The aesthetic playground: Sporty Prep

The preppy aesthetic has been a staple for upper-class American university students for a while now. However, let me introduce you to its newer counterpart: Sporty Prep. A lot of recent sporting events have influenced fashion as a whole, such as Formula 1 collabs and Taylor Swift game day looks. People want practicality and versatility without compromising style, and this aesthetic is a happy consequence of that. Where the core preppy style is formal and polished, Sporty Prep is cool and comfortable. Think Ivy League university student meets athlete. Being relaxed but not slouchy, it’s a versatile style  – you could wear it for a study session in the library or a pub social.

Good styling is all about contrasts and subtlety

Adjacent to the tennis- and golf-core trends, Sporty Prep favours pleated miniskirts, rugby shirts, jerseys, and trainers. Miu Miu, Lacoste, and Prada are some key designers in the trend, but there are many affordable options for students. BERSHKA have some great pieces, like this fitted burgundy polo shirt. If you don’t like collars or want something a bit more relaxed, try their collection of sporty print T-shirts. 

If you really want to lean into the sporty aspect, you could pair it with a tennis skirt. An earthy or neutral colour would be best, like white or navy. If you want to be more subtle, wear a loose pair of trousers or jeans.

Good styling is all about contrasts and subtlety. So, to vary the sporty look, this style favours simple, typically chunky jewellery. You could pair it with a tennis bracelet, a t-bar necklace, or a charm bracelet. 

[Sporty Prep is] smart without being stiff

In terms of hair accessories, sports caps are the way to go. Again, BERSHKA has a great selection for this. Put your hair in a ponytail and don a cap in an earthy colour, like cream, brown, or navy. A personal favourite of mine is this checkered cap – brown and cream go surprisingly well together, especially paired with pink or burgundy.

In my opinion, the Sporty Prep style is perfect for students, since its core aesthetic originated from them. What I like about this aesthetic is that it’s smart without being stiff, whilst never compromising comfort. I am utterly obsessed with this style and have already added a couple of Sporty Prep additions to my own wardrobe.