I had to say it myself, so I know you're saying it-
Not another preppy blog! Why must you torment the world with yet another preppy blog?
Yes, I will admit there is many a prep blog out there, but each of them has their flavor usually based on their location. There are a ton of Southern preppy/preppy-ish blogs, a few from the Northeast, and one or two out of the Midwest. I live in Appalachian Ohio, neither a Yankee nor a Rebel. Too many hills to be considered Midwestern; more coal mines than corn fields. I spent the first twenty-five years of my life convinced I'd never have a life inside these mountains and the past two convinced I needed to stay.
Each region of the U.S. got seasoned a bit differently, the South taking much of that cane sugar sweetness, the Nor'easters taking the richness of maple syrup, the earthy wheat from the middle of the continent. Appalachia got seasoned a bit differently. The Good Lord may have taken the other sections of the country seriously but He peppered us with humor and Allium tricoccum--otherwise known as the ramp. A ramp smells like garlic but tastes like an onion, an acquired taste (and smell) just like life in Appalachia.
While this is is a preppy style blog, it's styled with a practical eye. Most men in these parts only wear suits to church and even that's becoming rare these days as the clergy welcome casual dress in an effort to encourage church attendance. More people prefer to spend their weekends hiking or working around the house rather than running out in heels for brunch. There's not much shopping choice around here (unless you're in the market for Carhartt), and the most popular clothing retailer is Fashion Bug.
I feel Appalachia is a prime place to aim a preppy style blog because it's a style that works well for the area. It doesn't take much effort or time to put together a great look and is a timeless style. People are willing to pay for clothes provided they're not going to have to replace them soon, one the key selling points of preppy style.
Come join me by the bonfire, it's getting chilly out. I've got stories to share and moonshine to drink. No ramps, though. They're an early spring crop.
Welcome! It's always fun to get a fresh perspective on the preppy ethos, especially from an unexpected corner of the world.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about casual dress in church! This is one of the many reasons I'm an Episcopalian. Casual dress is certainly tolerated, but in my particular case, that usually means the expected oxford shirt with khakis...just without a tie!
Surprisingly there are fair number of preps in the region, we're just quiet. We just gotta work off that 'shine hangover from the weekend.
ReplyDeleteI'm Catholic and most of my fellow parishoners wear jeans. We also get a lot of people in sweatpants. About ten years ago, someone complained to the priest, who the stated he'd rather have people sitting in the pews in whatever they felt like than sitting at home dressed up.