I'm a Navy Blue Preppie.

I am preppy.  In some ways, I just can't help it.  I grew up in the suburbs of New York and my mother isn't stylish.  We wore practical clothes - they were cute, but not fussy.  And definitely not flashy.  They matched our hair. I inherited her hair - fine, straight, and a little bit lank.  It doesn't do much, but responds well to ponytails and headbands.  Preppy.  Critter raincoats and duck boots and a giant L.L. Bean beach bag.  At the time, I didn't know it was L.L. Bean, I just knew it was sturdy and practical.  I didn't question these things, and I wasn't really aware of them.  I just knew I didn't quite fit in with some of the other kids who knew about designer things and were up on the neon trend.  It was the eighties.  I still remember the first time I saw neon and squishy socks - Jeanne had gotten three neon sweater vests and matching socks for christmas and she showed them to me.  I can still picture the bright pink and yellow - they were wonderful and refreshing.  But, not really for me.  I never owned neon then and , since I'm old enough to remember it, I think I'm too old to rock it now that it's back in.

It wasn't until college that I realize I'm waspy.  Actually waspy - I take after my mother and, although she converted to Judaism, was born and raised presbyterian.  It explained so much.  And I've been enjoying reading preppy blogs - I feel this warm camaraderie, and figured I should join the party with my own, even though I think I fit a slightly different mold.  The mid-atlantic-almost-new-england mold, if you will.  I'm not into pink and green, and I don't really understand the fascination with Lilly Pulitzer, but I love navy blue like there is no tomorrow.   Navy blue and headbands and, yes, pearls.  Graduated.  For my bat mitzvah, from my grandmother, from her wedding, from my grandfather.  I treasure them but don't wear them often. They are too formal and too precious.  Instead, I wear cheap pearls I bought in China, and try to feel rebellious.