In a true democracy everyone can be upper class and live in Connecticut.

Looking, acting, and ultimately being Prep is not restricted to an elite minority lucky enough to attend prestigious private schools, just because an ancestor or two happened to arrive here on the Mayflower. You don't even have to be a registered Republican.

Like everything else, Preppiness begins in the home.

It is the inalienable right of every man, woman, and child to wear khaki.

Wool, cotton, and the odd bits of silk and cashmere are the only acceptable materials for Prep clothes. They look better. They require professional maintenance. They are more expensive.

If you tell a friend a secret, she will keep the secret by telling only one other person.

A tip: if you're invited to your friend's country club to go the lost and found bin and pretend that you left something there. Next thing you know, you have a fabulous sweater.