Blue Devils in Madras
Image via Duke University Archives
Duke may not be the first university to come to mind when you think “prep”, but the Durham private school certainly represents a bolder southern variation. These three students usher in a 1980s spring with their light-hearted display of madras. Though you can still get your hands on plaid jackets like these, opt for the eccentric patchwork madras sport coat that works just as well with navy chinos or khakis.
left a comment on 3/15/2011 at 7:17 PM:
My grandfather went to Duke University. I was accepted to Davidson College.
left a comment on 3/15/2011 at 10:09 AM:
Love the blazers and I agree with @Angel, the fit is great! A lot of people in college cannot dress themselves, nor find the right cuts.
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 10:34 PM:
At first glance I thought it was a modern day photo. Shows you how little change there’s been in collegiate preppy style.
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 8:18 PM:
Whitney you are right UNC also has a tradition for southern prep and the gentleman in the middle is actually a UNC student while the other two are Duke students and the uncles of one of my best friends. The photo comes from my friend’s album and was first posted on http://pleasurablerevelation.tumblr.com/
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 2:57 PM:
I still have one of those in the back of my closet. Sadly (but much to my wife’s delight), the college-age 36 no longer fits my fatherly 42 frame.
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 12:55 PM:
Glad to see my alma mater finally getting the style accolades it deserves. We’re quite the dapper bunch.
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 12:20 PM:
Whats impressive about this photo is that the Gents in this photo all have very well fitting clothing, hard to find student aged men who know how to buy proper fitting attire. Very cool.
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 9:55 AM:
I really think you should head 8 miles down the road and take a look at UNC… the less devilish (but still quite preppy) rival. Go Heels!
http://joyisstyle.blogspot.com
left a comment on 3/14/2011 at 4:09 AM:
Duke University, birthplace of the Campus Sartorialist.
http://www.campussartorialist.com/
amg left a comment on 3/23/2011 at 10:25 PM:
Interesting post! I have followed the preppy movement since the 1980’s and its slow fade to the background in the succeeding decades. I did go to Duke in Durham to study law in 2000. What I did not expect was the existence of a look, noted in the post as a “southern variation” of preppy. I would not necessarily call it “bolder” and neither would I call it “ivy”, it is more like Southern Traditional Americana (brass buttoned blazers, khakis, loafers, regimental ties, etc.). I guess it’s the Ben Silver look. This look can likewise be found in UNC-Chapel Hill where one of the purveyors of this look, Alexander Julian, still keeps shop.