Dressing preppy can be a fashion statement or just and easy way to pare down your collection of clothes.

One of the most popular fashion movements of the 1980s, the preppy look, was based on the uniforms and casual clothes of New England prep school students and was characterized by plaid skirts, Izod "alligator" shirts and penny loafer shoes, among other iconic fashion items. Today prep fashion is both a nostalgia trend and a "classic" look, and preppy styles can easily become a part of anyone's wardrobe.

Sally Singer is the fashion news and features director at Vogue magazine in New York. Before joining Vogue in 1999, Singer worked as a fashion director at New York Magazine. Here she offers her insights into modern preppy fashion:

• Irony. You don't want to wear preppy clothes in order to look like a student who has forgotten to take off the uniform. According to Singer, prep fashions should be worn with a sense of irony that takes them out of their original context and social meaning.

• Logos. And Singer isn't a big fan of the preppy movement's obsession with logos and labels. If she's going to wear a Polo shirt, for example, she'll remove the famous logo first.

• Contrasting styles. A good look, says Singer, is to wear that Polo shirt with a narrow cargo pant that has a more current, casual, street-worthy look.

• A smaller wardrobe. Classic preppy clothes are also minimalist, so they can be a great way to pare down your collection of clothes. You can pick up a couple of perfect white shirts or fitted trousers, and look elegant all the time without stuffing your closets with the latest trendy clothes. You can take a bit of the old and mix it with a bit of the new, and create a sexy outfit that has preppy panache.

Vogue
www.vogue.com

GQ Magazine
www.gq.com

Fashion Net
www.fashion.net

Angel of Fashion
www.fashionangel.com/linkpages/

Daily Fashion: Preppy Expert
www.dailyfashion.com/experts/preppy_10-04-99.asp