Reviews of My Favorite Preppy Brands

Vineyard Vines:

Started by two brothers from Connecticut, Vineyard Vines is one of my favorite brands of clothing.  They offer all kinds of apparel in so many different patterns, styles, and colors.  I am a huge fan of Vineyard Vines bow ties, of which I have 10.  From patterns of golden retrievers or American flags to patters of your favorite college team or their classic whales, anyone can find a fun boy tie that can pull any outfit together.  I also love their Shep Shirts, a favorite of mine for the colder months.  Of course they have some of the coolest, best quality button downs, along with their long-sleeve graphic t-shirts.  Vineyard Vines is a bit pricey, but they always have really nice items on sale, especially when they have their "Whale of a Sale," so always be on the lookout for nice pick-ups for good deals.

Southern Tide:

The first memorable wedding I ever went to was when I was 15 year old, and I wore a Southern Tide button up with the coolest Southern Tide bow tie to match.  From that moment on, I fell in love with the brand.  Much like Vineyard Vines, Southern Tide offers button ups, t-shirts, bow ties, shorts, etc. all showcasing the company's skipjack logo.  Personally, I really like their swim suits available in designs like fish patterns, classic seersucker, and simple, bright solid colors.  They also have some of the best graphic t-shirts with different designs on the back that tie in their famous skipjack fish.  Basically if you're looking for a cool beach outfit, I would check out Southern Tide first.

Patagonia:

My all time favorite preppy brand is Patagonia, hands down.  In my opinion, one can never have too many Patagonia pieces, because they are timeless, amazing-quality, and so comfortable.  The company sells different apparel from backpacks to sweaters and everything in between.  All of their products are covered under a lifetime warranty that entails full refund or replacement if anything happens to the product.  My closet is filled with their 1/4 zip pullovers, Better Sweaters, and Synchilla Snap T Sweaters.  They are a bit pricey, at around $100 each, but they are worth the investment.  The best thing about Patagonia products is that you can dress them up with a nice button down under them or dress them down with a comfortable pair of sweats.

J Crew:

J. Crew has some of the best clothes of all types on the market.  This preppy store has all of my favorite flannels, sweaters, and corduroys.  J. Crew is not much of a Vineyard Vines or Southern Tide, their clothes are more conservative but just as stylish and fun.  As like the other brands, J. Crew clothes can run pricey, but the J. Crew Factory Store (which is basically the store's outlet) has some great deals.  Oftentimes I am able to find a whole lot more at the factory store than I am at the normal store in the mall.  It's a win-win situation because you get awesome clothes and even better deals!

Polo Ralph Lauren:

Known for the famous polo player logo, Polo Ralph Lauren has been dominating the preppy consumer market, selling their awesome polos and baseball caps.  Their polos are some of the most well-known on the market and will probably stay like that for a while.  These are my go-to polos when I need to pull an outfit together, because you can never go wrong with one.  They are classy, clean, and fun to wear.  As I mentioned before, I also really like their baseball caps which are always a nice accessory to have around.

Smathers and Branson:

Smathers and Branson have become famous for their one-of-a-kind, hand-made needle-point belts, key fobs, and hats.  Needle-point products are a must have in the preppy world, and they are always very stylish.  The belts offer a fun designs of anything from Republican elephants to horses running at the Derby.  The same is true for their key fobs, that can be used to hold your car and house keys, and their hats.  Any of their products would be a great Christmas or birthday gift to give for that special someone.  Along with the cool patterns, you can get a monogram stitched into the product for a little extra money, but the personalization is really cool in the end.