How to Nail Preppy Styling, the New London Way

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If you are looking for ways to tap into preppy styling, then you shan't look further than London. For over 40 years, London Fashion Week has been a hub for originality and rebelliousness. Adopting its reputation for being daring, LFW continues to introduce innovative designers and embrace eccentric trends each season, all while paving the way for a one-of-a-kind street style scene.

Before London became the epicenter for some of the most iconic and unorthodox designers such as Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood, however, the catwalks crawled with the more traditional – British heritage and preppy vibes. And maybe it’s precisely this dichotomy between the rebellious and the orthodox that makes London Fashion Week genuinely unique and unlike any of its counterparts.

For the fall-winter 2025 season, we did see some designers pushing boundaries and embracing London’s irreverent style spirit — LUEDER’s runway alternative rave, Labrum’s stylish concert inside the iconic Abbey Studios, and Completed Works’ fictional shopping channel featuring Debi Mazar having an on-air mental breakdown are just a few.

However, most notably, school is back in session – LFW's traditional, preppy side was resurgent — albeit with an edgy, modern twist. (It's the new school, after all!) The traditional prep was more than prominent on the runways with Burberry, Kent & Curwen, and S.S. Daley featuring plenty of plaid, tartan, knits, and trenches. Simone Rocha served a return to youth with a romantic, preppy parade featuring chunky cable-knit sweaters, striped polo shirts, accessorized trenches, and broached chunky socks with loafers. Chet Lo opted for new-wave cardigans and ties with preppy but edgy DNA, while Noon by Noor brought some prep via tailored suits and sculptural jackets.

Wait, but what is preppy styling?

Dating back to the 1900s, preppy dressing is notoriously associated with Ivy League college apparel and comes typically polished. In other words, it’s a neat aesthetic usually characterized by polo shirts, button-downs, khakis, blazers, loafers, and argyle sweaters. While the color palette has been expanded over the years, the usual preppy color code sticks to neutral colors such as white, navy blue, beige, and khaki. The most recognizable preppy aesthetics are patterns – specifically stripes, gingham, argyle, and houndstooth.

Off the runways, we’ve also seen more celebs cosign modern preppy dressing. For example, BLACKPINK's Rosé in her striped maroon tie, Billie Eilish’s plaid on plaid, and Hayley Bieber’s suit and tie. Overall, it seems fitting that one of the trend forecasts for the year is also a return to preppy dressing. Want to put a little prep in your step? Luckily, we took clues straight from London’s runway to give you five must-haves to achieve the rising-again aesthetic.

5 staple items to nail the preppy styling trend:

1. Socks

When trying to achieve a preppy look, socks can help. We’ve seen them styled differently – knit socks with kitten heels or slingbacks and ankle tights with loafers. The possibilities are endless. Specifically, for fall 2025, Simone Rocha included broached knit socks, while TOGA’s runway included slightly above-the-ankle tights and loafers.

2. Rugby and collegiate shirts

Prim but not super proper, collared sports shirts are a good way to add a little prep to any ‘fit. Popping the collar is optional, of course. The Kent & Curwen runway was varsity-coded and most notably featuring looped knit rugby tops in bright colors, but Simone Rocha also gave us a frilly take.

3. Trench coats

A trench is always a good idea, especially when looking to rainy Britain for inspiration. Not only are they the ultimate transitional coat for fall and spring, but they are quintessential to the preppy image. Spotted at LFW: Kent & Curwen trenches in various colors and styles and with tartan lining. Of course, Burberry is king when it comes to trenches and this season it's runway featured different colored and textured trenches to fit its Great British Weekend Getaway theme.

4. Ties

Ties have always evoked a sense of formality but now, they’re worn outside offices and formal occasions. If opting for a more traditional styling, they provide a polished vibe that can help elevate any look to make it more preppy. If dressed down with other casual items, they add a cool-kid touch to any 'fit. Many ties tied up London’s catwalks this season, but Chet Lo’s patterned knit ties and S.S. Daley’s school ties were most knot-worthy.

5. Knitwear

Now to a uniform staple. Nothing screams preppy more than a good knit. While Daniel Fletcher’s entire debut collection for Mithridate fall-winter 2025 was a nod to preppy dressing, the standout was knits tied around shoulders. The Kent & Curwen runway also displayed variations on the chunky cable-knit, proving you can wear them as sweaters or even in dress form. And Emilia Wickstead showed us that a good cable-knit is also the way to introduce more color to our preppy wardrobes.

Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue

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