<p>I personally never found Duke too preppy I just found it a very wealthy school. Is it preppy? And when I say preppy I mean preppy like UVA and the classic preppy (Ralph Lauren,polos,khakis,pearls,Rainbows,etc.). Lately I've heard them being called preppy so I was just wondering....</p>
<p>uh ... yah</p>
<p>Duke is preppy, no doubt about it. Not like a non-prep won't find friends, though.</p>
<p>I should take a picture of my class on Monday and post it - you'll see the full range of attire going from dressed up (and yes, even with pearls) to pyjamas and flip-flops. As the semester progresses, the average tends more towards the latter...</p>
<p>Plus, not only does the "range of attire" differ from person to person, it can differ within people too...and by that I mean...there are definitely days when I just feel like putting on a nice skirt in the morning and doing my makeup, and there are days when I say "Screw it" and go to class just like I rolled out of bed in the morning...in my PJs, no makeup on, and not even bothering to put on my contacts. I know a whole ton of people that way. Just...do what you want, and if you make friends with the right people, none of them will care. I know that none of my friends do. Soooo...yeah.</p>
<p>Duke isn't that preppy, it's just your typical elite private school. Vandy for instance is preppy, Duke (outside of certain frats I guess, but such is the case everywhere) is just average</p>
<p>Its very prep for parties, but for everything else, I wouldnt call it preppy (its more preppy for girls than guys)</p>
<p>you compared it to UVa? I lived at UVa this summer and am currently an ugrad at Duke, so I guess I'm qualified to answer your question. UVa is more preppy -- simply put. Its deeply rooted to be preppy for certain events at UVa (namely football games -- guys in ties girls in pearls), and this spawns the preppy culture. Duke has its share of preppy people, but few walk around in pink shorts, popped-collared white polos and rainbows. The Duke preppies wear polos and khakis and such, but most don't hit "toolish" level that is popping collars, rainbows, ect.</p>
<p>Wondered about this, too, prior to dropping our freshman off last month. He's pretty laid-back, middle-of-the-road when it comes to "style" (a very loose term in his case!). Most of the students we saw were dressed the same way. Saw some preps, a few east-coast-hip-hoppers and a few fashion divas. (Didn't see any goth.)</p>
<p>Does that help?</p>
<p>yeah thanks I got my question answered especially by bsbllallstar8. Thanks everyone!</p>
<p>bsbllallstr8, since when is popping one's collar "preppy"? It seems to me that that particular stylistic idiosyncracy is la mode for eurotrash, middle school girls and gel-headed, AE-wearing New Jersians...not the traditionally "preppy" set.</p>
<p>actually, the preppiest girl that I have ever met in my entire life (at Duke) pops her collar on a regular basis, and somehow still remains to look very classy.</p>
<p>She sounds about as preppy as a room full of Bloods.</p>
<p>Clothing at Duke isn't as much about dressing "preppy" as it is about dressing well. The object is to look put together--if you're wearing pajama pants, accessorize with a white tank top and velour hoodie. A girl down my hall always looks great without resorting to Lily Pulitzer and Polo fashions. If you have your own style, people will respect that.</p>
<p>Guys are lucky. They can get away with a polo shirt and khakis and look great every day. A couple of trend I've seen on girls:
--Big sunglasses when it's sunny, rain boots when it's rainy
--Long, dangly necklaces
--Light cottony knit dresses (especially for parties)
--Longchamp bags
--Jeans with the bottoms rolled-up, paired with a button down and Rainbows</p>
<p>And almost everyone owns some article of Duke clothing.</p>
<p>A side note: people will dress in pajamas for class, but always dress up (pearls, short dresses, heels/button downs, ties) for parties.</p>
<p>Popping your collar was used by the classical "preps" only when out in the sun (ie golfing or sailing). Nowadays, people consider it preppy to pop their collar. Personally, I just call it college frat.</p>
<p>define preppy. there are sooo many possible definitions. is it basically just the upper class, east coast prep school elite? because when people say a&f is preppy i usually think trashy. no offense.</p>
<p>Ok seriously, from a girls perspective, wear what you like. There are days when I wake up and put on my rolled up jeans, a polo, and rainbows. Other days I wear pajama pants and a duke shirt. Other days I put on some jeans, a tunic shirt, and long beads. And then sometimes I wear a sundress. Some days I carry a big hobo bag...other days one of those "duke fashionable" tote bags that have been previously discussed. </p>
<p>I have never felt out of place in anything I'm wearing...no ones going to stare you down like you don't fit in here. Do what you like...you'll find friends who don't care what you wear/what brand you wear/how preppy you are. It's Duke...people here are too smart to care.</p>
<p>I just find it interesting how the "preppy look" has spread all throughout colleges. No one did it at my high school. I guess that's because I'm from the West Coast.</p>