How to Make Preppy Clothes

Making preppy clothes is quite easy if you have some sewing skills under your belt. Creating items like dresses, shirts and shorts is a great way to get the crisp look without spending a ton of money. Check out stores like J.Crew and Lily Pulitzer to get an idea of the preppy aesthetic and what fabrics and details work best for preppy clothes.

Things You'll Need

• Sewing machine
• Thread
• Fabric
• Closures such as buttons or snaps
• Any trim such as ribbon
• Patterns for desired pieces such as a dress, polo shirt or shorts

Instructions

How to Make Preppy Clothes

1. Find the right fabrics. Certain fabrics are the key component of making preppy clothes. Madras, seersucker and linen are all regularly found in preppy clothing. Choose the fabric that works best with the garment you're making. Madras works great for sundresses or shorts, and linen can be used to create pants or shorts. Seersucker works for every garment other than a shirt, and makes a fabulous blazer for warm weather.

2. Choose the right colors. Certain colors are associated with the preppy aesthetic. Salmon pink, kelly green, navy and yellow are predominant. Khaki is also common, as well as pastel shades, especially for men. Keep this in mind when choosing fabric colors and any trim you might use.

3. Measure the subject. For the best fit, measure the person who will be wearing the clothes. What you are making will determine what to measure, so follow your pattern. For a top or dress, you will need measurements around the neck, the length of the arms, around the bust and waist and from the neck to the end of the garment. For pants, measure the waist, hips and inseam.

4. Use your pattern to apply measurements. Lay your fabric out on a flat surface. Apply your measurements and follow your pattern. (Because preppy clothing is fairly simple and does not involve a lot of heavy design, using a pattern works best.) After applying measurements, cut out your fabric and create the garment using a sewing machine.

5. Add closures and trim. With buttons, be sure to attach them securely. Plastic buttons work best for polo shirts and pants, while blazers or cardigans should have more pronounced buttons. Dresses and skirts look especially preppy when trimmed in contrasting grosgrain ribbon. You can also add piping or trim to men's shirts.

Resources

• Video on preppy clothing trends