Preppy Winter Essentials - What Ever Gentlemen Needs for an East Coast Winter

It's that time of year again! Here on the east coast we had a great summer, but as we draw into November, winter is fast approaching.  This past September, I began my collegiate career at Sarah Lawrence College in beautiful Bronxville, NY.  As a native son of New England, I was well equipped for the colder weather, but many of my new friends from the west coast were not.  I recently went shopping with a friend of mine from Long Beach California who asked me to show him all the winter fashion essentials.  That little shopping trip inspired this post.

LL Bean Bean Boots-

There's no fashion label as iconically New England as LL Bean and the duck boot style Bean Boots were the product that made them a household name. Originally designed for duck hunting in the wilds of Maine, they quickly became a fashion icon for wealthy New Englanders.  Today they remain as popular as ever and not without reason; their great quality and their signature design has never changed.  There have, of course, been several knock offs, but you really can't beat the originals.  We all need good footwear for the upcoming snow storms, and as we've said, you can't go wrong with a classic.  It's worth noting that boots like this can be worn all through the spring and autumn months, but in the winter they are a necessity, particularly if you live in the New England area.

Barbour Beaufort Jacket

Here we have another preppy fashion icon.  It's been stated that everyone who ever attended prep school has owned a Barbour jacket in signature bottle green.  One benefit to these jackets, as every prep school student knows, is that their just long enough to cover a navy blue blazer.  Of course, though, these great jackets do more than just cover up; they also keep you warm and offer excellent protection form the rain, so you can see why they'd be popular among east coast prep school students.  You can also wear one skiing, although if you're going out in a blizzard, you'll likely want something heavier. That said, though, these Barbour jackets are iconic, they look great, and they can easily be slipped on en route to a formal occasion.  Definitely an item that belongs in every preppy wardrobe.

Patagonia Fleece
This is technically more of an autumn item, although they certainly carry into the winter as well.  A company founded in California, Patagonia likely didn't expect to be catering to the wealthy, but their high quality gear has risen to great popularity among the prep school crowd, particularly on the east coast.  It makes sense, though, as the cold and ever-changing weather of New England definitely calls for fleeces.  Their the perfect accessory for fall and in the winter, you can easily slip a ski jacket or parka over it for additional warmth.  The Patagonia logo has become almost as iconic in the preppy community as the Ralph Lauren polo player, the Lacoste alligator, or the Vineyard Vines pink whale.  The North Face is a runner up, but this is a brand you really can't beat for comfort and style.  If you can't get a Patagonia, grab a fleece from The North Face, another quality maker of great winter gear.

LL Bean Norwegian Sweater 
Like Bean Boots, You'll find plenty of knock-offs of this iconic fashion item from unknown brands, but the originals are from LL Bean and their the company that made the Norwegian sweater cool in this country and popular among the preppy crowd.  Very warm and soft, these items first rose to popularity among skiers, as they were ideal for wearing under a parka.  Of course the overwhelming number of preppy kids who ski and snowboard soon caught onto the trend.  The Official Preppy Handbook tells us that every student at St. Lawrence University (one of the preppiest colleges) owns at least one Norwegian sweater, which could make sense, given the incredible skiing in the area of Canton New York which the school is located.  If you're someone who likes to ski or snowboard, or just wants to stay warm this winter and look great while doing it, grab one of these.  Their iconic, they look great, and they really will keep you warm on the slopes.