How to Dress Like a WASP: The Preppy Uniform Can Take You from Toddler to Wrinkly.

Much has been made of WASP androgyny in clothes. This is more salient.

I have been wearing virtually the same kinds of clothes and accessories for all of my life. Most of my sources have changed, though some have not. But the same things that gave me joy when I was younger still give me joy today. The perfect pair of cotton khakis, the exact right shade of Hot Pink, or the perfect shade of Navy, the right boat shoes, blue and white Bengal stripe shirts, pink and green anything, Shetland sweaters, L.L. Bean tote bags, tweed anything, whale motifs, perfectly faded Nantucket Reds. The list is just too long. But it never really changes.

I was recently looking at some (moderately) old family photos and couldn’t help but notice with amusement one photo where a toddler was standing next to his grandfather, and both were wearing basically the same things – khakis, motif ribbon belt, polo shirts, and White canvas sneakers with the concomitant Navy trim (Stride Rite(s) on the little one and Sperry(s) on the big one).