A passionately preppy evening ensued when “The Official Preppy Handbook” authors Lisa Birnbach and Chip Kidd arrived at Sperry Top-Sider in NorthPark Center Oct. 18.
Birnbach, the author of all things preppy made a stop in Dallas to promote her newest book, “True Prep: It’s a Whole New Old World,” along with co-author Chip Kidd. The book is an updated version of the 1980s classic filled with sartorial anecdotes and tips on how to be truly preppy in 2010.
“I went to private school my whole life. I began to notice the ‘two-polo man’ and then the ‘three-polo-man’, and I wanted to know why. So I started writing by observing what was around me,” Birnbach said of her first book.
Now, thirty years later, she believes that particularly WASP-y folk are ready for fresh material.
“Today’s prepster is definitely different from the 1980s prepster,” Birnbach said. “The clothes now have a lot more stretch in them, so they fit the body better and are much more comfortable.”
Sperry Top-Sider, a must for every prep, had an artist on hand to monogram individual’s deck shoes in any color or design they wished. Rodney White, armed with an array of paints and brushes, crafted the classic shoes into personalized masterpieces as the authors chatted with die-hard preps dressed in polos, corduroy, and the choice color palate of all preppies — pink and green.
Fans that flocked to the event sipped Perrier and munched on chocolate cupcakes provided by the store. Although the cupcakes were tempting, SMU senior Elizabeth White had a special reason for attending.
“My dad was in ‘The Official Preppy Handbook.’ There is a photo of him playing tennis in really short shorts, so I had to come to show Lisa and get her to sign it,” said White. “It’s kind of been our family claim to fame.”
Freshman Darby Radcliff also kept it in the family.
“My mom absolutely loved the first book, so I’m here to get it signed for her birthday, which is next weekend,” she said. “She will be so excited to read ‘True Prep’!”
Despite rumors that the prep lifestyle may be dying out, Birnbach remains faithful. “Our clothes have been around forever,” she said. “They haven’t changed much in decades. They are classic, and classic stays around.”
Although New England is commonly associated with “prepdom”, Birnbach includes Dallas in her personal preppy city list.
“Dallas is the prep center. Just like Austin is the blues center and Houston is the glass building center. Dallas originates prep in Texas,” she said.
Dallas is one of the many stops on Birnbach and Kidd’s “True Prep” book tour, which hits preppy stores like Brooks Brothers, Vineyard Vines, Lilly Pulitzer, and Sperry Top-Sider across the country.
Since writing “The Official Preppy Handbook,” Birnbach has written for many magazines such as Glamour, Parade, Rolling Stone, and TV Guide.
