money to Old Navy. AND, in November, the CEO reiterated that they would be eliminating the CMO roles at both BR and the namesake brand, presumably to be absorbed by Mr. Brommers.

Citing a rise in social media use, the company plans to focus on word-of-mouth and social media for promotion while they revisit and perfect their product. We'll see how this goes...