The preppy style is one of the most enduring American fashions. Originally associated with well off or wealthy college bound prep school students and popularized by companies like Izod, Lacoste, and Polo Ralph Lauren, the preppy look grew up and entered the workplace with the advent of business casual wardrobes. Watches are an essential element of the preppy look for men. Fortunately there are plenty to choose from in the watch marketplace.
Preppy watch styles can range from traditional to new and colorful. For traditional preppies, simple functional watches on leather or rubber straps work best. The fine New York clothier Gant offers watches under their brand. Their newest watch design the Gant Colton is the epitome of classic style with a readable white dial, vintage numerals, and brown crocodile straps. Another example is “The Gant by Michael Bastian Watch with Olive Strap.” These watches have a smooth vintage style with a subdial to indicate the date. To coordinate colors, they come with three interchangeable straps: Italian brown leather, charcoal nylon with red stripes, and olive nylon. The $350 watches complement Gant’s classic Ivy League preppy attire like their esteemed button-down Yale Co-Op shirts, Gant Rugger Rugby shirts, and classic chinos.
However, preppy-style also encompasses traditional watches that are presented with a burst of graphics and color. The colors coordinate well with basic polo-style knit shirts and the graphics reinforce the brands like Lacoste. Over the years, Izod and Lacoste have epitomized preppy style. Today, Lacoste is a staple in the upscale college prep and business casual wardrobe. If you like the “real” Lacoste crocodile, you’ll be excited to see that the iconic logo is found on Lacoste watches. Available at fine stores like Macy’s for $95 to $395, Lacoste watches have high quality silicone or rubber straps, quartz movements, and iconic graphics on their dials.
For those of us on slightly smaller budgets, the Timex Weekender series of watches offers a less expensive alternative with simple readable faces and colorful striped nylon straps that successfully evoke images of Bermuda shorts, sailboats, and weekends in the Hamptons. I found the nylon straps to be a little short on the Weekenders, but the leather strap of the Weekender sport watch fits my 7 1/2 inch wrists just fine. It’s a classic watch with tachymeter markings and a readable classic dial design. They typically sell for around $30 to $40.
Finally, the US Polo Association offers affordable preppy watches for everyone. The US Polo Association brand can be found in outlets like Kohls and Sears, while the Thre3 brand can be found at Kmart. These watches bring preppy looks to anyone with $20 to $30. If you have a preppy on your Christmas list, with an upcoming birthday, or a burgeoning business casual wardrobe, you are sure to find the perfect watch for them.
Sources:
“Izod Lacoste,” wikipedia.com
http://www.lacoste.com/univers
macys.com
us.gant.com
http://mywristwatch.net/watches-from-europe/gant-time/
Other articles by this contributor:
Wristwatch Review: Timex Expedition Vintage Metal Field Watch
A Guide to Military Field Watches
Be A Man: Don’t Wear Pink Shirts
