Peter Prep Picked a Pack of Pastel Pieces
- Z. G. Burnett
- Apr 25
- 2 min read
In the bird world, males become the more colorful gender when the weather warms, their plumage honed over millions of evolutionary cycles to attract a female mating partner. Human males in colder parts of the Western Hemisphere are generally less inclined to wear color, and how that translates to attracting or repelling potential mates is inconclusive. The Preppy species of the human male genus is an outlier, as many display an explosion of pastels as soon as the temperature reaches 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Although not exclusive to Preppy males, it's become a cultural marker and even a meme of the species. Some are just starved for color after long winters of navy, forest green, and burgundy, others just never evolved past how their mothers, then wives, dressed them for Easter.
Should you not want to look like you're about to play golf, knock back a third mint julep at the Derby, or tell someone that this is a private club, there are ways to work pastels into a wardrobe rotation tastefully. At least, not tasting like a marshmallow Peeps display.
Wear only one piece of pastel clothing in an outfit, offset with neutral tones. Generally this is a top or trousers, but socks or a tie and matching pocket square are just as distinctive.
Seersucker and Oxford cloth button downs come in many more colors than white and blue. Even an unconventional stripe like purple or yellow is a subtle way to introduce more color.
Patterns, not gingham or striped. Similar to wearing one pastel garment, a paisley shirt or batik trousers will make a statement without screaming it, if the colors aren’t psychedelic. The debate continues as to whether or not madras is strictly a textile or its own pattern, but every man should try a pair of “go to hell” pants at least once. Because if you like it, who cares?
On a less sunny note, this will unfortunately be my last article in this newsletter due to upcoming projects. My sincere gratitude to Reginald for inviting me to write for him this past year, and to all of you who've taken the time to read these fun articles.
If you'd like to see more of my work, follow me on Instagram at @zgburnett and check out my Substack, The Preppy Witch Handbook.
Z.G. Burnett is a New England-based writer who specializes in history, fashion, and material culture. She is a contributing editor for Antiques and the Arts Weekly, and her work has appeared in Ivy Style and The Vintage Woman Magazine. Burnett is currently editing her first book, The Preppy Witch Primer. Find more at www.zgburnett.com
Image credit: Annie Minicuci Photography.
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