MANILA, Philippines - Long associated with the neat, crisp, and classic fashion of Ivy League schools, the Preppy Look has been an expression of collegiate chic since the 1960s and 1970s.
While the button-down Oxford shirts, the argyle sweaters, the chinos, and boat shoes will always be part of prepdom, as Lisa Birnbach called it in the Official Preppy Handbook, the look has since evolved with a more urban edge in the new century.
Called Urban Prep, the style combines preppy staples with track jackets, full-zip hoodies, sweat pants, gym shorts, and baggy clothing. This is a look enhanced by R&B singers like Kanye West, Rihanna, Jordin Sparks, Gwen Stefani, the Pussycat Dolls, and Ne-Yo.
At SM, one can achieve the urban prep look with a creative mix of clothes from the store’s trendy brands like Kensie Girl, BCBGeneration, Michael Stars, and Miss Couture.
Kensie Girl’s sophisticated, innocent, and whimsical clothes celebrate the perks of being a girl. Michael Stars is known for its casual couture, and is celebrated for starting the trend for fitted tees as well as its signature Shine fabric that dressed up the basic tee. BCBGeneration is a hipper, younger sister to Max Azria’s well-known BCBG MaxAzria label that is a fashion voice for the Twitter, Facebook, and blogger generation. BCBG, after all, is an acronym for bon chic, bon genre (good style, good attitude), and its BCBGeneration line is designed for young women who like to indulge in fashion as a form of self-expression and use trends to connect to the culture that exists outside the confines of the classroom. Miss Couture’s mix of trendy clothes, on the other hand, gives stylish women of all ages many fashion possibilities in planning their wardrobe. Layer these exciting pieces with a new nonchalance, a new attitude, and new sense of fashion fun.
Kensie Girl, BCBGeneration, and Michael Stars clothes are available at SM Department Stores in Makati and Megamall, while the Miss Couture line is available at selected SM stores. Check out Kensie Girl and BCBGeneration items at SM Department Stores at SM City North-EDSA and SM Mall of Asia.