Poppin' Up With Excuses

Hey Preps!

Senioritis is in full swing.  I'm sick.  I'm busy with my job...and I look at the pages among pages of books I have to read before Thanksgiving break, and I could literally cry.  I'm talking rivers of tears here.  Somehow I'm not though.  Do you ever have moments in your life where everything goes wrong?

For example, today I knocked out a whole row of desks in class because my backpack got stuck on the back of the chair...while managing to try to get my backpack untangled, I hip-checked the desk beside me...it fell...and boom dominos...all the while I still am trying to get untangled.  My professor just laughed.  He knew.  He knew it was one of those days for me...actually he knew it was one of those semesters.  

I just curtsied as I ever so ungracefully picked up my damage and scooted out the door.  

One thing I have learned in my college career (yes, I actually have learned lots of stuff) is that sometimes you just have to laugh at yourself and move on.  There are going to be times in life where you are completely overwhelmed.  You have to do the best you can do, smile through it, and move on.  Those tough times aren't here to stay...even though sometimes it feels like it.  I am swamped this week with work, I am applying for jobs, have the GRE scheduled, and sure I am stressed...yet there are a lot of good things in my life. 

Why focus on the negatives when there is so much to be thankful for? Ya feel me?

That being said, those of you who read my blog frequently know that as a former prep school student, I can't help but pop my collar.  It's just one of those things I can't grow out of.  I was even photographed for an article in high school (they didn't tell me what for of course) titled, "The Pop has Gotta Stop".  Okay now, unfair use of propaganda without telling me!  Yet it didn't stop me...

I'm pretty sure Mr. Ralph Lauren would agree with the popped collars...ever look at his ad campaigns?  Collars on coats, polos, anything...they are popped folks. So what do I own from Mr. Ralph Lauren that encourages my popping addiction (that sounds like I'm popping drugs or something...NO)?

He created these amazing Oxford Polo Button-downs...with reversible colors on the collars of the shirts!! Sure, if you don't wanna pop, the collars folded over are the same color or pattern, but if you starch those collars, and pop like me...here is a fun excuse!

I got these at the Polo Ralph Lauren Outlet Store

Don't you just love them?

I do!

Hope y'all are having great weeks! Almost Thanksgiving break! Eek!

Poppin' My Collar

Hey Preps!


Do you "pop" or "upturn" your collar?  If so...when did this habit begin for you?  Today, I would like to go in depth about the origins of the upturned collar, and why it is now popular in the preppy world.  Let us begin:


Before the 1900's, men and women alike wore some type of upturned collar.  The materials were usually linen, cotton, or lace...and covered then entire neck until it slightly braised the ear lobes.  Many men wore detachable collars that were stiff and stood straight up.

Upturned detachable collar

This all changed when WWII began, and America started producing shirts in an efficient and low-maintenance way.  Collars were then attached to lower costs and increase production rates.  


Upon the advent of tennis shirts, the upturned collar once again sparked interest in 1929 as tennis star (and clothing designer), Rene Lacoste, a 7-time Grand Slam achiever decided that the stiff shirts worn to play tennis were just not suitable.  Instead, he designed a loosely-knit pique cotton shirt with an unstarched, flat protruding collar and a longer shirt-tail in back than in front. This came to be known as the tennis shirt. However, the collar was made stiffer than the rest of the shirt.  Lacoste did so, because this allowed him to "pop" his collar up to prevent his neck from getting burnt by the sun.  

In 1980, Lisa Birnbach published The Official Preppy Handbook, in which she extolled the "virtues of the upturned collar." According to Ms. Birnbach, rather than being a sports innovation, the upturned collar on a tennis shirt was simply a signal that the wearer is a "preppy". Despite this obviously tongue-in-cheek characterization, Ms. Birnbach did correctly identify that one was more likely to view an upturned collar on the beaches of Nantucket than one would in middle America.

Popularity has now increased to an extent.  It might not pass the Vogue style test any longer, yet is found to be very popular to those who grew up wearers of the prep school uniforms.  However, it is now up for judgement of other Americans and truly is considered a "preppy" statement.  We see companies like Polo and J. Crew supporting the popped collar.  It is up to the individual whether they find it acceptable or not.

As for me...my collar will always be popped.  Regardless of the scorn I most endure!

Max and I on my 20th Birthday...in a red Lacoste polo,
Collar Popped!