Laguna Beach Fogey left a comment on 6/13/2012 at 10:36 PM:

Who is this?!

She’s cute.

Red Tag Chic Los Angeles left a comment on 6/10/2012 at 1:16 PM:

love your cool style….lovely blog too!

Rebecca
www.redtagchiclosangeles.com

Robin left a comment on 6/9/2012 at 2:22 PM:

Effortless! Love it!

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 6/6/2012 at 10:51 PM:

@Cam—That jacket is a varsity jacket with leather sleeves and a wool body, not a baseball jacket.

Reginald IV left a comment on 6/6/2012 at 10:25 PM:

The square face watch is classic American style.

cam left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 10:03 PM:

@fec - what about the baseball jacket u wore in front of that jukebox?

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 9:52 PM:

@AEV—Baseball attire isn’t preppy.

AEV left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 6:57 PM:

I’m gonna start wearing baseball uniform leggings with loafers….

Jack left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 5:53 PM:

A predilection for ‘riding pants’

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 4:51 PM:

@Desmond K—The Range Rover was serendipitous.

ANH Style left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 10:46 AM:

One can never have too many oxfords, in my opinion. Great bag.

Desmond K left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 7:52 AM:

....And I love the early model Range Rover in the background. Did you walk her over to that spot or was she already there?

Desmond K left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 7:50 AM:

Fabulous look and she pulls it off effortlessly…

http://chinosandcheesecake.blogspot.com

Miss Margarita left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 6:29 AM:

love her sandals!!

morganvsmorgan left a comment on 6/5/2012 at 4:16 AM:

Haha, your comment form is amazing! Love it. Aside from that, I like how her entire bottom half matches exactly, the pants, the shoes, the bag - and then she sets it off with an oxford shirt in a beautiful shade of lavender.

Agemetto left a comment on 5/9/2012 at 6:23 PM:

And I fundamentally disagree with the comment that true prep is completely unisex.  That’s too uniform and constrictive, thank you.

Agametto left a comment on 5/9/2012 at 6:21 PM:

Appreciate everything except the velvet slippers.  It’s the one piece that topples the look into costume territory.

Michael E Campbell, Esq left a comment on 5/7/2012 at 7:31 PM:

I could find myself easily falling for a woman dressed like this…

jodapophort left a comment on 4/24/2012 at 4:06 AM:

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Ann left a comment on 2/21/2012 at 8:48 PM:

Love the recent photos on campus. I don’t remember it being that stylish when I was there. :)

Miss Margarita left a comment on 2/21/2012 at 2:39 AM:

Love the colours!

Paul left a comment on 2/20/2012 at 4:17 PM:

Another beautiful photo!

Sophie left a comment on 2/19/2012 at 12:54 PM:

I love this lady’s style! I wonder if she has considered a sharper bob hairstyle - would accentuate the look further.

Trailer Trad left a comment on 2/18/2012 at 7:00 PM:

Annie Hall, call your office. Brilliant!

agw left a comment on 2/18/2012 at 6:24 PM:

anyone else having trouble finding women’s white bucks? i’ve found the cole haan alisa oxford line and like the color combos. which of the colors would you ladies opt for my first order of this style?

MGM left a comment on 2/18/2012 at 11:06 AM:

The true prep aesthetic is, and will continue to be, fundamentally UNISEX.  This picture is the perfect example.  That is what distinguished the prep look from every other look, IMHO.  Girls and Boys can both rock it in exactly the same way.

Amanda left a comment on 2/18/2012 at 2:22 AM:

Love it! Very similar to how I dress. I go to school at a private, Baptist college in south Georgia (perfect place to be unabashedly prep, right?) and have been appalled by how other students dress there.
I personally rock wingtips, dark jeans for casual or Brooke Bros skirts with OCBDs, pearls and herringbone, cord or navy blazers. For eyewear, I’m loyal to either small RB aviators, tort/ yellow Wayfarers or tort/ green Personal wayfarers.
It’s already getting hot in Georgia; I can’t wait to break out my red or cobalt go-to-hell pants during our (mandatory) weekly Chapel!
Thanks for bringing the prep movement back into the forefront, FEC! Whenever wearing wingtips without socks I refer to the look at “unabashedly Castleberry”!

Elizabeth left a comment on 2/17/2012 at 9:58 PM:

She looks wonderful. This is the sort of look I prefer myself, but I can never manage to carry off the velvet slippers, too.

M Arthur left a comment on 2/17/2012 at 9:35 PM:

Very well put together.  The jacket fits beautifully, fab pants color!  She has a sophistIcated look about her that not everyone can pull off.  Bravo.

Laguna Beach Fogey left a comment on 2/17/2012 at 8:47 PM:

My goodness, she’s exceedingly cute…!

I didn’t know Harlem could look so good. ;-)

john left a comment on 2/17/2012 at 7:58 PM:

I would have to agree with you on all points. Very attractive as well.

finn left a comment on 2/17/2012 at 3:49 PM:

random, but where did you go to college/ high school?

George left a comment on 2/17/2012 at 3:46 PM:

I agree…it’s the total package. If there is an archetype for a preppy lady, this has to be her.

Christian Louboutin left a comment on 3/30/2012 at 12:17 AM:

Thanks for sharing these useful information! Hope that you will continue doing nice article like this.
Thank you very much.I like this site.

Mike left a comment on 12/23/2011 at 10:13 PM:

If you have not worn a pair of AE’s I think you will switch from Alden to AE.  AE is like butter.

emjkmj left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 2:32 PM:

I don’t know if it’s a Ford vs. Chevy thing, but I find there is two camps in the American made shoe world.  The Allen Edmonds camp and the Alden camp.  Since I have been wearing Alden shoes for church since middle school, I find myself in the latter.

Morty62 left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 10:28 AM:

I bought a pair of brown AE wingtips earlier this year and absolutely love them. They look very elegant, fit to perfection and the detailing is very subtle.

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 10:07 AM:

@LG—There is no such thing as a free lunch.

LG left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 10:04 AM:

Are you getting free stuff for these endorsements? If so, it would be ethical to bring that to everyone’s attention…

Cheap adidas shoes left a comment on 12/22/2011 at 2:23 AM:

Do the Adidas Angry Birds Shoes needs patience, and there is really a Adidas Mickey Mouse Shoes in the heart

AEV left a comment on 12/21/2011 at 6:07 PM:

Nice shoes - no doubt.

Shoedog left a comment on 12/20/2011 at 3:30 PM:

Wisco Kid… Allen Edmonds doesn’t make any shoes in MN.  Their factory is in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

Ron left a comment on 12/20/2011 at 11:29 AM:

Great shoes , we used to call longwings Royal Brogues back in the early 70’s , a timeless design .

They should bring back the Cornell or another split toe monk !

Mike left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 11:15 PM:

I remember my first purchase of Allen Edmonds lace ups.  When the sales man tighten and tied the laces, it was a beautiful thing!  What quality and comfort!  The long wing is a beautiful piece of craftsmanship!  I intend to grab a pair!

Wisco Kid left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 9:37 PM:

As a Wisconsinite, I respect and wear Allen Edmonds.  Though they are generally now made in MN, they are still 100% USA - which explains the quality.  A little tip for those looking to not pay full price - check out the factory stores!

MGM left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 7:11 PM:

Yea, I love me some Allen Edmonds shoes.  In fact, I just love shoes generally.  That is the one item I will never get tired of perusing when I walk into men’s department stores.  Blazers, shirts, ties, etc. etc.—I have seen them all.  Nothing really to look forward to (it is just a matter of collecting everything I have seen).  But with shoes, the thrill (for me) never dies when I walk into a store to see all the lovely variations of various style of shoes.  And Allen Edmonds is certainly one of the best companies out there doing it.

DNubbins left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 3:25 PM:

Glad to see Allen Edmonds get in the game. Alden has stolen their thunder recently. I’ve been wearing their shoes for years.  I hope other blogs catch on.  I agree with Richard: their resoling program is excellent.

Richard Ross left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 1:42 PM:

Allen Edmonds is such an outstanding company. I have been wearing them for years but it is due to my father’s long term relationship with the company. I have several pairs of my father’s shoes that are over fifteen years old. Still kickin’. Their resoling program is top notch.

adrian f. williams left a comment on 2/14/2013 at 2:36 PM:

excellent!

Joshua Miller left a comment on 7/30/2012 at 8:04 AM:

I attend Hampden-Sydney College, the navy blazer has been a staple there for many many years. Just as a side note,  H-SC is known as the “Preppiest School in America”.

PP2318 left a comment on 12/31/2011 at 9:55 PM:

Is there a code to get the 35% off??  Any help would be appreciated.  Thanks!

Matt left a comment on 12/29/2011 at 4:07 PM:

After needing a new navy blazer for the better part of two years, I bought this exact one today. Norman Hilton now 35% off. I don’t believe I’ve seen it drop more, so get on that.

AGW left a comment on 12/28/2011 at 3:05 AM:

UP’ers- Pinstripe navy blazer v. navy blazer…. your take?

Donovan Addler left a comment on 12/19/2011 at 3:37 AM:

This is an absolute killer blazer. www.Theliverygoods.com has a Navy Brooks Brothers blazer for a great price! check it out.

aiden left a comment on 12/15/2011 at 3:23 AM:

where can u find that tie i love it pls help me castleberry

Robert left a comment on 12/7/2011 at 4:46 PM:

Great jacket. Even better styling and photo. Will be pinning to my inspiration board.

Makaga left a comment on 12/7/2011 at 11:37 AM:

Thank you for the headsup about this blue blazer.  Mine is getting a bit raggedy and this one sure looks good!

Brian E left a comment on 12/5/2011 at 4:16 PM:

Did this blazer come with four-button sleeves, or did you add more when you replaced them?  Most 3/2 sacks I’ve seen come with only two widely spaced buttons on the sleeves.  I think it makes it that much more distinctive.

Walker left a comment on 12/3/2011 at 1:16 PM:

Wonderful blazer and Fox Head button combo. Really impressed with the selection at Sir Jack’s.

Keeping with the fox theme: http://www.sirjacks.com/knot-belt-co-fox-head-horn-d-ring-belt/

emjkmj left a comment on 12/3/2011 at 8:28 AM:

@Rake, Thanks.  A little shocked at the retail difference though.

Rake left a comment on 12/3/2011 at 6:57 AM:

@emjkmj, Ben Silver does indeed source its buttons from Benson and Clegg - the vast majority of them, anyway. I am unsure of where the custom buttons are sourced from.

M Arthur left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 11:46 PM:

Doesn’t get any more prep than this.  The foundation of any wardrobe.

emjkmj left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 10:37 PM:

@AEV, I would not be surprised of Ben Silver sourced their buttons from Benson & Clegg.  The fox head buttons are identical.  I know Ben Silver sources a lot of items in England.  Also, knowing how value driven you are, The Benson & Clegg are $100 and the Ben Silver are $225.

Mike E. left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 8:03 PM:

The blazer looks great.  Do you know if it’s fully canvassed?

khordkutta left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 6:41 PM:

Outstanding looking blazer, niice touch with the buttons, good looking combo.

Shawn left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 4:51 PM:

Tip of the hat sir.

AEV left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 4:38 PM:

Ben Silver has a wide range of blazer buttons too…and, I believe, will even custom make them for an add’l fee.

CJG left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 4:04 PM:

Workhorse indeed.

Scott left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 4:04 PM:

Wonderful highlight of an indispensable classic.  Well done.

Chris left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 3:57 PM:

Love it!
Who, may I ask, is YOUR tailor Mr. Castleberry? Fingers crossed he is near my hood (Nolita)

Cheers,
Chris

Blevins left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 3:50 PM:

Benson and Clegg hold a royal warrant for their supply of buttons and badges and are possibly the best source of buttons on the planet.

AEV left a comment on 12/2/2011 at 3:21 PM:

Great combo - looks to be a terrific blazer.

daniel_drennen2@yahoo.com left a comment on 2/25/2012 at 6:52 AM:

want to order asap-

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/30/2011 at 12:06 PM:

There is some good discussion going on here gentlemen.  The reality here is that the prep/trad style of dress is enjoyed by many different men with differing taste levels…various price tolerances.  I never want to imply that a young man in college (or even in his young 20s) should be able to afford such items as these frames by C.W. Dixey & Son.

Stanley Marcus once said, “Good taste, I am convinced, can be acquired through environment and education; the eye can be disciplined to differentiate between good and bad by a constant looking process.”  This is what a piece on C.W. Dixey & Sons is about…it’s about developing taste.  Justin, below, understands that.  You may not be willing to spend this kind of money on a pair of eye glasses, but one day you might.  Either way, now you know they exist…and why they exist.

No company that is selling eyewear for under $100 is going to have been around since 1777.  That’s not the way the world works.  I have an appreciation for beautiful things and every now and then I will share those things here.

Justin left a comment on 11/30/2011 at 11:34 AM:

@Dan From England, that is my point exactly.  I love many of the items featured on the blog, but would never pay the indicated price.  It’s the thrill of the hunt!

Dan from England left a comment on 11/30/2011 at 10:52 AM:

Half the fun of buying things is to get a deal,or a bargain. I bought a pair of double monk strap shoes earlier in the year and paid £185 for them in the sale , just round the corner in Ralph Lauren the same shoes were selling fit £850 ! I love the RL look / product but it is so over priced I really enjoy sourcing similar stuff at a fraction of the price.

Justin left a comment on 11/30/2011 at 10:05 AM:

I believe the big take-away from this conversation is that, yes, there are wonderful examples of expensive goods available to us but this does not mean that we’re forced to pay the price for these items as there are many less expensive options out there, many of which are of similar quality to their luxury counterparts.  I appreciate seeing the high-end offerings being displayed because it gives me the inspiration to go out and find a similar product in my price range.  Seeing a high-quailty example of these frames, for example, also shows educates me on the finer details that distinguish between quality goods and low-end knock offs.

Jim Kelleth left a comment on 11/30/2011 at 4:57 AM:

‘Glenn’ is right about the Anglo American frames, but you don’t have to pay Ben Silver prices.  What they call the Liberty is the model 406….a classic.

Michael left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 9:03 PM:

Dare I say Churchill took a page out of Wilde’s book?  Good for him!

have the simplest tastes. I am always satisfied with the best.”
― Oscar Wilde

Tyler P. left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 7:35 PM:

@cam I’m pretty sure that’s AEV’s point. That being said, both the jacket and glasses are both quite nice.

Daniel left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 7:16 PM:

Glasses worn by emperors, kings, and PMs? Cool.

J left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 7:09 PM:

I remember you recently saying only a fool would pay more than $100 for frames (in your endorsement of Warby Parker), which makes this post seem a bit contradictory.

But if I could get free $600 frames like these I’d do the same thing.  Also, people might be surprised to hear prescription lenses (at least mine) go for nearly $300.

Glenn left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 5:19 PM:

A similar line of eye wear can be found at Ben Silver in Charleston, SC The Anglo American brand which I own a pair are also made in England! Very similar to the C.W. Dixey & Son styles! They’re top quality also!

cam left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 4:16 PM:

@aev - but fred didn’t pay $600 for them. heck, i’d endorse a ferrari if someone would like to “gift” me one

JUmm left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 2:59 PM:

i adore those glasses!
STYLE DECORUM

AEV left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 2:38 PM:

Fred - I’m not only interested in “value”/cheaper prices - I just don’t believe that something being made in the USA automatically means it’s worth paying a steep premium for - in addition to some wonderful stuff, lots of crap is made in America. A casual, cotton duffle bag hardly seems worth $400+ - just my opinion. There is also a grand canyon size gap between “value”/cheap prices and $600.00…all sorts of high end, quality eyewear brands, Oliver Peoples (largely US designed), RL Collection(largely Italian made), etc., etc. can be had for 30-50% less…

Makaga left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 2:38 PM:

It’s great to read the message board.  As an eyewear designer, it’s nice to get a peak into what people feel about luxury/classic/storied brands like CW Dixey and Son.

Dan from England left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 2:36 PM:

Thanks Fred I checked that out but the picture today showers the cloth of the jacket so much better. When are you coming to London ?

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 2:17 PM:

@AEV—Items call always be had at a cheaper price. My taste isn’t solely value driven.  I am extremely interested in C.W. Dixey & Son’s history…I like and appreciate that story…their patronage. It subtly reaffirms me that I’m in good company wearing these eyeglasses.

If value oriented eyeglasses are more your speed, you will be interested in another eyewear company I will be writing about soon. That value will be hard to beat.

AEV left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 1:57 PM:

Thanks Fred - that’s certainly helpful information to have when digesting your ‘endorsements’. Just because something’s made in the USA, doesn’t mean it’s worth over-paying for….especially since you seem to be endorsing similar ‘over paying’ for French made/UK designed eyewear. Heck, I’ve seen vintage, all leather RL black watch duffle bags sell for $200 or less on sites like etsy/eBay…personally, I think black watch travel bags are a bit much for men anyway.

I don’t need glasses (yet), but I do know that very nice, high quality frames can be had for far less than $600.00….but, like I said, the Dixey ones are sharp and I appreciated the post. The vintage Press blazer is killer as well….

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 1:24 PM:

@AEV—In defense of my Ernest Alexander waxed cotton weekend bag, it’s the price I pay for a bag produced in NYC from a boutique (in blackwatch nonetheless, few, if anyone else, is doing that).  Yes, Filson makes a similar sized duffel bag in the USA for $100 less…and that’s a great option if you like earth tones.

C.W. Dixey & Son gifted these frames to me upon my request for them to do so. I do like them very much.  I’ve found this shape is difficult to find. Given C.W. Dixey & Son’s price point, heritage, and patronage (and let’s not forget the weak dollar against the stubborn pound), their frames are essentially a luxury accessory; therefore, qualms over steep pricing don’t hold as much water as it would with a company competing on price.

AEV left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 12:58 PM:

Cool frames. Fred, were these a ‘gift’ or did you purchase them? They, like the $400 cloth bag you endorsed a couple wks ago, stike me as a bit steep at $600.00….no?

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 12:28 PM:

@Dan from England—Every article of clothing that appears on Unabashedly Prep is mine.  What you see is what I wear…what I wear, I endorse…what I endorse, I share with you.  If you’d like to see me wearing the jacket, check out the piece I wrote up on J.Hilburn—I’m wearing the jacket there.

Dan from England left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 12:20 PM:

Oh thanks for the info, I didn’t realise it was your jacket , don’t hink we have that make in the UK but I really like it, maybe you could do one of your collections and include it showing what you wear with it. Really cool jacket.

Mike left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 12:09 PM:

I thought that quote was by Oscar Wilde.  Yes, they make superb frames!

F.E. Castleberry left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 10:50 AM:

@Dan from England—My jacket is vintage J.Press.

Dan from England left a comment on 11/29/2011 at 9:23 AM:

Love the herringbone jacket, do we have any idea where it came fom ?

ERIII left a comment on 11/28/2011 at 11:46 PM:

Great post! I love the info!