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Menswear moves in waves. And for a couple years now, style-savvy men across the globe have turned to workwear. Sometimes it’s been in the form of a heritage-brand-meets-fashion-label collaboration like Alyx and Dickies, or Vetements and Champion. Other times, guys are going straight to the source and wearing the classics: Stan Ray painter pants, Carhartt chore jackets, and Realtree camo tees. Take a walk through SoHo and you’re likely to see a pair of $50 work pants paired with ultra-hyped sneakers that sell for nearly ten times that. And while workwear and streetwear are ascendant, the styles that felt cool three or five or ten years ago have simmered quietly in the background. But a quick look at the latest collections from a number of beloved menswear labels suggests that—while workwear vibes aren’t going anywhere—the preppy style comeback has begun.
Brendon Babenzien’s Noah—the New York brand that unites streetwear heads, skate rats, and glossy prepsters under one roof—just unveiled its latest seasonal collection. While the brand has never shied from its preppy sensibility, the fall drop leans into that style with newfound vigor. The forthcoming collection is less graphics-driven than seasons past and full of the kind of northeast-influenced gear you'd expect to see at an Ivy League mixer. Similarly, tweaked-Ivy Japanese label Beams Plus has always riffed on classic preppy looks, and its latest collection doubles down with tweed blazers, checked oxford shirts, and trimmed cardigans. Both collections carry '60s vibes but also make reference to the early 2000s—the last time the polished look of prep dominated menswear. Of course, these aren't your rich uncle's Nantucket reds: Noah is still utilizing graphics to inject a sense of streetwear grit, and Beams' trousers have a roomy cut that feels straight off the runway.
But we’re also seeing preppy staples from brands not typically associated with the style. The Swedish label Acne Studios, better known for its avant-garde take on minimalist fashion, just dropped a rugby-influenced fleece sweater. Sure, the piece still features the brand’s trademark oversize fit, but the silhouette, stripes, and colors certainly all ooze American prep. Even Carhartt WIP, a label that reimagines traditional workwear for the streetwear crowd, made sure to include a few prep-inspired looks in its latest collection: a plaid shirt under a deep navy topcoat with roomy white jeans, or a chunky letterman jacket over a tucked-in button-up. Even hype-inducing brands like Supreme and Palace Skateboards are including a few preppy staples in their offerings. Oh, and this: Every brand under the sun is giving us their wackiest takes on loafers, a longtime staple of prep.
Don't expect chore jackets and work pants to disappear just yet, though. Workwear has officially transcended its humble blue-collar reputation and is now indistinguishable from modern fashion. And prep style—in all its classic and easy-to-wear glory—shares some of the qualities that trends like workwear have cemented. Over the past few seasons, menswear has expanded to include unexpected style moves like cross-body bags, shimmering velour fabrics, gawdy footwear, cowboy clothes, and hallucinogenic tie-dye, just to name a few. Who's to say there isn’t room for a little bit of American prep?
