Autumn fashion trend: Fashion nerds are now wearing the preppy look off campus

Dressed as neatly as some models walked the catwalks in Paris or New York, they could have walked across the campus of an elite university. Although they didn’t go to their next lecture in their pleated skirts, polo shirts, and blazers, they were certainly the best in the class in terms of fashion. Just in time for the winter semester, fashion houses are bringing back the back-to-school style: the preppy look is back in fashion and can be combined in many different ways this season.

Preppy look: How to style in autumn 2024

Corduroy blazers, V-necks, chinos: The current fall/winter season is fashion-wise pretty tame, or more precisely preppy. According to Elle, where does the term preppy look come from? The fashion style has its origins in the elite and private schools in the USA, so-called preparatory schools, where students are prepared to study at renowned Ivy League universities. You have to be properly dressed for this. This style gradually became established in the 1920s, and elements from sport were often worn, such as polo shirts, sailing shoes, or pleated skirts from tennis.

Later, the fashion trend also became popular outside of prep schools – and soon found its way into the international mainstream. Today, the typical clothing and accessories of the preppy look are also combined with other styles. In autumn/winter 2024/25, the classic pleated skirt and checked suits will be joined by tough biker boots, as seen at Miu Miu and Dior. A rocky contrast to the tame rest. More masculine items are also finding their way into feminine outfits, such as suit trousers, shirt blouses, or sweaters. These can now be cut particularly wide.

Since some parts of the Fashion trend were already popular in summer, such as boat shoes and pleated skirts, they can now simply be adapted for autumn. So a miniskirt can be worn with a warm sweater, knee-high boots, or knee socks. The typical colors of the preppy look – for example, navy, red, and beige – are also back. And just like check patterns, another preppy classic, they are so timeless that they can be worn well beyond one season. We give them top marks for that!